From March 2025, the International Pharmacist Readiness Assessment (OPRA) exam will replace the Pharmacy Science Assessment (KAPS) exam, a step that represents a qualitative shift for international pharmacists wishing to work in Australia. This change is not just a change in name or form, but rather reflects a comprehensive shift in the assessment mechanism adopted by the relevant authorities to ensure that the exams keep pace with modern developments in pharmaceutical practice. Accordingly, Dr. Ahmed Yassin Center offers comprehensive and specialized training courses to prepare for the exam. These courses provide you with full support from experts in the field, in addition to updated training materials that are in line with the new changes.
What is the OPRA exam?
The OPRA exam is the new test that will replace the KAPS (Keith Pharmaceutical Sciences Assessment) exam from March 2025. This exam is designed to ensure that pharmacists coming from overseas have the knowledge and skills required to comply with the approved pharmacy standards in Australia. The OPRA exam is based on the Rasch model, a modern approach to exam design, which allows for a more accurate assessment of candidates’ abilities by linking the difficulty level of questions to the candidate’s performance.
This update reflects the ongoing evolution of pharmacy practice within Australia, ensuring that the exam covers not only theoretical concepts, but also the practical aspects that pharmacists need to deal with real-life situations. The main purpose of this change is to provide an advanced and contemporary exam that reflects the real needs of the healthcare industry, and helps prepare pharmacists to be competent and professionally ready for their professional experiences.
If you are looking to further prepare for this new test, Dr. Ahmed Yassin Centre offers specialized training courses that focus on all aspects of the OPERA exam, to help you pass it with the best results and achieve your career ambitions in Australia.
See also: Steps to immigrate to Australia and types of visas available
What makes the OPRA exam different from KAPS?
Recent updates to the OPRA exam represent a fundamental shift in the way international pharmacists’ skills and knowledge are assessed, requiring you to rethink how you prepare. Let’s take a look at the most important changes:
Shorter, more focused test duration
The OPRA exam has been modified to be more concise and focused, limited to a single test paper containing 120 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) that must be completed within two and a half hours, compared to the KAPS exam which was longer and more complex, this new format provides greater flexibility and reduces stress for candidates.
New focus on practical application
The OPRA exam places greater emphasis on therapeutic knowledge and practical applications in day-to-day pharmacy practice. This development aims to better prepare international pharmacists for the real-world challenges they will face when working in Australia, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions in real-world situations.
Developing a correction methodology
OPRA will be scored using the Rasch model, a methodology known for its accuracy and fairness in measuring performance. Questions are ranked by difficulty level — easy, medium, and hard — and points are awarded based on these difficulties, so that your score reflects your actual ability and not just the number of correct answers. This model is unique in that it does not rely solely on correct and incorrect answers, but rather takes into account the relative difficulty level of each question, which provides more accurate and fair results.
Reduce cost
One of the most significant new features of the OPRA exam is the reduced cost, with the fee now set at AUD$2,190, making it easier for more international candidates to sit the exam without a significant financial burden. This reduction opens wider doors for many aspiring pharmacists who were facing significant financial challenges to achieve their dream of working in Australia.
See also: Pharmacist salaries in Australia
Impact of changes on KAPS students
The sudden change from KAPS to OPRA will not significantly affect students who took and passed the KAPS exam in July 2024. Here is a detailed explanation of how this change will affect them:
Exam difficulty level
The difficulty level of the OPRA exam will not differ from the KAPS exam, as it will remain the same level of challenge. Despite the changes in format and details, the exam will still test you rigorously to ensure that the quality and standards of the exam are maintained. This means that despite the updates, the exam will remain as comprehensive and challenging as it was before.
Eligibility and Registration
There will be no major changes to the eligibility criteria, registration process or number of attempts allowed, and candidates can continue to register at the same test centres, maintaining a uniform and organised testing environment.
Preparation materials
One of the most important changes that students will need is updated preparation materials. As the focus of the exam content changes, new study guides and resources need to be available that are aligned with the new focus on practical applications and treatments. This means finding up-to-date materials to help you prepare for the new areas of focus on the exam to ensure you are fully prepared for the OPRA exam. We provide these materials in our training courses at Dr. Ahmed Yassin Center.
Shortest exam format
Since the OPRA exam will be shorter and consist of only one paper, you will need to adjust your study method. The new format means that you will have less time to answer questions, so you will need to focus on the core topics and practice better time management during your study sessions. It is important to practice questions similar to the nature of the new exam and learn how to solve each question quickly and efficiently.
Financial impact
The lower cost of the OPRA exam will help ease the financial burden on candidates, making it less expensive to register as a pharmacist in Australia. This lower cost will allow more international pharmacists the opportunity to pass the exam, paving the way for them to continue their careers in Australia. This change will open up more opportunities for anyone aspiring to work in pharmacy in Australia.
See also: Migration of pharmacists to Australia
How to prepare for the OPRA exam?
With the OPRA exam set to replace the KAPS exam starting March 2025, it has become necessary for international examinees to adjust their preparation strategies. Here are some important tips that will help you pass this exam effectively and successfully:
Update study materials
The first step toward success is to make sure your study materials are up-to-date and current. This includes textbooks and guides that focus on new topics such as therapeutics and practical pharmacy applications. Look for resources that focus on how pharmaceutical health care is delivered in a practical way, as this will be a key component of the OPRA exam.
Time management control
Good preparation is not only about understanding the subject matter, it also includes learning how to manage your time perfectly. With the exam time reduced to just 2.5 hours, you will need to develop your time management skills. Try to simulate exam conditions by setting a timer while practicing multiple-choice questions, and make sure that you can answer the questions within the allotted time without rushing or delaying.
Focus on practical applications
One of the biggest changes the OPRA exam brings is the focus on practical applications and clinical knowledge. Instead of just memorizing information, you will have to understand how to apply that knowledge in practical scenarios within a real pharmacy setting. So be sure to devote enough time to studying clinical cases, and how to make treatment decisions based on those cases.
Join study groups
Learning with others is not only a way to enhance your knowledge, it also provides you with a supportive environment that enables you to exchange ideas and information. Join study groups or online learning communities, where you can discuss complex topics, share study resources, and benefit from the experiences of your colleagues.
Continuous training on questions
Practice is key, make practice questions a daily part of your study schedule, make sure to solve a large number of questions of different levels to become more prepared for the challenges of the exam, focusing on developing your ability to think critically and analyze clinical data will enable you to deal with exam questions more easily.
Finally
There is no doubt that the OPRA exam represents a new challenge, but at the same time it is an opportunity to develop your pharmaceutical and practical skills. To ensure your success, you can get additional support by enrolling in specialized training courses provided by Dr. Ahmed Yassin Center, which offers integrated training programs specifically designed to prepare you comprehensively for this exam, enabling you to pass it successfully and pursue your dream of working as a pharmacist in Australia.