CAOP
The CAOP (Competency Assessment of Overseas Pharmacists) is an exam set by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) to test the competence of foreign pharmacists (from either the UK, Ireland, USA or Canada) looking to immigrate to Australia. The exam primarily tests clinical and practical knowledge NOT knowledge of the Australian legal or regulatory framework. Requirements for sitting the CAOP exam include:
- Migrating from either the UK, Ireland, USA or Canada.
- Obligatory pharmacy qualification is needed for this course, following at least 4 years of full-time academic study from an accredited institution in a country or jurisdiction formally recognised by the APC.
- Deemed non-eligible by COPRA (Council of Pharmacy Registering Authorities of Australia), otherwise, you should proceed via stream A.
- The applicant must hold current registration with a pharmacy body in any given country and be able to practice as a pharmacist in that country within the last 10 years, ie. NAPLEX - US, PEBC - Canada, GPhC - UK etc.
- Certificate(s) of Good Standing must be provided directly to the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand from all jurisdictions in which you have been registered at any time over the past 10 years.
- If English is not your first language, an original IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or OET (Occupational English Test) certificate must be provided
- If you are unsure as to whether you need to sit the KAPS or CAOP check the article here.
Details about CAOP
The CAOP consists of one paper of 70 multiple-choice questions (MCQ) over a two-hour period. It is based on the competencies currently existing for Australian pharmacy practice. This examination is available in online, offline it is available in London - England, Auckland and all major cities in Australia.
The CAOP exam is based up on the skills for Medicines Management and Patient Care (Domain 3) of the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia 2016, these include:
Content Area 3.1: Develop a patient-centred, culturally responsive approach to education management
Medicines management and patient care
Topics
Content assessed | |
3.1.1 | Obtain relevant health and medicines information |
3.1.2 | Assess medication management practices and needs |
3.1.3 | Collaborate to develop a medication management strategy or plan |
Content Area 3.2: Implement the medication management strategy or plan
Medicines management and patient care
Topics
Content assessed | |
3.2.2 | Provide primary care and promote judicious use of medicines |
3.2.3 | Dispense medicines (including compounded medicines) in consultation with the patient and/or prescriber |
3.2.5 | Provide counselling and information for safe and effective medication management |
Content Area 3.3: Monitor and evaluate medication management
Medicines management and patient care
Topics
Content assessed | |
3.3.2 | Apply clinical review findings to improve health outcomes |
Content Area 3.4: Compound medicines
Medicines management and patient care
Topics
Content assessed | |
3.4.1 | Determine the required formulation |
Content Area 3.6: Promote health and well-being
Topics
Content assessed | |
3.6.2 | Support health promotion activities and health services intended to maintain and improve health |
Our Analysis of the APC Exam
From our research into previous papers, the main subject matter of questions which tends to reoccur includes:
Content category | Candidate Competency assessed in area including |
Calculations | Drug half lives Required dosages Drug concentrations |
Counselling | Drug interactions Drug management Health promotion activities High risk drugs Paediatrics |
Dosage forms | Drug preparations Drug packaging Drug labelling |
First Aid competency | Primary care Injuries (sporting, accidental, trauma) Acute and sudden illness (chest pains, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness) |
Therapeutic areas and disease state management | Analgesic Antibiotic Cardiovascular Dermatology Endocrinology Ear, nose and throat Eye Gastrointestinal Malignant Disease Nervous system Respiratory Rheumatology Vaccines |
To pass the CAOP examination, you must achieve a minimum overall pass mark. The overall pass mark for each CAOP examination is moderated and therefore is not a fixed percentage. You must achieve 50% in Domains 2, 4, 6 and 7. You must achieve 63% in Domain 5. You are permitted 2 attempts at the CAOP examination. If you fail the CAOP examination twice, you will be required to sit the KAPS examination prior to receiving a skills assessment letter.