Procedure to Become a Pharmacist in Australia: Overseas Students

To practice as a pharmacist in Australia, you must complete a degree in Pharmacy such as a Bachelor (B.Pharm) or Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm). After that you will need to register with the Pharmacy Board of Australia and complete a one-year internship under a registered pharmacist. ऑस्ट्रेलिया में फार्मासिस्ट बनने के लिए, आपको फ़ार्मेसी में डिग्री जैसे बैचलर (B.Pharm) या मास्टर ऑफ़ फ़ार्मेसी (M.Pharm)पूरी करनी होगी। फिर आपको ऑस्ट्रेलिया के फ़ार्मेसी बोर्ड के साथ पंजीकरण करना होगा और एक पंजीकृत फार्मासिस्ट के साथ एक साल की इंटर्नशिप पूरी करनी होगी।

APC (Australian Pharmacy Council) assists overseas-trained pharmacists to obtain registration to practice as a pharmacist in Australia. APC (ऑस्ट्रेलियन फ़ार्मेसी काउंसिल) ऑस्ट्रेलिया में फार्मासिस्ट के रूप में अभ्यास करने के लिए पंजीकरण प्राप्त करने के लिए विदेशों में प्रशिक्षित फार्मासिस्टों की सहायता करती है।

Overseas qualified pharmacists from countries other than New Zealand, seeking general registration in Australia are required to pass an examination (“Knowledge Stream” and “Competency Stream” examination) conducted under the auspices of the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC). ऑस्ट्रेलिया में सामान्य पंजीकरण की मांग करने वाले न्यूजीलैंड के अलावा अन्य देशों के विदेशी योग्य फार्मासिस्टों को ऑस्ट्रेलियन फ़ार्मेसी काउंसिल (APC) के तत्वावधान में आयोजित एक परीक्षा उत्तीर्ण करना आवश्यक है।

Expect Salary of Pharmacist

At the beginning level, a pharmacist can earn up to of $52,000 a year. Further salary of Pharmacist depends upon a grading system that takes into account years of working and specialization in the various states.

Various type of Skills assessments/Evaluating Examination

There are four skill assessments examination as per your education, country where you acquired degree.

1. Competency Stream

The Competency stream exam for for you if

• You graduated from a recognised pharmacy degree program in either Canada, Ireland, the UK or the USA.
• You’re currently registered as a pharmacist in one of those countries (Canada, Ireland, the UK or the USA).
• You now want to work in or migrate to Australia.

2. International Student Stream

The stream exam for for you if

• You graduated from a recognised pharmacy degree program in Australia or New Zealand as an international student.
• You’re registered or eligible to be registered as a pharmacist.
• You now want to work in or migrate to Australia.

3. Knowledge Stream

The Knowledge Stream exam for for you if

• You graduated from a pharmacy degree program outside of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA.
• You’re registered or eligible to be registered as a pharmacist in that country.
• You now want to work in or migrate to Australia.

4. NZ Registered Pharmacist Stream

• You graduated from a pharmacy degree program in New Zealand.
• You’re currently registered as a pharmacist there.
• You now want to migrate to Australia

Here, for overseas Pharmacist, we discus in details about 3rd category i.e. Knowledge Stream.

Basic Education Qualification & Regulatory Requirement

 It applies if you completed your pharmacy qualification in any country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA. यह तब लागू होता है जब आपने ऑस्ट्रेलिया, कनाडा, आयरलैंड, न्यूजीलैंड, यूके या यूएसए के अलावा किसी अन्य देश में अपनी फ़ार्मेसी योग्यता पूरी की हो।

I) Equivalent Education qualification

• A 4 years’ full-time Bachelor degree in Pharmacy, if completed after 1 January 2006, OR 3 years’ full-time academic study, if completed before 1 January 2006(फार्मेसी में 4 साल की पूर्णकालिक स्नातक डिग्री). M.Pharm also can apply.
• Registered as a pharmacist in the country where you obtained your degree in Pharmacy, (उस देश में फार्मासिस्ट के रूप में पंजीकृत जहां आपने फार्मेसी में अपनी डिग्री प्राप्त की है,)OR
• Eligible to register as a pharmacist in that country (उस देश में फार्मासिस्ट के रूप में पंजीकरण के लिए योग्य जहां आपने फार्मेसी में अपनी डिग्री प्राप्त की है), OR
• Eligible to start the registration process in that country(उस देश में पंजीकरण प्रक्रिया शुरू करने के योग्य।).

