Revised recognition process for overseas trained pharmacists.
The Council of Pharmacy Registering Authorities and the Australian Pharmacy Examining Council (APEC) have announced a revised recognition process for overseas trained pharmacists seeking registration in Australia. From 1 December 2006, all overseas trained pharmacists, irrespective of their country of origin, will be required to be assessed for competency to practise in Australia by undertaking a formal APEC process. A modified process will be introduced for eligible holders of qualifications from the UK, Ireland, USA and Canada. This will be a shortened process which will require passing a new examination known as Competency Assessment of Overseas Pharmacists (CAOP). CAOP will be offered four times a year in Australia and overseas.Succesfull applicants will be eligible for registration after they have satisfactorily completed a minimum period of four weeks supervised practice in Australia and have satisfied an assessment by the state registering authority. This will include a national examination of pharmacy law and ethics. Pharmacists from other countries will continue to be assessed by the current process, which includes formal examination, longer periods of supervised pratice and a final assessment of competency. New Zealand pharmacists will continue to be exempt from APEC requirements. New Zealand's educational qualifications are closely linked to Australia's through shared accreditation requirements and practice standards are similar.