100+ Free NZ Pharmacy Intern OSCE Practice Questions

Prepare for the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand Assessment Centre (Intern) OSCE Examination exam with instant access — no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

100+ Questions

100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More New Zealand Health Registration Exams

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

NCNZ Internationally Qualified Nurse (IQN) Theoretical Examination

Practice Questions125 questions Study Guide

New Zealand Dental Technician Registration Examination (NZDTechREX) Written Paper

Practice Questions100 questions

Sample NZ Pharmacy Intern OSCE Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NZ Pharmacy Intern OSCE exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1At an OSCE counselling station, you supply a new prescription for inhaled salbutamol (Ventolin) MDI to an adult with newly diagnosed asthma. Which single instruction is MOST important to confirm the patient can perform correctly before they leave?

A.Use the inhaler only when wheezing is severe enough to wake them at night

B.Store the inhaler in the refrigerator between uses

C.Shake the inhaler, breathe out, then inhale slowly and deeply while pressing the canister, and hold breath ~10 seconds

D.Take two puffs four times daily regardless of symptoms

Explanation: Salbutamol is a short-acting beta-agonist reliever taken as needed; correct MDI technique (shake, full exhalation, slow deep inhalation coordinated with actuation, then a breath-hold) is the key counselling point because poor technique is the commonest reason for apparent treatment failure. Demonstrating and having the patient teach-back the technique is a core OSCE skill.

2A woman presents with a prescription for combined oral contraceptive pills. During counselling she asks what to do if she misses one active pill by 18 hours. What is the correct advice?

A.Stop the pack and restart a new pack at the next period

B.Take the missed pill as soon as remembered and continue the rest as usual; no extra precautions needed

C.Take two pills now and use condoms for the next 7 days regardless

D.Discard the remainder of the pack and use only condoms for the cycle

Explanation: For a combined oral contraceptive, one missed pill (taken less than 24 hours late, i.e. fewer than 48 hours since the last pill) means take the missed pill as soon as possible, continue the rest as normal, and no additional contraception or emergency contraception is needed. Clear, calm missed-pill counselling is a frequent OSCE scenario.

3You are counselling a patient starting warfarin. Which lifestyle point is the MOST appropriate to emphasise to support stable INR control?

A.Avoid all foods containing any vitamin K permanently

B.Stop warfarin on any day they drink alcohol

C.Double the dose on days they eat salad

D.Keep dietary vitamin K intake (e.g. green leafy vegetables) consistent rather than making sudden large changes

Explanation: Warfarin's effect depends on vitamin K balance; large, sudden swings in vitamin K intake destabilise the INR. The correct counselling message is consistency, not avoidance. Patients should also report new medicines and signs of bleeding, and attend INR monitoring.

4A patient collecting metformin asks why they should take it with or after food. What is the BEST explanation to give?

A.Taking it with food reduces gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and diarrhoea

B.Food activates the tablet coating so it works

C.Food is required to prevent hypoglycaemia from metformin

D.Metformin must be taken with food or it will not be absorbed at all

Explanation: Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal upset, especially when starting or increasing the dose; taking it with or after food, and using slow titration, improves tolerability. Metformin alone rarely causes hypoglycaemia, so that is not the reason.

5A patient is prescribed an SSRI (citalopram) for depression and asks how soon they will feel better. Which counselling point is MOST accurate and important?

A.It works within a few hours like a sleeping tablet

B.Mood benefit usually takes 2-4 weeks; do not stop suddenly, and report worsening mood or suicidal thoughts early

C.They can stop it abruptly once they feel better with no problems

D.It is addictive and should be taken only when feeling low

Explanation: SSRIs typically take 2-4 weeks for a meaningful antidepressant effect; patients need this set expectation to avoid premature discontinuation. Early monitoring for worsening mood or suicidal ideation (especially in the first weeks and in younger patients) and advice not to stop abruptly to avoid discontinuation symptoms are key safety messages.

6When counselling a patient on a glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) sublingual spray for angina, what should you tell them to do if chest pain is not relieved after the first dose?

A.Lie flat and wait an hour before any further dose

B.Take ten doses rapidly until pain stops

C.Take a second dose after 5 minutes; if pain persists after a total of about 10-15 minutes or three doses, call 111 (emergency)

D.Switch immediately to aspirin only and avoid further GTN

Explanation: GTN can be repeated at about 5-minute intervals; if chest pain is not relieved after the recommended repeats (commonly a third dose / ~10-15 minutes), the patient should call emergency services as it may signal a myocardial infarction. Sitting rather than standing helps avoid GTN-induced hypotension and fainting.

7A parent collects amoxicillin oral suspension for a child. Which storage and use instruction is correct to include?

A.Store the reconstituted suspension in the fridge, shake well before each dose, and discard any remaining after the stated number of days

B.Store at room temperature for 6 months and use as needed

C.Freeze the suspension to make it last longer

D.Stop the antibiotic as soon as the child seems better, even if doses remain

Explanation: Reconstituted amoxicillin suspension is typically refrigerated, must be shaken before each dose for an even concentration, and discarded after the labelled period (commonly 7-14 days depending on product). Completing the prescribed course as directed is also appropriate antibiotic stewardship counselling.

8You are counselling a patient newly prescribed alendronate (a bisphosphonate) for osteoporosis. Which administration instruction is essential to prevent oesophageal injury?

