We recently spoke with several pharmacy students who were nearing the end of their internships—yet hadn’t even started their skills assessment for migration. Only after consulting us did they realize how much time they’d lost.

Had they acted sooner, they might already have PR.

Many pharmacists still don’t realize:
✅ You can apply for a skills assessment as soon as you complete your degree—no need to wait until internship is finished!

Today, we break down the pharmacist migration pathway, covering:
�� Approved courses
�� Skills assessment
�� Registration
�� Work experience points

 

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1. Approved Courses

To qualify for a pharmacist skills assessment, you need:

A Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) (4 years) or

A Master of Pharmacy

Key Notes:
�� Check AHPRA’s list of accredited courses.
�� Some universities offer combined Bachelor+Master packages (e.g., Monash, Uni Sydney).

You can apply for skills assessment after the Bachelor portion (start planning 190/491 early!).
�� UNSW’s 5-year program requires full completion before assessment.
�� Some standalone Masters (e.g., CDU) also qualify.

 

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2. Skills Assessment – Australian Pharmacy Council (APC)

Requirements for Australian Graduates:

Submit proof of identity + degree completion.

Assessment covers two occupations:

Hospital Pharmacist (ANZSCO 251511)

Retail Pharmacist (ANZSCO 251513)

Both are eligible for 190/491 visas.

Work experience is interchangeable between the two for points claims.
(Pro tip: We recommend Retail Pharmacist for smoother processing.)

 

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3. Becoming a Registered Pharmacist in Australia

Registration Pathways:

�� For graduates from the UK, US, Canada, NZ, Ireland:

Provide proof of registration in home country + degree.

 Other international graduates:

Pass the KAPS exam (Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences).

Registration Levels:

1️⃣ Student Registration
2️⃣ Provisional Registration (after graduation) → Requires 1-year internship
3️⃣ Full Registration

⚠️ Important:

Registration is mandatory for work but NOT for skills assessment.

Similar to early childhood teachers, you can get assessed without registering—but most pharmacists register anyway.

 

 

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4. Work Experience Points

What Counts?

APC explicitly excludes internship year from skills assessment.

ANZSCO states pharmacists need:

A bachelor’s degree + 1 year post-registration experience.
Only work after obtaining Full Registration qualifies for pointsCommon Mistakes to Avoid:

❌ Claiming internship year as experience → Leads to refusal.
❌ Counting student pharmacist work → Guaranteed rejection.
(We’ve seen multiple DIY cases fail this way!)

Exception (Rare):

We’ve successfully argued for internship experience in a submission, but this is high-risk.