Recently, we consulted several pharmacy students who are about to finish their internships, but they still haven’t applied for their skills assessments. It was only after speaking with us that they realized they had already lost a lot of time.

In fact, if they had taken action earlier, they might already have their PR.

We’ve found that many pharmacists still don’t know that they can apply for a skills assessment as soon as they complete their studies.

Many people still think they need to finish a full year of internship before they can apply.

So today, let’s talk about the pharmacist migration pathway. We’ll cover the accredited courses, skills assessment, registration, and how to gain extra points through work experience.

Accredited Courses:

To be eligible for a skills assessment as a pharmacist, you must complete either a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours, 4 years) or a Master's degree. A list of accredited programs can be found on the AHPRA website.

• Some universities offer combined Bachelor (Honours) + Master programs (such as Monash and the University of Sydney), but in fact, you can apply for a skills assessment after completing the bachelor's portion — and begin preparing for visa options like the 190 or 491.

• At UNSW, however, the full 5-year package must be completed before you are eligible for a skills assessment.

• In some cases, completing a standalone Master’s degree is also sufficient for skills assessment — for example, at Charles Darwin University (CDU).

Skills Assessment:

The skills assessment authority for pharmacists is the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC).

• For those with Australian qualifications, you can apply for a skills assessment after completing an accredited course. The documentation required is relatively straightforward — just proof of identity and academic qualifications.

• The assessment outcome will include two occupations: Hospital Pharmacist and Retail Pharmacist. Both are eligible for skilled visas such as the 190 and 491.

• When applying for state nomination, these two occupations are generally interchangeable. Since they fall under the same unit group, work experience in one can count towards points for the other. In our practical experience, most applicants tend to select Retail Pharmacist.

Becoming a Registered Pharmacist in Australia:

Registration Requirements Based on Educational Background:

• For qualifications from countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland, you will need to provide proof of identity, academic qualifications, and evidence of registration in your country of study.

• For qualifications from other countries, your academic background must first be assessed, followed by passing the KAPS (Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences) examination.
  

  
  

Types of Pharmacist Registration:

• Student Registration

• Provisional Registration (after graduation)

• Full Registration

Once you obtain provisional registration, you must complete a 1-year internship before upgrading to full registration.

Important Notes:

• Registration is mandatory for professional practice, but it is not required for a migration skills assessment.

• This is similar to the early childhood teaching pathway — in other words, if you're not planning to work immediately, you can apply for the skills assessment without registering. However, in reality, most pharmacists we know do go on to register and work in the field after graduation.

About Work Experience:

Let’s first take a look at the explanation provided on the APC official website:

Since the assessing authority (APC) explicitly states that intern year work experience is not considered for assessment, and the ANZSCO definition specifies that pharmacists require a bachelor’s degree plus at least one year of relevant work experience, it is generally understood that only work completed after obtaining full registration — typically from the second year onwards — is eligible for migration points.

Special Cases:

• We have previously helped clients submit a submission to claim points for intern year experience, but this is not recommended unless absolutely necessary.

• Also, please be aware that many pharmacists who DIY their applications mistakenly include student pharmacist experience for points. We’ve encountered multiple cases across various states — and unfortunately, this will only lead to one outcome: visa refusal. While state governments may not scrutinize this, the Department of Home Affairs certainly will.

• So please remember: Do not claim any work experience gained before graduation.