OPRA Exam Pass‍in‌g Marks 2026-27: Score, Pas‌s‌ Rate & Re‍sults Explained

What Is the OPRA Exam?

The OPRA exam (Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment) is a knowledge exam run by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC). It checks if overseas-trained pharmacists have the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical science knowledge needed for pharmacy practice in Australia and New Zealand.

The exam does not test Australian or New Zealand laws or practice standards. Those are tested later, during the internship period, as you move towards general registration.

APC says the OPRA exam applies to candidates who completed their pharmacy qualification in a country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, or the USA. You must first pass the APC eligibility check. New Zealand candidates need confirmation from the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand (PCNZ) before they can register.

Passing the OPRA exam is one step towards your Skills Assessment Outcome and provisional registration. It does not make you a registered pharmacist on its own.

Source: APC OPRA exam guide, https://www.pharmacycouncil.org.au/resources/opra-exam-guide-and-sample-content/

What Is the OPRA Exam Structure in 2026-27?

The OPRA exam is a closed-book, computer-based exam delivered at approved test centers.

• Questions: 120 multiple-choice questions. Each has one correct answer and 3 incorrect options.
• Time: 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes). The timer starts when you see the first question.
• Before the exam: 5 minutes for the non-disclosure agreement and 10 minutes for a tutorial. These do not count towards exam time.
• After the exam: 5 minutes for a feedback survey.
• Versions: Each session has multiple live versions. They are allocated randomly, and questions appear in random order.
• Fee: AUD 2,245 per attempt.

Source: APC OPRA exam guide and APC Knowledge Stream page, https://www.pharmacycouncil.org.au/pharmacist/skills-assessment/knowledge-stream/

What Are the OPRA Exam Content Areas and Weightage?

The exam covers five content areas.

Therapeutics and patient care is the biggest area. It includes dose calculations, safe use of medicines in special groups (the elderly, children under 12, pregnancy, and breastfeeding), harm minimization, and health promotion.

What Are the OPRA Exam Passing Marks?

There is no fixed passing mark or percentage for the OPRA exam.

APC uses a scaled scoring system. This keeps results fair across the different exam versions. The passing score is set through an evidence-based process with psychometricians and subject matter experts. It reflects the minimum standard needed to apply for provisional registration as an intern pharmacist and start supervised work.

Here is what that means for you:

• You are measured against a standard, not against other candidates.
• You must meet the passing standard for the exam version you were given.
• 90% of the 120 questions are scored. 10% are unscored and used for calibration and testing.
• You are not told which questions are scored or unscored.
• Unscored questions are spread evenly across all five content areas.
• Your result depends on your overall performance across the whole exam.

Source: APC OPRA exam guide, https://www.pharmacycouncil.org.au/resources/opra-exam-guide-and-sample-content/

Is There an Official OPRA Pass Rate?

We could not find an official OPRA pass rate on the APC website. APC does not disclose raw scores or percentages, and its exam pages give no overall pass rate figure.

This matters when you read blogs or coaching pages. Any pass rate you see online comes from the provider that published it. It is not an APC statistic and does not show how all candidates performed.

Elite Expertise is an independent education provider. We are not part of APC, and we do not make APC eligibility or exam decisions.

What Do the OPRA Exam Results Show?

Your result report says whether you met the overall standard or were unsuccessful.

You also get feedback on your performance in each content area. APC says this is for general guidance only. These content area scores are not used to decide your result.

APC does not share the questions and answers from your exam.

Exam results are not subject to review. If you feel an incident or an administrative problem affected your performance, APC has an appeals policy for matters other than the calculation of results.

When Are the OPRA Exam Results Released?

APC says results are available within approximately 4 weeks of the exam. The exact release date for each session is published on the APC website. You get an email when your result is ready.

The registration for the 23–25 November 2026 session has closed. The next session you can register for is 22–24 March 2027, with registration from 19 January to 22 February 2027.

Notice that the published 2027 result dates are about 6 weeks after each exam. So plan around the date APC publishes for your session, not around “4 weeks.”

Registration rules to remember:

• Registration opens at 9am and closes at 5pm AEDT/AEST. It closes about one month before exam day.
• APC cannot accept late registrations.
• You must pay the fee at the time of registration. If payment is not received, your seat is released.
• You must pass the eligibility check before you can register. APC aims to respond within 5 working days but asks you to allow up to 4 weeks. Lodge your application at least 8 weeks before the registration closing date.
• You can reschedule only during the registration period.
• India test centers listed by APC: Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Noida (and surrounding areas). Seats fill fast, so book early.

