FAQs - Australia

1. How do I know if I am qualified to migrate as a pharmacist to Australia?
   
   
2. How do I apply for an assessment exam to APEC?
   
   
3. Is experience a requirement for me to qualify to take the APEC Exam?
   
   
4. Do APEC and DIMIA recognize any aspect of pharmacy practice in the Philippines?
   
   
5. Can I process my APEC application and eventually, Visa application alone?
   
   
6. How long does the entire Australia migration process take and how much does it approximately cost?
   
   
7. How much is a pharmacist's salary in Australia?
   
   
8. Do I get to practice as a pharmacist immediately in Australia?
   
   
9. How much is the cost of living in Australia?
   
   
10. Does a positive result of the APEC exam guarantee a successful Visa application?
    
    
11. Where can I find additional information regarding my potential migration as a pharmacist?
    
    

1. How do I know if I am qualified to migrate as a pharmacist to Australia?
   
   The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA), the office in charge of processing migration applications, has set some qualifications and requirements for the different types of visa. This is enumerated and discussed in details in Booklet 6 of DIMIA that could be easily downloaded from their site.
   
   Like all migration applications, a “points test” is being used as a measure of one’s qualification. Below are examples of some of the visa types that pharmacists could apply for, especially for those without any relatives or sponsors living and working in Australia:
   
   PASS MARK FOR:
   
   Skilled Independent (Permanent) visa, subclass 136 is 120 points.
   
   Skilled Independent Regional (Temporary) visa, subclass 495 is 110 points. If you are approved for this kind of temporary visa, you will be required to live in a Regional Area for at least 2 years and also work in that Regional Area for at least 12 months. After meeting these requirements, you will then apply for Permanent visa.
   
   Skilled - State/Territory-nominated Independent (permanent) visa is 70 points:
   
   Your occupation and work experience must be one of the occupations that are called Skills in Demand (Retail and Hospital Pharmacists are included in the list) of the nominating Australian State or Territory. Thus, if the person can meet the requirements for that occupation, even if an applicant is already 44 years of age, that person may still be able to achieve the pass mark of 70 points. The State or Territory government will then nominate the applicant for migration to Australia under Subclass 137 - Skilled - State/Territory-nominated Independent.
   
   Computation of Points Score:
   
   Scoring for each factor:
    
   1. Nominated Occupation – e.g. 60 points is awarded for hospital and retail pharmacists who have worked for at least 12 months out of the 18 months immediately before applying. However, an assessment test needs to be passed to claim the points. This is the test given by the Australia Pharmacy Examining Council (APEC).
   2. Age: 18 to 29 - 30 points
      30 to 34 - 25 points
      35 to 39 - 20 points
      40 to 44 - 15 points
   3. English Language – e.g. 20 points (if you can score at least 6 for each of the components of the IELTS test)
   4. Work experience: e.g. 10 points (if you have been working in your nominated occupation or closely related occupation for at least 3 years for the last 4 years)
   5. Occupation in Demand: such as Retail and Hospital Pharmacist, 15 points.
   6. Spouse's skills - 5 points - if your spouse can meet the basic requirements.
   7. Bonus Points - 5 points if you invest $100,000.00 in Australia for at least 12 months or if you are able to prove that Filipino (Tagalog) is your primary language.
      
       
2. How do I apply for an assessment exam to APEC?
   The first step in APEC application is the eligibility assessment of the pharmacist. APEC requires the candidates to send some documents for this. The list of assessment requirements is easily found in their website www.apec.asn.au. If APEC deems you qualified (usually, results only take a month), then you may take the exam here in the Philippines or overseas (including Australia). The details of the process, as well as the application form for the assessment, may be found in the APEC website.
   
    
3. Is experience a requirement for me to qualify to take the APEC Exam?
   YES. While APEC includes copies of employment certificates as one of the requirements for assessment, APEC does not directly state any “experience requirement” to qualify. However, it would be better if an interested pharmacist could provide at least 6 months of experience as a practicing pharmacist in the Philippines.
   
    
4. Do APEC and DIMIA recognize any aspect of pharmacy practice in the Philippines?
   There are four common areas of pharmacy practice in the Philippines --- the academe, the retail setting (i.e. drugstore pharmacist), hospital, and the industry. Unfortunately, only the hospital and retail pharmacists are included in DIMIA’s Occupations in Demand List. Industrial pharmacy, in particular, is not considered as a “professional pharmacy practice” in Australia. It is advisable therefore, to have enough experience in the hospital or retail setting as a pharmacist or any closely related experience before lodging an APEC and DIMIA assessment to ensure positive results.
   
    
5. Can I process my APEC application and eventually, Visa application alone?
   Definitely. The APEC process for assessment application is so simple and easy. The requirements are basic and should you need further assistance or there are enquiries or clarification, you may email APEC in the email add given in their website. Replies are usually quick (could be less than a day).
   
   For the DIMIA visa application, your APEC requirements are really handy since all these documents are also required for visa processing. The additional papers needed are also minimal and may be easily obtained individually. The process is simple and “applicant – friendly”. Many successful Filipino immigrants in Australia have in fact processed their papers on their own.
   
    
6. How long does the entire Australia migration process take and how much does it approximately cost?
   All in all, the entire process when taken continuously, from the lodging of the APEC assessment application to visa processing, may take 14 to 17 months, depending on the type of visa applied and provided that the APEC exam is successful in the first take.
   
   An approximate cost for the entire process (IELTS + APEC + VISA + charges for the papers/ requirements and certifications) is Php 165000 to Php 200000, exclusive of relocation cost, medical charges, and airfare. The cost would also depend on currency exchanges as APEC and visa charges are in Australian dollars.
   
    
7. How much is a pharmacist's salary in Australia?
   A pharmacist is paid 30 to 40 AUD per hour depending on the employer and location.
   
    
8. Do I get to practice as a pharmacist immediately in Australia?
   No. As stated in the APEC process, a candidate must pass the stage 1 and stage 2 exams before being recognized as a pharmacist in Australia. Passing the stage 1 exam, however, would allow one to practice as a pharmacist intern in Australia that allows for the completion of the APEC internship requirement for the stage 2 examination.
   A pharmacist intern receives 15 to 20 AUD per hour depending on the employer and location.
   
    
9. How much is the cost of living in Australia?
   As a guide, it is estimated that in 1999 households of migrants who had live d in Australia for less than 2 years spent an average of $930 per week supporting 3 people. It is estimated that a couple, renting accommodation in Australia, would need a minimum of $365 per week to survive. A single person would need about $225 per week. (Excerpt from DIMIA’s Booklet 6)
   
    
10. Does a positive result of the APEC exam guarantee a successful Visa application?
    No. The DIMIA has a separate set of requirements and guidelines in assessing whether someone can migrate to Australia or not. A positive APEC exam however, ensures a candidate the much-needed 60 points for skills (provided the required professional experience is met). In addition, being a hospital or retail pharmacist automatically awards the candidate a minimum of 15 points.
    
     
11. Where can I find additional information regarding my potential migration as a pharmacist?
    The following are the helpful sites for gathering additional information:
    www.immi.gov.au
    www.apec.asn.au
    www.liveinaustralia.com.au
    
    It may also be helpful to talk to successful, aspiring, and potential Filipino migrants to Australia through the forum on www.philippines.com.au .