The current candidate guide allocates 35 minutes to the pharmacy oral examination: Part A 10 minutes, Part B 5 minutes and Part C 20 minutes.
Pharmacy oral exam timing
| Part | Topic | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Part A | Primary Healthcare | 10 minutes |
| Part B | Legal and Ethical Practice | 5 minutes |
| Part C | Problem Solving and Communication | 20 minutes |
| Total | Oral examination | 35 minutes |
Will I only be at the venue for 35 minutes?
No. The 35 minutes refers to the examination itself. Candidates also need to allow time for arrival, check-in and the pre- and post-examination waiting arrangements described in the candidate guide. Ahpra provides the allocated time and venue in the examination timetable.
How should you think about pacing?
The short timings mean that a strong response needs structure. Part B is only five minutes, while Part C is 20 minutes and may require history-taking, reference use when instructed, a decision and communication with more than one person.
- Practise reaching the core decision early rather than spending the whole station gathering information.
- Use concise explanations and avoid repeating the same point in several ways.
- Practise with a timer, but do not memorise scripts so rigidly that you stop responding to the scenario.
- For Part C, include enough time to communicate the outcome and next steps, not just diagnose the problem.
A simple timed-practice routine
For Part C practice, start a 20-minute timer, read the scenario, take a relevant history and speak the entire answer aloud. Afterward, compare your response against a worked answer or checklist and note where time was lost.
Once you are consistently finishing with time to spare, tighten the structure rather than trying to speak faster.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the pharmacy oral exam?
The current candidate guide allocates 35 minutes in total.
How long is Part C?
Part C is 20 minutes.
How long is Part A?
Part A is 10 minutes.
How long is Part B?
Part B is 5 minutes.
Practise Part C with a complete worked scenario.
Try one realistic prescription scenario free. Answer it aloud first, then download the model answer, counselling script and independent study rubric.
Try the free Part C question