Intern Pharmacist in Australia: Hours, ITP, Written & Oral Exams and Pay
What is an intern pharmacist in Australia?
An intern pharmacist is someone who holds provisional registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia and is completing supervised practice before they can register as a full pharmacist.
For overseas-trained pharmacists, this stage comes after passing the OPRA (Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment) or KAPS exam conducted by the APC. Once you pass, you can apply for provisional registration and begin working under supervision.
The pathway, as set out by the Pharmacy Board, looks like this:
- Complete your pharmacy degree, or pass OPRA/KAPS (for overseas-trained pharmacists)
- Apply for provisional registration
- Nominate a preceptor and premises for supervised practice
- Enrol in an accredited Intern Training Program
- Start your supervised practice (minimum 1,575 hours)
- Pass the Board's written and oral registration exams
- Apply for general registration
How many hours do you need for your internship?
You need a minimum of 1,575 hours of Board-approved supervised practice.
This is a modified requirement that has been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, the requirement was 1,824 hours. The Pharmacy Board has kept the reduced 1,575-hour requirement in place until a new registration standard is approved by Ministers.
If you work around 38 hours a week, this generally works out to about 12 months.
| Period | Hours required for general registration | Hours required to sit written/oral exams (75%) |
|---|---|---|
| Before COVID-19 (usual requirement) | 1,824 hours | 1,368 hours |
| Current modified requirement | 1,575 hours | 1,181 hours |
Some older internship modifications that also still apply:
- Interns are not required to complete a minimum of 80 hours of supervised practice within any four consecutive calendar weeks.
- Interns are not required to complete a minimum of 152 hours under one individual preceptor for those hours to count.
What is the Intern Training Program (ITP)?
The Intern Training Program (ITP) is a structured training course that runs alongside your supervised practice hours. It is compulsory. The Pharmacy Board has authorised the APC to accredit ITPs in Australia.
As part of the ITP and internship, you also need to:
- Have your provisional registration approved and recorded on the national register of practitioners.
- Have your supervised practice arrangements (preceptor and premises) approved and recorded on the national register.
- Complete a site-based training plan addressing the competencies required of a pharmacist.
- Prepare extemporaneous products as part of your practical training (six products, with a preceptor statutory declaration).
Which providers offer APC-accredited ITPs?
As of the APC's most recent published list (11 November 2025), the following providers are accredited to deliver ITPs in Australia:
- Accredited ITP Provider: Pharmacy Guild of Australia
- Australasian College of Pharmacy
- Monash University
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA)
- The University of Queensland
- The University of Sydney
- Adelaide University
You must enrol with one of these providers separately from your provisional registration application.
Planning your internship stage in Australia? Get the sequence right from the start.
Talk to Our TeamWhat is the Australia Intern Pharmacist Written Exam (IWE)?
The Intern Written Exam (IWE) is conducted by the Australian Pharmacy Council. It tests your knowledge, skills, and understanding as a pharmacy intern.
Eligibility:
You can register for the IWE if you:
- Are (or were) provisionally registered with the Pharmacy Board, and
- Have completed at least 75% of the required supervised practice hours, or will have completed them by the exam date.
Exam format (as per APC):
- Duration: 2 hours
- Total questions: 75
- Delivery: computer-based, at an official Pearson test centre in Australia
- Cost: AUD 790 per attempt
Test centres: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney, and Townsville.
Results: Released as "Pass" or "Unsuccessful" only. APC does not release scores.
If unsuccessful: You can resit the exam once registrations reopen. If unsuccessful after three attempts, APC offers an exam counselling session on request.
Your IWE result is valid for 18 months.
What is the Australian Intern oral examination (practice)?
The oral examination is conducted by AHPRA on behalf of the Pharmacy Board of Australia. It is generally delivered face-to-face, except in specific circumstances (such as remote candidates, low candidate numbers in a jurisdiction, or exceptional situations).
It is held in these locations across states and territories:
| State/Territory | Oral Exam Location |
|---|---|
| ACT | Canberra |
| NSW | Sydney |
| NT | Darwin |
| QLD | Brisbane |
| SA | Adelaide |
| TAS | Hobart |
| VIC | Melbourne |
| WA | Perth |
You apply using the APOE-60 form, within the published application dates for each oral exam period.
