How Much Does It Cost for a Nigerian Pharmacist to Relocate to Australia? 🇦🇺
Pharmacists from Nigeria register in Australia through the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) and the Pharmacy Board of Australia (AHPRA). Note that the old KAPS exam has been retired and replaced by the OPRA exam. The pathway runs from an eligibility check and exams through provisional registration and a supervised internship to general registration, plus a skilled visa. Here are the web-verified fees, requirements and salary.
Quick Numbers
Total Cost
₦0.8M – ₦2.1M
Starting Salary
A$67,158/yr
Pharmacist — national range (2026)
Nigerians Who Moved
Not published
Not published
Source Rank
Australian Pharmacy Council / Pharmacy Board of Australia (AHPRA) / SEEK
Step-by-Step: Registration & Costs
1APC eligibility checkEligibility Check, per request (non-refundable)
Submit your pharmacy qualification to the Australian Pharmacy Council for an eligibility check before sitting any exam.
2OPRA exam (knowledge stream)OPRA exam, per attempt (Australian Intern Written Exam AUD 790; CAOP AUD 2,100; skills assessment outcome AUD 300)
Sit the Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment (OPRA) — the replacement for the retired KAPS exam. KAPS no longer exists.
3English language + provisional registration & internshipGeneral registration AUD 504 national (AUD 531 NSW total); provisional (intern) registration AUD 252 + AUD 169 application fee (from 1 October 2026)
Meet the Pharmacy Board English standard (for tests taken on or after 23 April 2026: IELTS Academic overall 7 with Listening, Reading and Speaking 7 and Writing 6.5; or OET Listening 350, Reading 360, Writing 350, Speaking 360), gain provisional registration, then complete 1,575 hours of supervised internship before general registration.
4Skilled visa application (subclass 189 / 190 / 491)Base application charge, primary applicant (189; AUD 6,140 for 190/491). +AUD 3,070 per adult; +AUD 1,540 per child (AUD 1,535 for 190/491)
Lodge an EOI and apply for the points-tested skilled visa once registration progresses. Base charge is the same across 189, 190 and 491.
Other Costs to Budget For
From the Pharmacy Board's schedule of fees effective 1 October 2026.
Official source ↗Good News: Employer Sponsorship
Hospitals and pharmacy chains can sponsor pharmacists, and some support overseas-trained pharmacists through the internship year, though full registration requirements must still be met by the individual.
What employers typically cover:
- Internship placement and supervision
- Nomination and visa charges in employer-sponsored streams
- Some exam or registration cost support in shortage areas
What You'll Earn: Pharmacist — national range (2026)
Entry
A$67,158
per year
After 2 Years
A$100,000
per year
Top of Band
A$115,000
per year
Pharmacy Industry Award minimums from 1 July 2026: pharmacy intern (1st half of training) AUD 1,291.50/week (~AUD 67,158/yr); pharmacist AUD 1,586.30/week (~AUD 82,488/yr). SEEK industry averages: Government & Defence AUD 98,686; Healthcare & Medical AUD 79,526 (some SEEK figures include super). Source ↗
Important Things to Know
- KAPS is retired — the current overseas knowledge exam is OPRA (AUD 2,245 per attempt). Do not budget for a KAPS fee.
- English standard is high: for tests from 23 April 2026, IELTS Academic overall 7 (Listening, Reading, Speaking 7; Writing 6.5) or OET Listening 350, Reading 360, Writing 350, Speaking 360.
- A supervised internship of about 1,575 hours (~1 year) is required before general registration.
- End-to-end registration typically takes 18 months to 3 years depending on exam scheduling and internship placement.
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Start Free CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
Is the KAPS exam still required for Australia?
No. KAPS has been retired and replaced by the OPRA exam (Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment), which costs AUD 2,245 per attempt with the Australian Pharmacy Council.
What English score do pharmacists need?
For tests taken on or after 23 April 2026 the Pharmacy Board requires IELTS Academic overall 7 with Listening, Reading and Speaking 7 and Writing 6.5, or OET Listening 350, Reading 360, Writing 350 and Speaking 360. Results can come from one sitting or up to two sittings within 12 months (conditions apply) and must be no more than two years old when you apply.
How long does it take to register as a pharmacist in Australia?
Typically 18 months to 3 years. The pathway includes an eligibility check, the OPRA exam, an English test, provisional registration, then about 1,575 hours (around a year) of supervised internship before general registration.
Related guides
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Compare what it costs Nigerian pharmacists to relocate to each top destination.
Sources & Verification
We reviewed this page against official sources on 8 Oct 2026; each figure links to its source where an official one exists. We do not use AI training data for any costs, fees, or policy claims.
Verification Notes
Pharmacy Board registration fees (AUD 504 national, AUD 531 NSW total) read from the Board's schedule of fees effective 1 October 2026.
Skilled visa base charge (AUD 6,135 for subclass 189; AUD 6,140 for 190 and 491) read on 6 October 2026 from the Home Affairs price service that fills the official visa pages.
The Pharmacy Board charges its own oral examination fees: AUD 510 (practice) and AUD 242 (pharmacy law and ethics). The written and oral exams must be passed within 18 months of each other.
Salary entry/mid/top split is indicative; SEEK's firm value is the AUD 95k–115k registered-pharmacist range. End-to-end timeline is a synthesis of published stage requirements, not a single official figure.
Written by Max Ayobami
Founder of Japa Calculator, Nigeria's first data-driven relocation decision tool. Every cost figure and expert tip on this page is independently researched and verified against official government and regulatory body sources.