Content areas for the KAPS exam The KAPS exam consists of 2 papers: Paper 1: Pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology and physiology Paper 2: Pharmaceutics and therapeutics Paper 1: Pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology and physiology Pharmaceutical Chemistry You'll need to show you understand and have suitable knowledge in the following content areas: Pape r1 Content assessed 1 Organic chemistry Indicative elements 2 Stereochemi stry 3 Physical and inorganic chemistry Nomenclature Drug class recognition Reaction types Functional group reactivity Drug stability Acid-base reactions Nomenclature Optical activity Geometric isomerism Conformation Kinetics Acid-base reactions Phase equilibria 4 Analytical chemistry 5 Biochemistry Spectroscopy Redox reactions Assay techniques Diagnostic agents Nomenclature Structures Biochemical classes Thermodynami cs Biochemical pathways 6 Structureactivity relationships Relationship between a chemical or 3D structure and its biological activity 7 Medicinal chemistry Structureactivity relationships Drug presentation and delivery Drug formulation and stability Drug metabolism Mechanism of drug action Modern drug development Absorption, distribution and elimination of drugs 8 Drug metabolism Breakdown and conversion of medicines through regularly occurring bodily process, leading to active ingredients and by-products of the original medicine Pharmacology and physiology You'll need to show you understand and have suitable knowledge in the following content areas: Pape r1 Content assessed 1 Biochemical pharmacolog y Indicative elements Principles of drug action Drug interactions Receptor pharmacology Autonomic transmission Endocrine pharmacology Cardiovascular pharmacology Antiinflammatory agents and analgesics Antibiotics Diuretics Local and general anaesthetics Vitamins Drugs affecting nutritional and metabolic function Drugs affecting the central nervous system 2 Systemic pharmacolog y The mechanism of drug action as it relates to specific organs and disease states 3 Chemotherap y Antibacterial drugs Antiviral drugs Antifungal drugs Antiprotozoal drugs Anthelmintic drugs Anticancer drugs 4 Toxicology Common side effects Signs of toxicity Mechanism of toxicity 5 Pathophysiol ogy Alteration of physiological processes by drugs or disease states 6 General physiology Normal bodily functions including but not limited to the central nervous, digestive, cardiovascular, lymphatic, nervous, respiratory, urinary, endocrine and reproductive systems and their integration Blood and other body fluids Paper 2: Pharmaceutics and therapeutics Pharmaceutics You'll need to show you understand and have suitable knowledge in the following content areas: Pape r2 Content assessed Indicative elements 1 Physical pharmacy 2 Biopharmaceuti cs 3 Pharmacokineti cs and pharmacodynam ics 4 Pharmaceutical microbiology Solvents Types of preparation Solutions Suspensions Emulsions Dissolution Drug absorption Bioavailability and bioequivalence Drug interactions with a biopharmaceuti cal basis Biological halflife Elimination rate constants Apparent volume of distribution Clearance Steady state considerations Drug protein binding Drug metabolism Drug interactions Pharmacogeneti cs Relevant calculations Preservation Antimicrobial agents Sterilisation technology 5 Formulation 6 Dose forms, including extemporaneou s preparation Formulation of drugs for various routes of administration Parenteral dose forms Controlled release preparations Evaluation of particular dose forms Drug products Constituent drug substances Combination compounded products for use via various routes of administration Therapeutics You'll need to show you understand and have suitable knowledge in the following content areas: Pape r2 Content assessed 1 Calculations Indicative elements Dilutions Percentages Densities Sensitivity of balance Proportions Isotonicity 2 Milliequivalent s and milliosmoles Buffers Dose calculations from body weight or surface area Stability Appropriate dosages of common medications Dosage regimens of common medications Posology and dose determinatio ns 3 Medicine choice Demonstrating an understanding of the clinical processes used for choosing the most appropriate drug for the presenting patient and their condition 4 Surgical dressings, applications and associated drug delivery systems Drug choices for surgical dressings The use of and choices for surgical dressings 5 Adverse reactions for drugs Relevant patient counselling and advice Adverse reactions to drugs Drug interactions 7 Drug information Using information sources to find drug and health information relevant to conditions and disease states 8 Managing minor ailments Nonprescription prescribing Diagnosing minor illness Rational overthe-counter product selection Over-thecounter drug information 6 Drug interactions Relevant patient counselling and advice KAPS exam paper samples To help you sit the KAPS exam, we provide 4 official sample papers: Download Paper 1 Sample 1 (35 pages PDF) Download Paper 1 Sample 2 (40 pages PDF) Download Paper 2 Sample 1 (34 pages PDF) Download Paper 2 Sample 2 (39 pages PDF) These each contain older questions to help you practise. These questions are no longer used, but they'll help you understand: the types of content covered in each paper of the exam how questions might be presented If you want to practise the sample papers under exam conditions, you'll need to answer all 100 questions in each paper in 2 hours. The real KAPS exam is delivered online at an approved test centre. Our exam provider, Pearson Vue, provides an online sample test. Recommended textbooks for preparation When you make the decision to sit the KAPS exam, study will be important. To focus your efforts, assess your current knowledge of the pharmaceutical sciences. We recommend you refer to the most recent editions of the recommended textbooks. We have provided a list for you to consider. We do not endorse any particular reference source. There is an extremely significant range of materials available to candidates so allow time to research this important area. Pharmacology Shaunagh Darroch, Bronwen Bryant, Kathleen Knights, Andrew Rowland, 2018, Pharmacology for Health Professionals, 5th edn, Chatswood, New South Wales: Mosby Elsevier This text gives a comprehensive introduction to important pharmacology principles and concepts. It has a strong focus on therapeutics and is written specifically for the Australasian region. Written for practitioners of the health sciences and underpinned by current evidence-based medicine, the edition continues to cover topics vital to a holistic understanding of pharmacology. These topics include historical, legal and ethical considerations, pharmacokinetics, and the therapeutic applications and adverse effects of current drugs. Pharmaceutical Chemistry Florence A.T., D.A. Atwood, 2015, Physiochemical Principles of Pharmacy, 6th edn, London: Chicago, IL : Pharmaceutical Press. This text uses pharmaceutical examples to illustrate the underlying physical chemistry of drug delivery, characterisation, formulation, transport and absorption. Pharmaceutics Basic Principles and Application to Pharmacy Practice, 2nd edn, 2023 Editors: Alekha Dash, Somnath Singh Divided into three sections – Physical Principles and Properties of Pharmaceutics; Practical Aspects of Pharmaceutics; and Biological Applications of Pharmaceutics – this covers all aspects of pharmaceutics and provides a single source. Therapeutics 1. Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary – latest edition 2. Australian Medicines Handbook - latest edition 3. British National Formulary - latest edition All three publications provide valuable and extended insights into the level of understanding and knowledge required in the area of therapeutics. General review of pharmacy related topics L., A.H. Mutnick, P.F. Souney, L.N. Swanson, 2013 Comprehensive Pharmacy Review, 7th edn, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins This provides a wide range of topics central to the study of pharmacy, chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, pharmacy practice and drug therapy that are presented in outline form and this reference has been used as a quick review or preview of essential topics Calculation questions in APC examinations Each individual candidate will have to evaluate for themselves their current level of knowledge regarding calculation questions. The following provide an opportunity to practice and if necessary reengage with the basic methods of pharmacy calculations: Rees, J.A, I. Smith, J. Watson, 2015, Introduction to Pharmaceutical Calculations, 4th edn, London: Pharmaceutical Press. Ansel, H.C., 2013, Pharmaceutical Calculations; 14th edn, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins