Pharmacy practice (practical)
This is a three-hour test conducted in the departments of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacy Practice by the Pharmacy Board in cooperation with the academic staff of the college.
Candidates will be required to demonstrate competency in the preparation and presentation of extemporaneously prepared pharmaceutical products and in dealing with problems involved with the dispensing of prescriptions. Appreciation and resolution of contemporary problems in modern medication is also expected. Candidates are required to write a concise but accurate and intelligible record of all relevant quantitative and qualitative information as to their bench operations. Competency in common pharmaceutical calculations, speed and accuracy in weighing, measuring and blending, unfaltering care and cleanliness as well as the use of good technical English in reporting are essential. Free use of the common compendia and pharmaceutical references during the examination is permitted.
Pharmacy practice (oral)
Candidates will be required to communicate effectively with the interviewer and demonstrate knowledge of the State and Commonwealth laws relating to the practice of pharmacy in Victoria, to demonstrate competence in reading prescriptions, and the management of medication problems.
Candidates will be required to demonstrate competence in the relevant technical and forensic details relating to the area of pharmaceutical practice they have been engaged in during the period of traineeship.
Candidates will be expected to exhibit knowledge of the responsibilities of pharmacists under the:
Pharmacists Act 1974
Pharmacist Regulations 1992
Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981
Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 1985
Relevant Health Services Acts and the relevant sections of the Regulations
National Health Act and Regulations
The candidate will be expected to demonstrate competence and fluency in spoken English.
Study guide
The board issues a `Candidate's study guide', for the examination in April each year.
Competency standards
In order to assess competence to practise, the Pharmacy Board of Victoria uses `Competency standards for entry level pharmacists in Australia', adopted in 1994, as set out in the `Candidate's study guide'.
Closing date of entry
All trainees will be advised of the closing date of entry by a personal communication sent to their last known address.
Examination rules - final examination
The following examination rules are issued by the Pharmacy Board of Victoria. These rules should be read in conjunction with the provisions of the Pharmacists Act 1974.
1. Candidates are required to pay the prescribed fee for the final examination subjects as set down under the Pharmacists Act 1974 prior to sitting for examination.
2. An entry for examination will normally only be accepted from graduates who have completed, at the closing date for entries for the examination, at least three-fourths of the prescribed training set down under the Pharmacists Regulations 1992.
3. Candidates must pass both subjects at the one attempt at the final examination set down in the Pharmacists Regulations 1992 (ie `Pharmacy practice (practical)' and `Pharmacy practice (oral)') to be judged successful.
4. In the case of the Pharmacy practice (practical) examination:
(a) candidates will be permitted to enter the examination room fifteen minutes prior to the commencement of the examination;
(b) candidates may read the examination paper prior to commencement of the examination but may not begin the examination until advised to do so by the supervisor;
(c) candidates may not leave the examination room until the examination has been in progress for half an hour;
(d) candidates arriving more than half an hour after the examination has commenced will not be admitted;
(e) candidates must not communicate with one another in the examination room;
(f) examination booklets must not be taken from the laboratory;
(g) examination answer booklets taken from the laboratory will not be marked;
(h) candidates must not leave their position in the laboratory until approval of the supervisor is obtained.
5. In the case of the `Pharmacy practice (oral)' examination candidates who have not been examined must not communicate with candidates who have taken the examination.
6. Candidates must not communicate concerning the examination with examiners or members of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria from the end of the final examination until after the publication of results.
7. Where sickness or other circumstances warranting compassion arise, candidates must furnish written information to the registrar immediately. In the case of sickness, a medical certificate is required and must be forwarded to the registrar of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria within forty-eight hours of the time of consultation.
8. The Pharmacy Board of Victoria will publish results of examination, but it may, in the case of a candidate failing to observe these examination rules, omit the results of such a candidate.
9. Failure to comply with any rule or instruction by an examiner will be regarded as a breach of discipline and may be reported to the registrar of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria.
10. Any communication regarding examinations must be addressed in the initial instance to the registrar of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria.