Latest news with #OPRA
Politico
09-07-2025
- Politico
Irvington faces the music
Good Wednesday morning! Comptroller Kevin Walsh calls Irvington's expenditure of $632,000 of opioid settlement money on two 'Opioid Awareness Day' concerts in 2023 and 2024 a waste of money. I call it a good value. Because even though Irvington didn't book Barbara Streisand for either event, it got her effect at a discount by suing Walsh's office for defamation and temporarily blocking him from publishing the report. (This is the same town that sued an 82-year-old resident over OPRA requests.) The report alleges that the town, one of New Jersey's poorer municipalities, paid more half of that money — $368,500 — to a company owned by the son of township employee Antoine Richardson. 'Township officials do not know — and never asked — how Richardson actually spent the hundreds of thousands of dollars he received,' reads the report. Richardson has the civil service title 'Keyboarding Clerk I,' but according to Walsh's office he has no set hours and his duties consist of DJing Township events and providing sound and audio services. Richardson uses the stage name 'DJ Qua,' but I think he should consider changing it to 'DJ Keyboarding Clerk I.' And according to Walsh, promotional materials for the concerts didn't feature any information about addiction or seeking treatment. But they did promote Mayor Tony Vauss and the artists. And while there were service organization tables at both concerts and Narcan distribution at at least one of the concerts, the report described these as 'afterthoughts and could have happened at any community event, without wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars on musical guests, luxury trailers, and popcorn machines.' This all looks pretty damning. But Irvington hit back with a lengthy statement and copies of letters it wrote to Walsh, Gov. Phil Murphy and Senate President Nick Scutari. 'With all due respect to the OSC, they know nothing about my community and the people in it,' Vauss said in a statement. 'This initiative is about saving lives and bringing people together to eliminate the stigma associated with addiction. We maintain that we did nothing wrong, and while the OSC may feel differently, they have no right to misrepresent our finances in this investigation.' Like others, Vauss wants investigations into Walsh's office. And the town's responses repeatedly suggest that his report dramatized the controversy in part to set him up for a run for office. The town says the use of the public bidding exception for 'extraordinary unspecifiable services' applies to the 'acquisition of artistic services.' Township attorney Ramon Rivera, in a letter to the Comptroller's Office, cited university literature from Switzerland about how 'live performance settings heighten emotional resonance, foster community cohesion, and improve receptiveness to harm reduction messaging.' Among that messaging, according to the comptroller's report: 'Antoine Richardson told OSC that he performed a DJ set, during which he told the crowd to 'stay clean,' 'say no to drugs,' and 'do not use.' Richardson also said that each artist that took the stage and said something to the effect of, 'Kids, stay in school, stay away from drugs.'' FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY — In New Brunswick at 10 a.m. to address the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials, then in Plainfield at 11 a.m. to sign preschool funding and full-day kindergarten legislation QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'Ms. Barone experienced urges contrary to swallowing after the contest but before the conclusion of presentations and the awarding of places. By Major League Eating rules, urges contrary to swallowing before the conclusion of the event, including presentations and the awarding of prizes, results in a DQ.' Major League Eating director of operations Sam Barclay, on Manville resident Madison Barone's disqualification from the Coney Island hot dog eating contest because she vomited into a trash can HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Ken Bank, Scott Garrett, Flavio Komuves, Melanie Willoughby, Christian Sforza WHAT TRENTON MADE ATLAS SUED — 'Federal appeals court hears challenge to New Jersey privacy law,' by New Jersey Monitor's Sophie Nieto-Munoz: 'A New Jersey law that acts as a privacy shield for judges and law enforcement officers faced scrutiny Tuesday during a hearing in front of the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. Both sides in the case suggested that a ruling in the other's favor would have a 'chilling' impact — either on the First Amendment or on the livelihood of those in public service … The New Jersey Supreme Court upheld the law in June, ruling that it bars journalists from printing the home addresses of certain public officials.' JACK HITS THE ROAD — The Twitter user NJ Map Guy put together a map of towns publicly visited by Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill since the primary. Spoiler alert: Ciattarelli has held events in way more towns. — Martello: 'Sherrill is way ahead in N.J.'s governor race. It's still Ciattarelli's to lose' GROUP HOMES — 'NJ's disability watchdog warns that next governor will inherit group home system in crisis,' by The Record's Gene Myers: 'New Jersey's disability ombudsman released yet another blistering report Monday on failures in the state's group homes, highlighting stories of widespread neglect and unchecked abuse — and calling out a system that he said protects itself while failing thousands of vulnerable residents. 'Not a single day goes by without someone contacting us about an allegation of abuse and neglect,' Paul Aronsohn warned on July 7 in the 79-page report. 'Sometimes it is about a new, terrible experience. Often it is about an ongoing situation.' Aronsohn, a state-appointed watchdog … framed his annual report as a warning to the new governor set to take office in January, who will inherit a system that spends nearly $3 billion to fund care at privately run group homes. 'Simply stated, we have a full-blown crisis on our hands — one that is taking an increasing toll on all involved in terms of human and financial costs,' wrote Aronsohn.' GET BACK FROM WHERE THE BOOTH BELONGS — Murphy signs expansion of law banning campaigning near polling places, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Campaigners in New Jersey will likely soon have to stand farther away from some polling places. Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday signed legislation that allows county elections officials to expand the ban on electioneering near voting sites from 100 to 200 feet. Murphy did not comment on his decision to sign the bill, NJ S3850 (24R), which was met with some protest by Republicans who said it needlessly expands control over political speech and could cause confusion. — Majority of state opioid council calls to reverse settlement spending in budget — 'With the Club World Cup spotlight on New Jersey, Gov. Murphy says NJ Transit is ready' — 'Murphy signs bill requiring study of data centers' impact on electricity usage, consumer costs' — 'N.J. Transit detective faced years of racial discrimination, lawsuit says' — 'New Jersey sees 18K enroll in new, state-run retirement program' — 'Gottheimer wants quick Assembly vote on anti-Semitism bill' — 'NJ Transit looks to build new maintenance facility in North Jersey' TRUMP ERA — 'How no tax on tips, OT really works and what it means for New Jersey workers' LOCAL PARENTAL FIGHTS — 'NJ school board member with illegal gun was on his way to 'altercation,' cops say,' by NJ 101.5's Dan Alexander: 'A member of [the Middletown Township] Board of Education was arrested on his way to an 'altercation' after police said they found illegal weapons in his car. Middletown police said Joseph Fitzgerald, 47, was driving with an unregistered Luger LCP pistol, a spring gun, and an impact stun gun shaped like brass knuckles when he was pulled over on June 30. Police pulled him over because they had received a 911 call, officials said in an affidavit obtained by New Jersey 101.5. Fitzgerald, a former U.S. Marine, was still being held Tuesday at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution. His detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. Middletown school district attorney William Burns said the school board was informed by the state Department of Education Office of Student Protection of the charges. The board immediately moved to disqualify Fitzgerald from all duties and designated him as 'persona non grata.' … Fitzgerald, who is married with three children, was elected in 2022 as a part of a statewide conservative family values movement sweeping seats on school boards. He is seeking re-election this year.' SCHOOL FUNDING — 'Toms River Regional rips NJ's 'nefarious actions' that led to 22.2% school tax hike,' by the Asbury Park Press' Jean Mikle: 'The state Education Department's criticism of Toms River Regional schools 'is baseless and simply a smokescreen to hide their nefarious actions,' the school district responded in a scathing critique of state education officials who for the second year in a row imposed a budget on the district with a now-combined 22.2% tax hike. 'This solves the financial crisis for kids,' Superintendent Mike Citta said, '… (but) all those middle-income families in our district are probably going to face bankruptcy themselves.' The $293.5 million budget the state put in place for next school year includes a 12.9% tax increase. That follows on the heels of a nearly 10% tax rise for this school year. The board had repeatedly refused to adopt the spending plan.' MAURER STORY — 'At a heated hearing, a fired Cherry Hill administrator said the district retaliated against him,' by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Denali Sagner: 'A fired Cherry Hill school administrator spoke out Monday, alleging he was retaliated against for raising concerns about administrative shortcomings at Cherry Hill High School East. During a school board hearing on his employment status, former assistant principal David Francis-Maurer said he'd raised concerns about homophobic discrimination and the school's failure to address student safety concerns. But the hearing ended with the board declining to reconsider Francis-Maurer's termination — a move that frustrated students and parents who packed the meeting to support him.' LEAD ZEPPOLE — 'East Trenton neighborhood to be declared a Superfund site due to lead hazards,' by Jeff Pillets for The Jersey Vindicator: 'The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it will place an entire neighborhood in East Trenton on its Superfund list, an encouraging sign for dozens of families there whose homes are contaminated with toxic lead. 'For decades, families in East Trenton have lived with contamination left behind by historic industrial operations,' EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci said in a release Monday. … High levels of lead were discovered throughout East Trenton almost a decade ago in public parks and in residents' yards. The neighborhood was home to a string of pottery plants dating to the mid-19th century.' — 'DPW worker fired in Paterson's Joey Torres scandal is denied state pension' — '40 Shore cops, including 2 chiefs, faced 'major discipline' in 2024. See the list' — Clifton City Council, facing state deadline, introduces budget and begins layoff process' — 'Developer with controversial plan to build houses on a Pinelands tract hopes to have it preserved instead' — ''Everyone's pointing the finger at me.' NJ Weedman speaks out after shooting near his business' — 'Jersey City honors longtime municipal clerk by renaming street in his memory' EVERYTHING ELSE BREAKING THE BANK ON THE OLD RARITAN — 'Rutgers hikes tuition again. Here's what students will pay,' by NJ Advance Media's Liz Rosenberg and Rob Jennings: 'Rutgers University students will be paying more in tuition