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This information about internships is for graduates of programs of study approved for provisional registration and graduates of substantially equivalent programs. Graduates of programs of study approved for general registration should refer to Graduates of Australian programs.
On 30 April 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board decided to vary the requirements for supervised practice for interns. Issues such as self-isolation, illness or pharmacy closure may mean that interns may be unable to complete the required number of supervised practice hours within the usual 12-month timeframe. The following modifications to internships applied:
The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website states that although the WHO Director-General has announced that WHO no longer considers COVID-19 to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the COVID-19 pandemic declaration is still active. The Board has given careful consideration to the impacts of the modified requirements for supervised practice, informed by the views of stakeholders and has agreed to maintain these requirements until a revised registration standard setting out supervised practice arrangements, approved by Ministers is implemented.
The Board is satisfied that the modified requirements continue to support interns to meet all eligibility requirements to gain general registration and practise safely, and provide adequate protection of the public as:
Graduates of a program of study approved by the Board for provisional registration, graduates of a substantially equivalent program and some overseas practitioners are required to hold provisional registration and complete a period of supervised practice (internship) in accordance with the requirements set out in the Board’s Registration standard: Supervised practice arrangements prior to applying for general registration. While completing supervised practice, an accredited intern training program must also be successfully completed. Before any supervised practice can take place, interns are required to:
Individuals who hold provisional registration to complete supervised practice are referred to as interns or intern pharmacists. Intern pharmacists must pass the Board's registration examination and meet the Board’s registration standards to be eligible to apply for general registration at the end of the required period of supervised practice. For information about the registration standards that need to be met when applying for provisional registration and general registration, refer to Graduates of Australian programs.
The resources on this page give an overview of how graduates can smooth the path from study to work. They outline the requirements and responsibilities of graduates seeking provisional registration to complete an internship.
Complete pharmacy degree (Program approved for provisional registration or a substantially equivalent program)
OR
Pass Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences (KAPS) exam conducted by the Australian Pharmacy Council (Overseas qualified pharmacists)
After completion of:
This video is relevant to pharmacy students who are nearing the completion of a program of study in Australia which is approved by the Board for provisional registration and will soon be applying for provisional registration as a pharmacist.
Please note: The video below suggests starting your application 4-6 weeks before your graduation, however we recommend that you start your application within the final three months of your course so that your application for provisional registration can be approved soon after the university notifies Ahpra that you have successfully completed the course.
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Final-year students of a pharmacy program of study in Australia approved for provisional registration can apply:
Applicants who graduated from New Zealand (have not completed a Board-approved program of study) or another overseas country should submit an Application for provisional registration and supervised practice - APRO-60 (1.33 MB,PDF).
Information relating to the internship is provided in the Board's Intern pharmacist and preceptor guide. Further information is also available in FAQ for pharmacy interns and preceptors.
A component of the internship is the development of a site-based training plan to address the competencies required of a pharmacist. The sample community intern training plan and sample hospital intern training plan can be used as a guide in the preparation of the intern’s training plan.
Preparation of extemporaneous products also forms part of the internship. The Board has provided the following resources for preceptors and interns.
The statutory declaration and six product reports are to be submitted to the coordinator of the intern's intern training program.
The Board’s Registration standard: Supervised practice arrangements outlines that for graduates of an approved pharmacy program of study, the period of supervised practice must include satisfactory completion of an accredited intern training program. This applied to graduates of programs of study approved by the Board for provisional registration and also applies to overseas qualified pharmacists who are required to complete a full internship and to graduates of a substantially equivalent program of study.
The Board has authorised the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) to accredit intern training programs in Australia. A list of the accredited programs is published on the APC website. In addition to applying to the Board for provisional registration and approval of supervised practice, an intern must select an accredited intern training program and lodge an enrolment application with the relevant provider of the program.
For information about the Board's registration examination for general registration refer to the Registration Examination page.
To be eligible to apply for general registration an intern with provisional registration must have:
*The number of approved supervised practice hours required for registration may vary, for example during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current modified requirement of 1,575 hours of Board-approved supervised practice for general registration will remain in place until a revised registration standard addressing supervised practice arrangements that has been approved by Ministers is implemented.
More information about these requirements is in the Board’s registration standards.
General registration is easily applied for online.
