Let’s Be Real for a Second

If you’re preparing for OPRA, there’s a point where almost every pharmacist feels stuck.

You’ve gone through your old KAPS notes.
You’ve binge-watched every online lecture.
And you know full well that OPRA has officially replaced KAPS — but it still feels overwhelming.

But instead of confidence, you feel uncertainty.

“Why are OPRA questions so different?”
“Do I need to start from scratch?”
“Is this harder than KAPS?”

I’ve seen this cycle again and again. And I’ve personally felt it too. That’s why this guide exists.

The OPRA exam (which officially replaced KAPS) is not just about knowledge — it’s about clinical reasoning, decision-making, and safe practice. How you prepare is far more important than what old KAPS material you have lying around.

With guidance from Elite Expertise and insights from their lead trainers, Mr. Arief Mohammad and Mrs. Harika Bheemavarapu, this blog will show you exactly how to understand OPRA vs KAPS, what’s changed, and how to prepare effectively in 2026.

Grab a coffee. Let’s break this down calmly, step by step.

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Why OPRA Replaced KAPS

For decades, KAPS served as the main exam for overseas pharmacists. It tested pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, pharmacology, and calculations — mainly through rote memorisation.

But as the role of a pharmacist in Australia shifted toward clinical decision-making, the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) recognised the need for something new.

Enter OPRA

• Practice readiness over memorisation
  OPRA focuses on handling real-world clinical scenarios.
• Modern assessment standards
  Using Rasch methodology, your score reflects how well you handle difficult, realistic scenarios — not just raw percentages.
• Streamlined exam format
  Two KAPS papers became a single integrated paper with 120 questions in 150 minutes.

In short, OPRA is designed to test whether you are truly ready to practise in Australia — not just what you can remember from textbooks.

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Key Differences in Focus and Preparation Style

The shift from KAPS to OPRA is more than a name change. It reflects a completely new approach to assessing competency for overseas pharmacists.

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Structure

KAPS
Two separate papers
100 MCQs each
Total duration: 4 hours
Heavy recall of facts across sciences, chemistry, pharmacology, and calculations

OPRA
Single integrated paper
120 MCQs
2.5 hours
Greater emphasis on clinical reasoning and decision-making

Focus Shift

Scoring Change

KAPS relied on a simple 50% pass mark per section.

OPRA uses Rasch methodology, where questions are scored based on difficulty. Passing depends on meeting a competency standard, ensuring fairness regardless of which questions appear in your exam.

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What Old KAPS Material Can You Still Use?

Not all KAPS material is useless. Some foundational knowledge is still valuable.

Still Useful

Anatomy & Physiology
The human body hasn’t changed. Cardiovascular, renal, and neuroanatomy concepts remain relevant.
Ross & Wilson is still a solid reference.

Basic Pharmacology
Drug mechanisms still matter — beta-blockers, diuretics, antibiotics, anticoagulants — especially when applied clinically.

Calculations
Dosage calculations, infusion rates, and renal adjustments (CrCl) are still tested and essential.

What to Avoid

• Intensive organic chemistry pathways
• Outdated KAPS past papers (pre-2020)

OPRA rewards application, not memorisation.

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Recommended Resources and Practice Strategy

Preparing for OPRA in 2026 is very different from KAPS.

Core Australian References

Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH)
The gold standard for therapeutics. OPRA scenarios closely follow AMH recommendations.

Therapeutic Guidelines (eTG)
Essential for first-line and second-line treatment decisions.

Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary (APF)
Counselling points, dispensing protocols, and calculation checks.

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Mock Tests Are Key

OPRA is a timed, computer-based exam. Practising on a realistic platform is non-negotiable.

Elite Expertise provides Rasch-style mock tests that replicate real OPRA difficulty and timing.

Use mocks strategically:

• Focus on quality, not quantity
• Analyse every mistake
• Identify whether errors are due to:
  • Knowledge gaps
  • Logical reasoning errors
  • Calculation slips
  • Reading mistakes

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Structured Study Approach

Phase 1: Diagnostic (Early Prep)

When: First 2–3 weeks
How often: One mock
Purpose: Identify weak areas, reasoning gaps, and time issues

Low scores here are valuable — they guide your preparation.

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Phase 2: Weekly Rhythm (Mid-Prep)

When: After covering core subjects
How often: One mock per week
Purpose: Build stamina, speed, and safe decision-making

Improvement comes from analysis, not just attempts.

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Phase 3: Simulation (Final 30 Days)

When: Last month
How often: Two mocks per week
Purpose: Simulate exam conditions, refine strategies, and build confidence

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Elite Expertise Advantage

Elite Expertise stands out because you learn from practising Australian clinical pharmacists.

Mr. Arief Mohammad (Arief Sir)

Clinical Pharmacist – Northern Health, Melbourne
AACPA Accredited Consultant Pharmacist
Focus: Clinical reasoning, therapeutics, AMH-based strategies

Known for his “ward-level thinking” approach — teaching how to think safely, not just answer questions.

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Mrs. Harika Bheemavarapu (Harika Ma’am)

Clinical Pharmacist – Monash Health, Melbourne
AACPA Accredited Consultant Pharmacist
Focus: Pharmaceutical sciences, calculations, theory-to-clinic bridge

She simplifies complex concepts and ensures confident clinical application.

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Together, they follow one mantra:

“Smart Study Beats Hard Study.”

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Course Highlights

• 300+ hours of live and recorded OPRA-specific content
• Rasch-style mock exams
• 1:1 mentorship
• No recycled KAPS notes
• Clinical reasoning & time management training

Elite Expertise trains you to think like an Australian pharmacist from day one.

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How to Transition Your Preparation: Phase-Wise Strategy

OPRA preparation is about training your brain under pressure.

Analysing Mock Tests: Root-Cause Method

• Knowledge Gap → Relearn concepts clinically
• Logical Error → Focus on patient safety and risk-benefit
• Silly Mistakes → Slow down, underline keywords
• Calculation Slip → Practice calmly, daily

As Arief Sir says:

“Calculations don’t fail students. Panic does.”

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Building an Error Notebook: Your Secret Weapon

Track:

• Repeated mistakes
• Drug interactions
• Law & ethics traps
• Personal weak points

Review weekly and before mocks.

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OPRA Time Management Techniques

• 120 questions in 150 minutes
• ~75 seconds per question

Strategy

• First pass → flag tough questions
• 90-second ceiling
• Finish first pass in 120 minutes
• Use on-screen flags & strikethroughs

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Important Clarifications

AMH, eTG, APF are for intern exams, not OPRA.

OPRA focuses on:

• Clinical reasoning
• Conceptual understanding
• Safe decision-making

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Final Thoughts

Doing 50 mocks without analysis is worse than 10 with deep reasoning.

If you:

• Use mocks strategically
• Analyse errors honestly
• Track progress patiently

You will improve.

As Harika Ma’am says:

“Focus on the process. The result will follow.”

You’re not just preparing for an exam.
You’re training to become a safe Australian pharmacist.

Take a deep breath.
Trust the process.
Keep moving forward.