Last updated: 7 November 2026
Key Takeaways
- The OPRA exam syllabus for 2026-27 has five content areas, and Therapeutics and Patient Care carries 45% of the scored questions.
- OPRA is one computer-based, closed-book paper: 120 MCQs in 150 minutes, with 108 scored and 12 unscored trial questions.
- The next open sittings are March, July and November 2027. The November 2026 registration window has already closed.
- The exam fee is AUD 2,245 per attempt, and the APC publishes no numerical pass mark.
- Download the official OPRA exam guide and sample content from the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) website and re-check it before every sitting, because dates and fees can change.
The Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment (OPRA) is the knowledge exam for internationally qualified pharmacists who want to register in Australia. It is run by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), and it replaced the KAPS exam. The last KAPS session was held in November 2024, and the first OPRA sitting took place in March 2025.
This guide gives you the 2026-27 syllabus in one place: the five content areas and their weightage, the exam format, the 2027 dates, the fees and a study plan built around the syllabus. If you are starting your preparation, our OPRA exam preparation course follows this same blueprint.
OPRA Exam Syllabus PDF: Where to Download It
The first step in any OPRA study plan is the official APC document. The OPRA exam guide and sample content are published on the Australian Pharmacy Council website, and you can download the official OPRA exam guide PDF here. It sets out the content areas, how the questions are built and what to expect on exam day.
OPRA Exam Syllabus 2026-27: Five Content Areas and Weightage
The syllabus is grouped into five content areas. The percentages below are the target weights for scored questions. The 12 unscored trial questions are spread evenly across the five areas, and you are not told which ones they are.
OPRA Exam Subject List: Topics in Each Area
1. Therapeutics and Patient Care (45%)
The largest area, and the one closest to daily pharmacy practice. Questions are scenario-based and test your judgement.
- Therapeutic decision-making and disease management
- Medicine safety and appropriate medicine use
- Dosage calculations and dose adjustment
- Patient management, monitoring and follow-up
- Counselling and care for special groups such as children, older adults and pregnant women
2. Biomedical Sciences (20%)
- Normal physiological processes across all body systems
- Pathophysiology and the symptoms and physiological values of disease states
- Medical microbiology and immunology
- Disorders affecting bodily fluids
3. Pharmacology and Toxicology (15%)
- Effects of drugs on the body, receptor theory and mechanisms of action
- Adverse drug reactions and drug interactions
- Drug toxicity and its treatment
- Factors that change the pharmacology and toxicity of drugs
4. Medicinal Chemistry and Biopharmaceutics (10%)
- Physicochemical properties of drugs and solubility
- Drug and chemical stability
- Drug formulation and delivery systems
- Pharmaceutical microbiology
5. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (10%)
- Principles of pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism
- Factors that affect drug impact
- Evaluating pharmacokinetic data
- Using pharmacokinetic data when treating patients
Talk to our team about OPRA coaching for 2027 sittings.
What Is New in the 2026-27 OPRA Syllabus
The five content areas and their weightage are unchanged from the first OPRA sittings in 2025. What matters for 2026-27 is how the exam works and what it does not cover.
- One paper replaces two: KAPS had two papers of 100 questions over four hours. OPRA is a single paper of 120 questions in 150 minutes.
- Application over recall: questions are built around recall, understanding and application, with most weight on applying knowledge to patient scenarios.
- Scaled scoring: results use a Rasch-model scaled score, so scores stay comparable across sittings.
- No Australian legislation in the exam: the OPRA exam focuses on science and clinical knowledge. Australian law and practice standards are assessed later in the pathway, during the internship period.