Australian Intern Written exam vs oral exam: what is the difference?
| Feature | Intern Written Exam (IWE) | Oral Examination (Practice) |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) | AHPRA, on behalf of the Pharmacy Board |
| Format | 75 multiple-choice questions, computer-based | Face-to-face practice-based assessment |
| Duration | 2 hours | 35 Minutes |
| Eligibility | 75% of supervised hours completed | 75% of supervised hours completed plus clear the Intern written Exam |
| Result validity | 18 months | Must be paired with a pass in the other exam within 18 months |
You must pass both exams within 18 months of each other to be eligible for general registration. You are not required to pass the written exam before sitting the oral exam — you can attempt them in either order, or during the same period.
Preparing for the written and oral exams together? Get a structured study plan.
Get a Free Study PlanHow much does an intern pharmacist earn in Australia?
Minimum pay rates for pharmacy interns and pharmacists are set under the Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 (MA000012), published by the Fair Work Ombudsman. These are minimum rates; actual pay may be higher depending on your employer.
| Classification | Weekly rate | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy intern – 1st half of training | $1,232.90 | $32.44 |
| Pharmacy intern – 2nd half of training | $1,274.90 | $33.55 |
| Pharmacist | $1,514.40 | $39.85 |
| Experienced pharmacist | $1,658.60 | $43.65 |
| Pharmacist in charge | $1,697.80 | $44.68 |
| Pharmacist manager | $1,891.70 | $49.78 (approx.) |
These rates apply to employees covered by the Pharmacy Industry Award, mainly community pharmacies. Rates in hospitals, government, or under enterprise agreements may differ. Always check the Fair Work Ombudsman pay calculator for the most current figures, since these are reviewed annually.
What jobs can you get after Pharmacist registration in Australia?
Once you complete your internship hours, ITP, and pass both exams, you can apply for general registration and work as a fully registered pharmacist without supervision.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia occupation data:
- Pharmacists are mainly employed in the Retail Trade and Health Care and Social Assistance industries.
- New South Wales and Victoria together employ over half of Australia's pharmacist workforce, followed by Queensland and Western Australia.
- A large share of pharmacists work full-time.
Common employment settings for registered pharmacists include:
- Community pharmacies
- Public and private hospitals
- Aged care facilities
- Pharmaceutical industry and regulatory roles
- Government health departments
Conclusion
Becoming a fully registered pharmacist in Australia as an overseas graduate is a structured, step-by-step journey. Once you clear OPRA or KAPS, the internship stage is where you turn theory into real-world practice. It comes with clear requirements set by the Pharmacy Board of Australia: 1,575 hours of supervised practice, an accredited Intern Training Program, and two exams, the Intern Written Exam through the APC and the oral exam through AHPRA.
It can feel like a lot to track at once. But if you stay close to the official timelines, keep your supervised hours updated, and prepare steadily for both exams, the process becomes much more manageable. And once you're through it, the reward is real: full registration, fair award-based pay, and a wide choice of workplaces across community pharmacy, hospitals, aged care, and beyond.
Take it one stage at a time, lean on your preceptor and ITP provider for support, and keep checking the Pharmacy Board, APC, and Fair Work websites for any updates to hours, fees, or exam schedules
Key Takeaways
- Overseas-trained pharmacists must complete a minimum of 1,575 hours of Board-approved supervised practice (internship) to be eligible for general registration in Australia.
- An accredited Intern Training Program (ITP) must be completed alongside the internship hours.
- The Intern Written Exam (IWE) is conducted by the APC. It is a 2-hour, 75-question exam, currently costing AU$790 per attempt.
- The oral examination (practice) is conducted by AHPRA on behalf of the Pharmacy Board.
- Under the Pharmacy Industry Award, current minimum intern pharmacist pay is $32.44/hour (first half of training) and $33.55/hour (second half of training).
- Around 27,000 pharmacists are employed in Australia, mostly in retail trade and healthcare, according to Jobs and Skills Australia.
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Book a Free ConsultationFAQs
How many hours do I need to complete my pharmacy internship in Australia?
A minimum of 1,575 hours of Board-approved supervised practice, under the current modified requirement.
Can I sit the Intern Written Exam before completing all my hours?
Yes, as long as you have completed at least 75% of your required supervised practice hours, or will complete them by the exam date.
How much does the Intern Written Exam cost?
AU$790 per attempt, as listed on the APC website.
Do I need to pass the written exam before the oral exam?
No. You can sit either exam first, or both in the same exam period. You just need to pass both within 18 months of each other.
What happens if I don't pass the Intern Written Exam?
You can register to resit it in a future exam period. After three unsuccessful attempts, APC offers an exam counselling session.
How much does an intern pharmacist get paid in Australia?
Under the Pharmacy Industry Award, minimum pay is $32.44/hour in the first half of training and $33.55/hour in the second half. Actual pay can be higher depending on your employer.
