Registration examination

• Written (open-book) examination
• Oral examination
• Study guide
• Competency standards
• Closing date of entry
• Examination rules -- registration examination

The syllabus includes an open-book and an oral examination in forensic pharmacy and pharmacy practice.

Written (open-book) examination

This is a two-hour written examination on the subjects of pharmacy legislation and pharmaceutical calculations. This examination is a specified open-book examination, and candidates are permitted to bring into the examination room a copy of the Office Consolidation, the Pharmacy Board of Victoria Guidelines for Good Pharmaceutical Practice and the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook (APF) only. Lecture notes and other materials are not permitted. Candidates are also permitted to bring a non-programmable calculator to use during the examination.
Candidates are advised to refer to the board's Candidate's Guide to the Registration Examination for the examination rules. Candidates in the written examination will be required to achieve a pass mark of 75 per cent in part A (pharmaceutical calculations) and 75 per cent in part B (pharmacy legislation) on the same examination date in order to pass the written examination.

Oral examination

Candidates will be required to communicate effectively with the interviewers 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 expected to exhibit knowledge of the responsibilities of pharmacists under the following:

• Pharmacists Act 1974
• Pharmacist Regulations 1992
• Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981
• Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 1995
• Relevant Health Services Acts and the relevant sections of the regulations
• National Health Act and Regulations
• Pharmacy Board Guidelines for Good Pharmaceutical Practice.

Candidates will be permitted to bring into the examination reference material of their choice to use during specific parts of the examination. Parts of the examination must also be completed within specified time limits.
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 board 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 pre-registrants are advised of the closing date of entry by a personal communication to their last known address.

Examination rules -- registration examination

All pre-registrants are advised of the examination rules in a candidate's guide distributed to all pre-registrants.

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