Australian PR Points for Hospital Pharmacist, ANZSCO 251511
Hospital Pharmacists (ANZSCO 251511) are critical healthcare professionals on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). This means the independent subclass 189 visa isn't available, but healthcare occupations still receive priority processing, making state nomination (190) and regional sponsorship (491) strong options for eligible candidates. Note: This code specifically refers to Hospital Pharmacists; Retail Pharmacists fall under ANZSCO 251513.
Subclass 189: Skilled Independent
Hospital Pharmacist: Not eligible
Because ANZSCO 251511 is on the STSOL, the subclass 189 isn't an option under current legislation. Focus on the 190 and 491 pathways instead.
Not availableSubclass 190: State Nominated
With +5 state nomination points
States often prioritize healthcare workers for 190 nominations, subject to state-specific employment and residency criteria.
→ Full 190 nomination guideSubclass 491: Regional
With +15 regional bonus points
A strong option for candidates willing to live and work in designated regional areas.
→ Full 491 regional guideYour Pharmacist Score Across All Three Visa Pathways
| Subclass 189 | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 |
|---|
| Nomination bonus | N/A | +5 | +15 |
| Indicative competitive range | N/A | ~70-80 pts | ~65-75 pts |
| Occupation list | N/A | STSOL | STSOL |
| Typical invitation frequency | N/A | Medium | Medium |
| Primary assessing body | N/A | APC | APC |
Invitation cutoffs vary by round and occupation ceiling. These figures are indicative ranges based on general historical patterns, not published Department of Home Affairs figures for a specific round.
→ See our monthly invitation round tracker for latest resultsSkills Assessment for Pharmacist
A positive skills assessment is mandatory before you can submit an EOI in SkillSelect.
Pharmacist (ANZSCO 251511) is assessed by Australian Pharmacy Council (APC)
| Assessing body | Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) |
| Official portal | pharmacycouncil.org.au |
| Processing time | Up to 4 weeks |
| Approximate fee | AUD $810 eligibility check + $2,100–$2,245 exam |
| Assessment type | Eligibility check, then Knowledge Stream (OPRA) or Competency Stream (CAOP) exam |
| Qualification required | Recognised Pharmacy Degree + Registration |
Assessed by the APC. Requires graduation from a recognised program and current registration. Overseas-qualified applicants first pay an AUD $810 eligibility check, then APC assigns them to either the Knowledge Stream (OPRA exam, AUD $2,245) or the Competency Stream (CAOP exam, AUD $2,100) depending on where they trained. A further AUD $300 Skills Assessment Outcome fee applies to support the actual visa application, so budget for several stages rather than a single flat fee. Note: Migration skills assessment is separate from Ahpra registration, which is required to practice.
⚠ Warning: Your skills assessment must remain valid at the time you RECEIVE your Invitation to Apply, not just when you submit your EOI. Skills assessments are typically valid for 2-3 years. If your assessment is approaching expiry, apply for renewal before your EOI lapses.
→ Complete Skills Assessment GuideState Nomination for Pharmacists: Which States to Target
State nomination adds +5 points (190) or +15 points (491). Not all states nominate all occupations in all rounds.
| State | 190 Available? | 491 Available? | Notes |
|---|
| NSW | Conditional | Conditional | NSW's 2025-26 program narrowed to around 65 occupations total, built around four priority sectors including the Care Economy (health, aged care, disability, education). Confirm Pharmacist is individually named on the current NSW skills list before relying on this. |
| VIC | Conditional | Conditional | Victoria's 2025-26 program (3,400 places) closed to new Registrations of Interest on 28 April 2026; its most recent rounds prioritised nurses, teachers, and construction trades. The 2026-27 program had not yet opened as of this update. |
| QLD | Not currently listed | Not currently listed | Based on our review, Hospital Pharmacist has not been a consistent fixture on Queensland's recent skilled occupation lists for either subclass. Occupation lists change, so check the Queensland skilled migration portal directly before ruling it out. |
| SA | Conditional | Conditional | Health professionals received the most nominations of any sector (639) in SA's 2025-26 program. A completed APC skills assessment is generally required before SA will consider your nomination. Confirm the current list on migration.sa.gov.au. |
| WA | Conditional | Conditional | Healthcare and social assistance is one of WA's five named priority sectors for 2025-26, and Pharmacist typically sits on WASMOL Schedule 1 (health occupations). Check migration.wa.gov.au for the current round. |
| TAS | Conditional | Conditional | Tasmania flags health and allied health as high priority, and health occupations generally only need 6 months of local employment (instead of the usual 9). However, the 2025-26 program was fully delivered with no remaining places as of 3 July 2026. |
| ACT | Not currently listed | Not currently listed | Based on our review, Hospital Pharmacist has not been a consistent fixture on the ACT's recent skilled list. The Canberra Matrix applies if this changes. Check the ACT skilled migration portal directly. |
| NT | Conditional | Conditional | NT residents and graduates heavily preferred. |
Note: State occupation lists are updated periodically. Always verify at each state's official migration portal before applying.
If you have lower points, the 491 state nomination is your most realistic pathway. Focus on states where you can secure employment in your nominated occupation.
How to Improve Your Score as a Pharmacist
Personalised to ANZSCO 251511, the improvements with the highest impact for your specific occupation.
1. Superior English
Moving from Proficient (IELTS 7.0) to Superior (IELTS 8.0/PTE 79) adds 10 points, the single fastest gain available regardless of occupation. Crucial to stand out.
→ Read our points-boosting guide2. State Nomination (190/491)
Since the 189 isn't available for this occupation, state nomination or regional sponsorship is your primary pathway - targeting one adds 5-15 points immediately and lowers the competitive threshold.
→ State nomination guide3. Partner Skills / NAATI
Claiming 5 points for NAATI CCL (credentialed community language) or maximising partner skills points (+5 to +10) can make a critical difference in competitive state rounds.
→ How partner skills add points| Strategy | Points Gained | Time Required | Reform Risk |
|---|
| Superior English (if at Proficient) | +10 | 2-6 months | Low |
| State nomination (190) | +5 | 2-12 weeks | Low |
| Regional sponsorship (491) | +15 | 2-12 weeks | Low |
| Australian work exp (1 more year) | +5 | 1 year | Low |
| NAATI CCL (if bilingual) | +5 | 3-6 months | Medium |
How the 2026 Reform Affects Pharmacists
⚠ The 2026 points test reform is proposed, not yet legislated. The current Schedule 6D system remains fully in effect.
The proposed points test reform aims to prioritize candidates with strong earnings and in-demand skills. If you earn a high salary, you may benefit significantly from the proposed income-based points structure. Conversely, candidates with lower English scores or limited experience may face increased difficulty if the base pass mark is raised to 70 as proposed.
→ Learn more about the 2026 points test reform