Official source note: Dates are from the APC Knowledge Stream page, last verified November 2026. APC can change dates, so check the page before you plan.
Source: https://www.pharmacycouncil.org.au/pharmacist/skills-assessment/knowledge-stream/

How Do You Check Your OPRA Result?

You view and download your result from the APC Candidate Portal. Here are the steps:

1. Wait for the APC email telling you the result is available.
2. Sign in to the Candidate Portal at candidate.pharmacycouncil.org.au/SignIn
3. Open your result and download it.
4. Save a copy for your records.

Only use the official APC Candidate Portal. APC warns candidates not to share personal documents or pay for exams or services outside the portal. If you cannot see your result, email info@pharmacycouncil.org.au.

For a full step-by-step guide, read our blog on how to check your OPRA exam result online.

What Happens If You Are Unsuccessful?

Many candidates need more than one attempt, and APC says you may re-sit as many times as you need.

• You register again in the Candidate Portal when the next exam period opens.
• You pay the full exam fee (AUD 2,245) again for each attempt.
• You re-sit the full exam. Nothing is carried forward from your earlier attempt.

Use your content area feedback as a guide to plan your next round of study. Remember that it does not decide the result.

What Happens After You Pass the OPRA Exam?

1. Request your Skills Assessment Outcome (SAO) in the Candidate Portal. The fee is AUD 300.
2. Use the SAO for your visa application with the Department of Home Affairs, if you need one. Home Affairs sets the validity period of an SAO for visa applications. APC cannot change it. You can read more in our guide on how long the OPRA result is valid.
3. Apply for provisional registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia through Ahpra. You then complete supervised practice before general registration. Check the current English language rules in our guide on IELTS, PTE and OET scores for AHPRA registration.

Official source note: APC suggests you call Ahpra to discuss your own situation and goals.
Source: https://www.pharmacycouncil.org.au/pharmacist/skills-assessment/knowledge-stream/

How Is the OPRA Exam Tested? (Cognitive Levels)

The exam does not only test memory. Questions are written at three levels.

Other question rules from APC:

• Drug names follow the TGA list of approved names.
• Values are in SI (metric) units.
• Key words such as CORRECT, MOST, LEAST, and NOT are bold and capitalized. Read them carefully.

How Should You Prepare for the OPRA Exam?

The tips below are Elite Expertise guidance, based on the official exam structure above.

• Start with Therapeutics and Patient Care. It is 45% of the exam. Then cover Biomedical Sciences (20%).
• Practice dose calculations. APC lists doses, dilutions, infusion rates, electrolyte solutions, and creatinine clearance in this area.
• Use APC’s official sample content. Download the sample content PDF from the APC exam guide page. Pearson also offers an online sample test so you can try the exam software.
• Use up-to-date resources. APC says exam content is based on peer-reviewed journals, clinical practice guidelines, and textbooks.
• Practice under exam conditions. Time yourself on 120 questions in 150 minutes.
• Read the question carefully. Look for the bold capital words such as "NOT" and "MOST."
• Do not chase a “pass percentage.” Aim to know all five areas well.

APC does not endorse any specific external study material or OPRA exam preparation program.

How Can Elite Expertise Help You Prepare?

Elite Expertise is an independent education provider. We run an OPRA exam preparation course for overseas-trained pharmacists. It includes structured study plans, practice questions, and guidance from our clinical pharmacist educators, Arief Mohammad and Harika Bheemavarapu.

We cannot guarantee a result, and the pass decision is always made by APC.

Conclusion

The OPRA exam has no fixed passing mark. APC uses scaled scoring, so your result depends on meeting the standard for your exam version, not on reaching a percentage like 50% or 70%. You will see only “met the standard” or "unsuccessful," with content area feedback for guidance.

APC does not publish raw scores, and we could not find an official pass rate on its website. So focus on what you can control. Learn the exam structure, give most of your time to therapeutics and patient care, practice calculations, and use APC’s sample content. Check the published dates for your session and register early, because late registrations are not accepted.

If you pass, request your Skills Assessment Outcome and move to the next steps with AHPRA. If you need support with preparation, Elite Expertise is here to help.

Key Takeaways

• There is no fixed OPRA passing percentage. APC uses a scaled scoring system and a passing standard set by experts.
• APC does not share raw scores or percentages. Your result says only whether you met the overall standard or were unsuccessful.
• 90% of the 120 questions are scored. 10% are unscored trial questions.
• Passing depends on your overall performance, not on each content area separately.
• APC says results are available within about 4 weeks. Always check the published result date for your session.
• We could not find an official OPRA pass rate on the APC website. Any “pass mark,” such as 50%, 60%, or 70%, is not an APC figure.
• Exam fee: AUD 2,245 per attempt. Eligibility check AUD 810. Skills Assessment Outcome AUD 300.