What's New
1. Important Information for APC Applicants and Candidates
Applicants and candidates should read this information carefully.
These changes will be updated throughout the website as soon as possible, however, where there is variance between the information provided below and information on the rest of the website, the information below will take precedence.
Credit card facilities - Date of Effect: 1 October 2008
The APC now has credit card facilities. Please note that a $10 processing fee will apply to all credit card transactions. Only MasterCard and Visa are accepted.
- Validity Period for Certificates of Good Standing - Confirmed
Certificates of Good Standing will remain valid for APC purposes for six months from the date of issue.
Stream B Process NFECE & Oral Examination Fee Increase - Date of Effect: 1 July 2008
The fee for the Stream B Oral and NFEC Examinations will increase from $150 to $225 to reflect the cost of the oral examination. The one fee covers both examinations.
Supervised Practice Placements - Date of Effect: 28 May 2008
In recognition of the current shortage of supervised practice placements in Australia, the Council has agreed that up to 50% of a candidate’s total supervised practice hours can be conducted in an approved non-community or non-hospital environment provided that the candidate is working under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.
Candidates are reminded that supervised practice placements must be approved by the Examining Committee representative in their State or Territory, before they commence working in that placement
Important Information for Candidates Sitting the CAOP and APCAT Examinations
The APCAT and CAOP Examinations are restricted open book examinations. One of the two allowable texts, the Australian Pharmaceutical Handbook and Formulary 20 (APF 20) (available from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia [PSA]) is currently out of print and is only available on CD.
A hard copy of the document will only be available from the PSA in the form of a photocopy of the publication until the next edition (APF 21) is released. APC candidates purchasing the APF 20 should advise the PSA that they require a photocopy so that it is acceptable for examination conditions. No electronic versions of the allowable texts will be permitted in the examination environment.
Shortage of Supervised Practice Placements in Metropolitan Areas
The Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) wishes to make APC candidates aware of the fact that they may experience some difficulties in obtaining a suitable supervised practice placement, particularly in the major metropolitan centres. There is, however a shortage of pharmacists in many regional and rural areas and in Western Australia and candidates may wish to consider this when seeking a suitable placement.
Candidates are reminded that supervised practice placements must be approved by the Examining Committee representative in their State or Territory, before they commence working in that placement.
New Guides for Candidates
Guides for the APCAT, CAOP and NFEC Examinations are now available. Click on the links below for links to the new guides.
Fee Increase
APC fees for applicants and candidates will increase from 1 July 2008. Please see the fee schedule for more information.
Change to IELTS Requirement - Date of Effect: 1 January 2008
From 1 January 2008, APC applicants must achieve an overall Band score of 7 at the Academic level of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.5 in each of the four components of the test. Until 30 December 2007 the IELTS requirement will remain at an overall Band score of 7 at the Academic level of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and a minimum score of 6.0 in each of the four components will apply.
All IELTS results received from 1 January 2008 must meet the new requirement.
APC requirements in the Occupational English Test (OET) remains unchanged and a score of either ‘A’ or ‘B’ in each of the four sections of the Occupational English Test (OET) is acceptable.
Archiving of APC Candidates’ Files - Date of Effect: 1 January 2008
While a validity period does not apply to APC eligibility assessments a candidate’s file will be closed five years from receipt of their eligibility assessment if no progress has been made by the candidate through the APC process since that time.
2. Your opportunity to become a pharmacy school evaluator
The APC is seeking enthusiastic pharmacists and pharmacy academics who may be interested in becoming Australian Pharmacy Council evaluators. Click here to see the media release about becoming a pharmacy school evaluator and here for more information about accreditation.
