OPRA Exam vs OSPAP Exam

What is it?

The OPRA exam assesses whether candidates have the necessary knowledge and understanding of the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical sciences underlying the practice of pharmacy in Australia. It is typically designed to assess the competency of overseas-trained pharmacists who wish to practice in Australia, New Zealand.

What is it?

It is a recognised qualification (Postgraduate Diploma, Pg Dip) designed for qualified pharmacists outside the European Economic Area or hold an EEA pharmacist qualification which is not a ‘relevant’ qualification (other than a UK-recognised pharmacist qualification) who are looking to become registered pharmacists in the United Kingdom.

Apply for a Skills Assessment eligibility check in Knowledge Stream via the APC Candidate Portal.    

Your pharmacy qualification must be the equivalent of either:

• 4 years’ full-time academic study, if completed after 1 January 2006, OR
• 3 years’ full-time academic study, if completed before 1 January 2006  

Before you can apply to study the OSPAP course, you must first apply to the GPhC and pass their adjudication process (Assessment of your qualifications and English language skills)  

Your pharmacy qualification should be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in the UK. If not, then you should undertake an assessment of the syllabus of the course that you pursued.  

English language test

Not compulsory to take a test before taking the OPRA exam.

English language test

You need to take a relevant English Language test and should meet the specified requirements before you apply to the GPhC.

IELTS- a level of 7 or above in all the four modules in one sitting of the academic version of the IELTS test.

OET- a grade B or above in all the four modules in one sitting of the Pharmacy OET. 

Documents required for the skill assessment process:

1. Passport and other identity documents

2. Official photo-bearing document issued by your government.

3. Birth certificate

4. Qualification certificate (Original Degree) or letter of completion if your certificate has not yet been issued.

5. Academic transcript

6. Evidence of registration as a pharmacist. (Provide one of the following: Your initial or current registration document Or, an endorsement letter, or an eligibility to commence letter).

7. Agent authorisation form (optional)

8. Evidence of name change (optional)

9. Work Experience (optional)

Documents required for the application:

1. Evidence of your qualifications and of your identity and get copies legally certified.

2. Request documents about your pharmacy qualification and experience from the university where you qualified and from the pharmacy regulator in that country. You may need to send these with your application or ask for them to be sent directly to the GPhC.

3. Provide proof of English language competency (IELTS Or OET)

4. Fill a paper copy of the application form and any other forms by hand in capital letters only.  

• After receiving the Skill Assessment eligibility notice from the APC, you are eligible to book for the exam.
• The OPRA exam is a computer-delivered, multiple choice question exam.
• Duration of exam: 2.5 hours, 120 questions in total.

• The UK ENIC organisation Home Page (enic.org.uk) can assess your qualification and provide an official document called a ‘Statement of Comparability’.
• If your qualifications and experience meet the eligibility criteria, you will be able to apply for an OSPAP course. Initially you will get an offer letter from any of the universities you have chosen during the application process, and you need to clear an Interview.
• After clearing the interview, you will receive an updated offer letter, and you must start a course within the next two academic years of the date of the decision.