OPRA Exam Format 2026-27
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) |
| Delivery | Computer-based, closed-book, at approved Pearson VUE test centres |
| Questions | 120 multiple-choice questions, four options each, one correct answer |
| Scored vs unscored | 108 scored (90%) and 12 unscored trial questions (10%) |
| Duration | 150 minutes (2.5 hours) |
| Negative marking | None, so answer every question |
| Result | Pass or unsuccessful, with feedback by content area |
| Fee | AUD 2,245 per attempt (Eligibility Check: AUD 810) |
OPRA Exam Dates 2026-27
The exam runs three times a year. The November 2026 registration window closed on 19 October 2026, so the next sitting you can still register for is March 2027. APC does not accept late registrations, and registration closes at 5pm Australian Eastern time.
| Session | Registration | Exam dates | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 18 Aug - 19 Oct 2026 (closed) | 23-25 Nov 2026 | 22 Dec 2026 |
| March 2027 | 19 Jan - 22 Feb 2027 | 22-24 Mar 2027 | 6 May 2027 |
| July 2027 | 11 May - 28 Jun 2027 | 26-28 Jul 2027 | 9 Sep 2027 |
| November 2027 | 14 Sep - 11 Oct 2027 | 8-10 Nov 2027 | 23 Dec 2027 |
How to Use the OPRA Exam Syllabus PDF
- Turn each content area into a checklist. Tick off every sub-topic, and mark the ones you cannot explain without notes.
- Study in proportion to the weightage. Nearly half of your scored questions come from Therapeutics and Patient Care, so it deserves nearly half of your time.
- Use the sample content. The APC sample questions show the depth and style of the real paper.
- Revisit the guide before booking. Re-check the latest version each time you register for a sitting.
OPRA Pharmacy Exam Topics: What to Focus On
- High-yield diseases: common chronic and acute conditions, with treatment choices and monitoring.
- Medication safety: interactions, adverse reactions, toxicity and appropriate use.
- Clinical calculations: dose adjustment, infusion rates and interpreting lab values.
- Special populations: paediatric, geriatric, pregnancy and renal or hepatic impairment.
- Pharmacokinetic reasoning: clearance, half-life, steady state and how they change dosing.
- Australian references: the Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH) and eTG Complete are widely used to build Australian practice context.
Get a plan matched to your sitting and your current level.
OPRA Preparation Plan Based on the Syllabus
Most candidates need roughly four to eight months from starting preparation to sitting the exam, and the Eligibility Check itself can take several weeks. A weightage-based plan keeps your effort aimed at the marks.
- Weeks 1-2: Baseline. Read the APC guide, attempt the sample content and list your weak topics by content area.
- Weeks 3-10: Core study. Give about half of your study time to Therapeutics and Patient Care, and split the rest across the four science areas.
- Weeks 11-14: Applied practice. Move to scenario-based MCQs every day, and review each wrong answer by content area.
- Final 4 weeks: Mock exams. Sit full 120-question papers in 150 minutes, which gives about 1.25 minutes per question, and revise weak areas only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the five content areas in the OPRA exam syllabus 2026-27?
Therapeutics and Patient Care (45%), Biomedical Sciences (20%), Pharmacology and Toxicology (15%), Medicinal Chemistry and Biopharmaceutics (10%), and Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (10%).
How many questions are in the OPRA exam and how long is it?
The OPRA exam is one computer-based, closed-book paper of 120 multiple-choice questions, each with four options, to be completed in 150 minutes (2.5 hours). 108 questions are scored and 12 are unscored trial questions.
What are the OPRA exam dates for 2027?
March 2027 (22-24 March, registration 19 January to 22 February), July 2027 (26-28 July, registration 11 May to 28 June) and November 2027 (8-10 November, registration 14 September to 11 October). Always confirm on the APC website before booking.
How much does the OPRA exam cost?
The OPRA exam fee is AUD 2,245 per attempt, and a re-sit costs the full fee again. The APC Eligibility Check is a separate AUD 810 fee.
What is the OPRA exam passing score?
The APC does not publish a numerical pass mark. Results are reported as pass or unsuccessful using a scaled score (Rasch model) and a pass standard set through psychometric standard-setting. Candidates pass on overall performance, not area by area.
Does the OPRA exam test Australian legislation?
No. The OPRA exam focuses on biomedical, pharmaceutical and clinical science knowledge. Australian legislation and practice standards are assessed separately later in the pathway, during the internship period.
Conclusion
The OPRA exam syllabus for 2026-27 rewards clinical reasoning over memorisation. With 45% of scored questions in Therapeutics and Patient Care, a plan that follows the five content areas and their weightage is the most efficient way to prepare. Download the official APC guide, lock in your target sitting from the 2027 dates above, and build your timeline backwards from the registration deadline.
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