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's 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 Registration Examination Candidate Guide 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 examiners and demonstrate knowledge of the state and federal laws relating to the practice of pharmacy in Victoria and 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:

Pharmacy Practice Act 2004 (Victoria)
Pharmacy Practice Regulations 2005 (Victoria)
Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Victoria) and Regulations 2006 (Victoria)
Relevant Health Services Acts, Health Records Act and the relevant sections of the Regulations
National Health Act 1953 and Regulations 1960
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 and examination rules

The board issues a Registration Examination Candidate Guide in April each year, which includes the examination rules.

Competency standards

In order to assess competence to practise, the board uses Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003, available from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and reproduced in Registration Examination Candidate Guide.

Closing date of entry

All pre-registrants will be advised of the closing date of entry to the registration examination by a personal communication to their last known address.

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