A.Take with a hot drink to improve absorption

B.Take last thing at night lying down with a small sip of water

C.Crush and mix into milk for easier swallowing

D.Take with a large glass of plain water on rising, remain upright for at least 30 minutes, and take nothing else by mouth in that time

Explanation: Oral bisphosphonates can cause oesophagitis if they linger in the oesophagus. The standard instruction is to take the tablet whole with a full glass of plain water on an empty stomach, stay upright (sitting or standing) for at least 30 minutes, and avoid food, drink, or other medicines in that interval to maximise absorption and minimise irritation.

9A patient starting an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) preventer such as fluticasone asks how to avoid oral thrush. What is the BEST advice?

A.Hold the breath for 60 seconds after each puff

B.Take the preventer only when symptomatic

C.Rinse and spit with water after each dose and consider using a spacer

D.Always take it with an oral antifungal

Explanation: Local deposition of inhaled corticosteroid in the mouth and throat predisposes to oral candidiasis and dysphonia; rinsing the mouth (and spitting) after use and using a spacer reduce oropharyngeal deposition. ICS preventers are taken regularly, not just when symptomatic.

10A patient prescribed isotretinoin (oral) for acne is a woman of childbearing potential. Which counselling point is the MOST critical safety message?

A.Avoid sunlight only because of mild photosensitivity

B.Effective contraception is mandatory before, during, and for a period after treatment because of severe teratogenicity

C.Take it on an empty stomach for best effect

D.It is safe in pregnancy if the dose is low

Explanation: Isotretinoin is a potent teratogen; pregnancy prevention is the central safety requirement, with reliable contraception required before, throughout, and for the specified time after stopping, plus pregnancy testing per the programme. Other counselling (dry skin/lips, take with food, monitor mood and lipids) is important but secondary to pregnancy prevention.

About the NZ Pharmacy Intern OSCE Exam

The Pharmacy Council of New Zealand Assessment Centre OSCE is the final clinical examination interns must pass to register as a pharmacist, alongside completing the EVOLVE intern training programme and being deemed fit to practise. It is a station-based, face-to-face exam (commonly around 10 stations of 10-12 minutes) held in Auckland or Wellington, distinct from the separate OPRA written exam for overseas pharmacists.

Assessment

An observed clinical/professional OSCE of roughly 10 stations with patient actors and examiners, covering counselling, dispensing, clinical decision-making, calculations, law/ethics and cultural safety.

Time Limit

About 10-12 minutes per station across roughly 10 stations (typically a half-day sitting).

Passing Score

Standard-set per station; candidates must be judged competent across the assessment rather than achieve a single published percentage. Confirm the current standard with the Pharmacy Council.

Exam Fee

Set by the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand and reviewed periodically; candidates should confirm the current intern/registration fee schedule on the Council website. (Pharmacy Council of New Zealand)

NZ Pharmacy Intern OSCE Exam Content Outline

18%

Patient counselling

Counselling on new and repeat medicines, inhaler/device technique, administration advice and teach-back to confirm patient understanding.

21%

Clinical decision-making

Clinical reasoning, red-flag recognition, drug interactions, dose appropriateness, monitoring and timely referral.

15%

Pharmaceutical calculations

Dose, concentration, dilution, weight-based, infusion and supply-quantity calculations performed accurately.

13%

Dispensing and supply

Accurate dispensing, interpreting directions and abbreviations, labelling, prescription validity and legal supply.

10%

Law and ethics

Medicines and Misuse of Drugs legislation, HPCAA scope, controlled drugs, privacy, consent and ethics.

10%

OTC and pharmacist-only supply

Minor ailment assessment, triage and safe pharmacist-only/restricted medicine supply decisions.

Professionalism and communication

Patient-centred communication, empathy, documentation, open disclosure and working within scope.

Cultural safety and Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Applying Te Tiriti, cultural safety, Te Whare Tapa Wha and equity for Maori and Pasifika.

How to Pass the NZ Pharmacy Intern OSCE Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Standard-set per station; candidates must be judged competent across the assessment rather than achieve a single published percentage. Confirm the current standard with the Pharmacy Council.
Assessment: An observed clinical/professional OSCE of roughly 10 stations with patient actors and examiners, covering counselling, dispensing, clinical decision-making, calculations, law/ethics and cultural safety.
Time limit: About 10-12 minutes per station across roughly 10 stations (typically a half-day sitting).
Exam fee: Set by the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand and reviewed periodically; candidates should confirm the current intern/registration fee schedule on the Council website.

Keys to Passing

Work through all 100 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NZ Pharmacy Intern OSCE Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practise structured counselling with teach-back out loud and to a timer, since OSCE stations run to about 10-12 minutes and reward clear, patient-centred communication.

2Drill calculations (weight-based dosing, concentrations, dilutions, infusion rates and supply quantities) until you can do them accurately and quickly without a calculator dependency.

3Study the 2024 Competence Standards, especially Domain 1 (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) and cultural safety, and rehearse applying Te Whare Tapa Wha and equity in real scenarios.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the NZ intern Assessment Centre exam a written multiple-choice test?

No. It is an OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) with patient actors and examiners, typically run as around 10 stations of about 10-12 minutes each. These practice questions are study aids that cover the same knowledge and decision-making the OSCE assesses.

How is the OSCE different from the OPRA exam?

The Assessment Centre OSCE is the clinical exam New Zealand and Australian graduate interns sit at the end of the EVOLVE intern training programme to register. OPRA is a separate written readiness assessment used in the pathway for overseas-trained pharmacists.

Where is the OSCE held and who runs it?

It is administered by the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand at its Assessment Centre, usually in Auckland or Wellington, and is held in fixed sittings during the year.

What do I need to pass and register?

Candidates must complete the intern training programme, pass the Assessment Centre OSCE by demonstrating competence across stations, and be deemed fit to practise by the Pharmacy Council in terms of health, conduct and competence.