Australian intern oral exam training 2025 

Key Points to Remember

• The Oral exam is mandatory for registration.
• Content of the oral exam is: Primary Care, Legal/Professional, and Problem Solving.
• Before applying, 75% of supervised hours must be completed.
• Complete an APOE-60 application, pay a fee of AUD $475.
• Only Part C of the exam allows the use of references.
• Tested on clinical skills, ethics, law, communication and professionalism.
• After the Board ratification, the results are sent by email.
• Use materials, role-plays, mock exams and structured training.

The Pharmacy Oral Examination (Practice) is the final practice that an intern pharmacist has to pass prior to becoming a registered pharmacist in Australia. It is extremely important, in fact, it is the test that confirms the intern’s knowledge and skills, as well as their readiness to perform a safe, ethical, and effective practice in a different setting. For 2025, the Pharmacy Board of Australia has provided quite detailed instructions concerning the eligibility, exam structure, and criteria for the assessment; hence, it is very important for the interns to prepare wisely.

This 2025 Intern Oral Exam we talk about is the presentation of the process for the application, defining the exam and a few words on the way the candidates can prepare themselves. The last point is also dealt with in this guide through the mention of the available training options including the one from Elite Expertise.

Why the Oral Exam is Important

The oral exam guarantees that the interns can carry on their work independently in a safe manner. It assesses your capacity to:

• Provide patient-centred care
• Practical use of law and ethics.
• Interact effectively with patients and prescribers.
• Solve medication-related issues logically using sound judgment.

It is not possible to get a general registration without passing the exam.

Who Can Apply? (Eligibility Criteria)

Those who want to take the exam have to fulfil several requirements:

• At least 75% of Board-approved supervised practice hours completed
• AHPRA provisional registration status
• An ITP (Internship Training Program) enrolment
• Evidence of fulfilling CPD requirements
• Before the internship, the OPRA/KAPS exam must be successfully passed.

How to Apply for the Exam

• Filling out the APOE-60 application form is compulsory.
• Attach identifying documents and records of hours and training.
• Make a payment to cover the non-refundable exam fee (AUD $475 in 2025).
• Before the cut-off date, hand over your application via Ahpra’s online portal.
• Before the deadline, you will be confirmed with the details and your candidate number.

Late applications are not accepted.

Exam Format at a Glance

The exam time is 35–40 minutes, and it is conducted in person with examiners who are registered pharmacists.

What You’ll Be Tested On

Examiners perform the assessment based on the national competency standards with the main focus on:

• Clinical knowledge – safe dispensing, calculations, interactions.
• Patient communication – history taking, counselling, education.
• Legal & ethical practice – handling forged prescriptions, PBS obligations.
• Problem solving – managing errors, conflicts, and complex scenarios.
• Professionalism – keeping up with the integrity and using judgment under stress.

Common Question Types in the Exam

Expect scenario-based questions, for example:

• Finding a drug interaction or a dispensing error.
• Advising on warfarin, insulin, or antibiotics.
• Guiding a patient with poorly controlled asthma.
• Dealing with a forged prescription or a customer conflict situation.
• Trying to balance the patient’s safety with their request.

Exam Fees (2025)

• Oral Exam Fee: AUD $475
• Appeal Fee: AUD $195
• Law & Ethics Exam (if required): AUD $225

After the Exam – What’s Next?

• If an intern passes, they gain a general registration with AHPRA.
• After that, you are allowed to work independently without any supervision.
• Pharmacist registration in Australia will grant you access to a wide range of career paths.

In the case of an unsuccessful attempt, the areas for weakness and you will be allowed to reapply for the next sitting (with a fee payable again).

Tips to Prepare Effectively

• Study core references – AMH, APF, eTG, AusDI/MIMS.
• Role-played realistic scenarios to advance communication and counselling skills.
• Performed a comprehensive revision of legal and ethical obligations relating to PBS and pharmacy law.
• Attempt mock exams under timed, exam-like conditions
• Obtained constructive feedback from preceptors, peers, or mentors

Recommended Study Resources

Elite Expertise Oral Exam Prep Course

If you are looking for a more organised preparation, a training program made especially for the Oral Exam 2025 by Elite Expertise will fit you perfectly.

Features of the Course:

• Experience oral exams done as mock exams that replicate real exam conditions.
• Extensive lectures and recorded classes with your own schedule.
• Feedback tailored to your needs from pharmacists registered in Australia.
• Practice in law, ethics, clinical judgment and communication.
• Confidence-enhancing techniques to help with your first attempt at success.

This is the right course for interns who desire a stepwise preparation and expert guidance.

Final Thoughts

The Intern Oral Exam 2025 will be a career-changing experience for every pharmacy intern. To be successful, one needs to have a blend of knowledge, communication, professionalism, and confidence. Along with suitable materials, regular practice, and professional guidance like the Elite Expertise Oral Exam Preparation Course, the interns can be on the right track to the exam and thus, enter their position as fully registered pharmacists in Australia with a level of assurance.