How Much Does It Cost for a Nigerian Pharmacist to Relocate to the 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 – ₦2.2M
Starting Salary
A$60,000/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 & internshipAHPRA annual registration fee applies (national fee; NSW total AUD 583 includes a NSW-only complaints component)
Meet the Pharmacy Board English standard (IELTS Academic overall 7.0 with no band below 7.0, or OET grade B in all components), gain provisional registration, then complete ~1,575 hours (about a year) of supervised internship before general registration.
4Skilled visa application (subclass 189 / 190 / 491)Base application charge, primary applicant (from 1 July 2025; +AUD 2,455 per adult, +AUD 1,225 per child)
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
The standalone national Pharmacy Board fee (~AUD 484) could not be read off the official page; AUD 583 is NSW-specific. Confirm the national figure at pharmacyboard.gov.au before relying on it.
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$60,000
per year
After 2 Years
A$100,000
per year
Top of Band
A$115,000
per year
SEEK headline range AUD 95,000–115,000 for registered pharmacists; intern year runs lower (~AUD 60,000–70,000). Government & Defence segment averages ~AUD 98,686. Senior/managerial roles exceed the top figure. 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: IELTS Academic overall 7.0 with no band below 7.0, or OET grade B across the board.
- 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?
The Pharmacy Board requires IELTS Academic overall 7.0 with no band below 7.0, or OET grade B in all components. Results must be from one sitting within the last two years.
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
Same profession, other countries
See cost breakdowns for this profession in other countries
Compare what it costs Nigerian pharmacists to relocate to each top destination.
Sources & Verification
Every figure on this page was independently verified on 2026-06-24. We do not use AI training data for any costs, fees, or policy claims.
Verification Notes
The standalone national AHPRA/Pharmacy Board annual registration fee (~AUD 484) could not be read off the official page (403 to automated fetch); the AUD 583 figure is NSW-only and includes a NSW complaints component. The +2.98% / +AUD 14 increase for 2025/26 is verified.
Skilled visa base charge (AUD 4,910) corroborated across sources citing the 1 July 2025 schedule but not read directly off the JS-rendered Home Affairs page.
No separate standalone OSCE fee line item exists; the intern oral assessment is administered within the intern training program. Internship oral assessment cost is omitted.
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.