In case you missed reading the first part, you can give it a go – part I. In the first part, we talked about – what is KAPS, eligibility criteria, mode of exam, exam dates, and exam centers. In part two, we will go deeper and further understand the KAPS exam. Let’s dive right into it then.
What is the fee for the KAPS exam?
The examination fee for the KAPS exam is AU$ 2230/attempt.
As we mentioned in this article, you become eligible to apply for the KAPS exam only after you have received your skill assessment notice. Skill Assessment is the first step towards becoming a pharmacist in Australia. Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) is the body that carries out the skill assessment.
You can read about skill assessment in detail in this article.
How many times can I write the KAPS exam?
The answer is unlimited. But this is not something to be excited about. There are hidden implications if you take too many attempts to clear the KAPS exam.
The first & foremost is – cost. The KAPS exam fee is pretty high; and each attempt will cost you AU$2230.
The second is – foregone income. The more time you take to clear the exam, the more you will lose on the income that you could have generated after moving to Australia. Losing 1 year is equivalent to losing ~ 40 lacs rupees that you could have earned in working in Australia.
And the third is – lowering your chances of getting a PR. This is a concern if you’re in your 30ties. You get the highest point when you’re between 25 and 33 years old. See here.
What is the syllabus of the exam?
The KAPS exam has two papers. Paper one consists of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Physiology and Pharmacology. Paper two consists of Pharmaceutic & Therapeutics. The table below explains the subject & their respective weights as well –
| Paper 1 | Approximate weights |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 30% |
| Physiology and Pharmacology | 70% |
| Paper 2 | |
| Pharmaceutic | 30% |
| Therapeutics | 70% |
When should I fill out the form for the exam?
The KAPS exam happens 3 times a year – February, July, and November. But before you apply for the KAPS exam, you should plan things well with keeping the following factors in mind –
- It takes about 12 weeks to process your skill assessment application
- It also takes about 12 weeks to complete your KAPS exam preparation (this may vary person to person depending on how well versed you already are with your pharmaceutical science knowledge and how many hours one is dedicating)
For example, if you’re planning to write KAPS in February, Oct-Nov would be an ideal time to start preparing & applying for your skill assessment.
How should I prepare for the KAPS exam?
It depends on you. You can self study or join an online/offline coaching. However, the entire process is pretty complex and expensive (skill assessment fee – AUD 1310/request + KAPS fee – AUD 2230/attempt), we recommend taking consultation from experts.
We have a batch starting in October, you can fill out this form & we’ll help you.
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