II) Procedure to become Pharmacist in Australia

There are two step:

a) First: passing the eligibility check (Fee:AU$1290)

b) Second: Passing the KAPS (Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences) examination. (Fee: AU$2190)

a) First step (Passing the eligibility check)

When you apply for an eligibility check, you need to provide following documents (जब आप पात्रता जांच के लिए आवेदन करते हैं, तो आपको निम्नलिखित दस्तावेज उपलब्ध कराने होंगे). It will take 6-8 weeks. The processing time can take longer than 8 weeks if your application is incomplete.

1. Proof of identity- Only your current passport
2. Academic qualifications
   • Your qualification certificate (Degree certificate) OR letter of completion if your certificate (Degree certificate) has not yet been issued
   • Your academic records/marksheets. If your academic records are non-English documents, translated into English (You must use a translator who is accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).). An extract translation of the document/s will not be accepted.
   • Both non-English documents & translated documents must saved as 1(single) PDF file and uploaded.
   • Scan all original documents (English and non-English) in colour. 
   • Name each file in English with a descriptive title, for example Marriage-certificate.png; Passport.pdf; Registration.jpg
3. Evidence of Pharmacist registration status– Your initial (provisional) registration in the country where you graduated, OR your current Pharmacist registration in the country where you graduated.
4. Work history ((optional)–  Your work experience will be considered if you have worked as a fully registered retail or hospital pharmacist (not as an intern)
   • for more than 20 hours per week
   • for at least 12 months in the last 10 years.
   • Work history is optional & it will make easy to apply/get your visa/migration application
   • You have to submit your work experience in a Work Experience Template.
5. Candidate Portal: Link to apply for First step i.e. passing the eligibility check: Click here
6. After you apply, Wait  KAPS eligibility response

b) Second: Passing the KAPS

Once you have received confirmation from APC that you’re eligible to sit the exam by checking your all academic documents, You can now proceed to register for KAPS exam (Find more details on KAPS Exam) at candidate portal by login.

1. Sign in to our Candidate Portal.
2. Use the drop-down menu at the top of the Candidate Portal to go to My Dashboard.
3. Go to Section 2: ‘Register and Complete the KAPS Examination’, then click on ‘Book an exam’.
4. Upload a recent passport-sized photograph.
5. Select your preferred exam centre and date (In India, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, New Delhi).
6. Click ‘Proceed to checkout’.
7. Confirm your details.
8. Agree to our policies.
9. Review the exam booking summary page.
10. Submit your order.
11. Pay the registration fee by debit/credit card

After successful Registration register

• Prepare Exam for KAPS
• You will get reminder email around 3 days before your exam.
• A calculator is allowed but not internet-capable
• To pass the exam, you need:
  • a mark of at least 50% in all subsections of the exam
  • an overall mark of at least 50%.
• If you passed 1 paper of the KAPS, you will have 2 years to pass the unsuccessful paper. If you do not pass this paper within 2 years, you’ll need to register to sit both papers again & also need to pay fee again.
• Result will be declarer after around 4 weeks.
• If you pass, you will get “Skills Assessment letter“. It will be valid for 3 years from the date issue it.

Read more…

KAPS Exam details (Syllabus, No of MCQ, Syllabus, Sample Paper &Reference books)

Final Step After Passing KAPS Examination

• Apply for visa application with the Department of Home Affairs, or
• Apply for provisional registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia.

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