Pharmacist

The South African Pharmacy Council (Council), in 2018, developed a new format for the pre-registration examination, which is in line with the new competency standards. Council resolved that the pre-registration examination be conducted three times, i.e. in March, August and October as indicated in the schedule below. Restoring pharmacists will write the examination a day after the pre-registration examination for Pharmacist Interns.

                       PHARMACIST RESTORATION EXAMINATION

                      Please click here to access the restoration examination (04 March 2027).

                      Only candidates booked for the restoration examination will be able to access the examination.

                       Step-by-step guide for accessing the examination tutorial (Watch video below)

  Click here to watch the step-by-step video on YouTube.

The examination format consists of one paper comprising the calculation (20 questions) and general (60 questions) sections, written over two and a half (2¹/₂) hours. The calculation section will be written over one hour and the general section over one and a half (1¹/₂₎) hours. You may download the sample 2019 Practice Pre-Registration Exam Paper by clicking here.

The blueprint for the new format examination is available in the 2026 Intern and Tutor Manual. Click here to download the 2026 Intern and Tutor Manual.

Council will conduct workshops in 2026 to introduce the examination format to interns and their tutors. The dates of these workshops will be communicated in due course. Restoring pharmacists can attend the workshops or review the recording after the workshops.

Restoring Pharmacists attempting the examination will only be allowed to sit for the examination after:

• Submission of at least six (6) CPD entries and competence in all six (6) CPD entries by the time of booking for the examination
• Submission of a progress report at the end of the supervision period by the supervising pharmacist ; and
• 400 hours under supervision of a pharmacist in a community or institutional pharmacy approved for training, alternatively a Grade A pharmacy;

It is COMPULSORY for all restoring pharmacists to participate in the practice examination before they attempt the restoration examination. The purpose of the practice examinations is to provide pharmacists with an opportunity to experience the online examination conditions prior to writing the examination.

The examinations will be conducted remotely. Pharmacists are required to book online on the secure site to write the examination. The examination booking must be completed at least four weeks prior to the examination date. A late booking fee determined by Council will be charged for bookings submitted less than four weeks and up to 14 days before the examination date. Bookings submitted less than 14 days before the examination date will not be accepted.

The examination fees are published by Council each year and are available on the Council website.

A restoring Pharmacist may attempt an examination on any of the scheduled dates. If the restoring pharmacist fails the examination, he/she may rewrite it on the next available examination date.

2026 ONLINE PRE-REGISTRATION EXAMINATION WORKSHOP

View the SAPC 2026 Online Pre-Registration Examination Workshop below, or click here to view on the SAPC YouTube Channel.

2026 PRE-REGISTRATION EXAMINATION WORKSHOPS PRESENTATIONS

The 2026 Pre-registration Examination Workshop presentations are available for download below:

2026 Pre-registration Examination Presentation

RESTORATION EXAMINATION DATES ARE A DAY AFTER THE PRE-REGISTRATION EXAMINATION, SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION TAKERS' AVAILABILITY. PRE-REGISTRATION EXAMINATION DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Please refer to www.sapc.za.org/Intern_Overview