and fees this school year, again. The state university's Board of Governors approved on Tuesday a 5% increase in tuition for in-state students, a 6% increase in tuition for out-of-state students and a 6% increasing in campus housing. Mandatory fees for both groups will rise by on average by 5%, under a $5.9 billion Rutgers operating budget for the 2025-26 academic year that gained unanimous support from the university's board.' JERSEY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE — 'N.J. professor loses free speech case after playing 'devil's advocate' backfired,' by NJ Advance Media's Colleen Murphy: 'Kean University was within its rights to cut ties with a professor whose classroom remarks sparked student complaints … The ruling, issued July 1 by U.S. District Judge William Martini, ends a years-long legal battle over free speech and academic conduct … Cheryl Borowski, a former adjunct professor, taught business law at Kean's Toms River campus for five years. In 2016, several students accused her of making offensive remarks during class discussions about gender, immigration, religion and ethnicity. According to her complaint, Borowski used controversial examples in her business law class and claimed she used a 'devil's advocate' method to spark debate and critical thinking ... For example, she asked students whether it would be legal or fair for an employer to fire a pregnant woman because she might be less productive than a man. In another case, she brought up a real Supreme Court decision and asked whether a company could refuse to hire pregnant women to protect them from harmful chemicals at work. These examples, she argued, were meant to challenge students and were based on real legal issues, not personal opinions.' TO EVERYTHING, TURNPIKE, TURNPIKE, TURNPIKE — 'What's to love about the New Jersey Turnpike? Everything,' by Simon Wu for The New York Times: 'Like many who grew up in the Northeast, I rarely thought about the New Jersey Turnpike, other than to joke about its ugliness. When I was a kid, the turnpike felt synonymous with the nothingness and boredom of New Jersey — a 'nonsite,' as the artist Robert Smithson once called it. The turnpike, an express toll road covering 117 miles, connects some of the state's suburbs to New York, Philadelphia and other major cities on a gargantuan concrete highway. When completed in 1951, it was celebrated as a marvel of engineering, the third-longest of its kind in the United States, and academics called it 'the embodiment of American pragmatism.' This pragmatism can end up having comic effects. What is one supposed to make of a rest stop populated by a Starbucks and Popeyes and named for Walt Whitman? Why is the road managed by an entity ominously named 'the authority,' as if it were an alien or a paramilitary organization? I remember an urban legend going around my high school, that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority was a secret government plot to turn all of New Jersey into turnpike. But the more time you spend on this highway, the more otherworldly it does feel.' — 'Fortune 500 company [Cigna] cuts jobs in N.J. for the fourth time this year' — 'John Cena and Eric André filming 'Little Brother' movie in N.J.' — 'Man accused of beheading Jersey Shore seagull after it stole his daughter's fries indicted'
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Incredibly Cheap Growth Stock Could Soar 44%, According to Wall Street Analysts
Opera delivered outstanding results recently and its guidance points toward an improvement in its growth. The stock is cheaply valued, and its earnings growth suggests it is on track to deliver solid gains to investors. 10 stocks we like better than Opera › Shares of Opera (NASDAQ: OPRA) have blown hot and cold on the market so far this year, as the company's strong quarterly results have been overshadowed by the broader stock market weakness; however, analysts are expecting shares of the Norway-based web browser maker to reverse the 8% drop they have witnessed so far in 2025 and head higher in the coming year. Opera stock carries a 12-month price target of $25 as per the seven analysts covering the stock, with all of them having a buy rating. That points toward 44% gains from current levels. There is a good chance that Opera will be able to indeed deliver such solid gains and head higher thanks to its impressive growth and attractive valuation. Let's look at the reasons why buying Opera stock right now could turn out to be a smart move. Opera released its first-quarter results on April 28, and the company crushed Wall Street's expectations by a big margin. Its revenue shot up 40% year over year, while adjusted earnings increased by 35%. This marks a significant improvement from the year-ago period when the company reported a 17% jump in revenue and a flat bottom-line performance. What's more, Opera has raised its full-year revenue growth guidance by three points to 20% to $575 million at the midpoint. The company, which is known for its web and mobile browsers, has been benefiting from the stronger monetization of its properties. Advertisers are now spending more money on the company's Opera Ads platform, which gives them multiple channels to reach its 293 million monthly active users (MAUs) across both mobile and desktop. From programmatic advertising that uses real-time data to help advertisers buy and serve ads to premium display areas on its web browsers to push notifications and in-app notifications, Opera is trying to entice advertisers by offering multiple ways to display ads. The good part is that this strategy is paying off. Opera's ad revenue shot up an impressive 63% year over year in the previous quarter and accounted for two-thirds of its top line. Another thing worth noting is that Opera's average revenue per user (ARPU) increased by an impressive 45% year over year in Q1, owing to the terrific growth of the advertising business. Looking ahead, there is a good chance that Opera will be able to win a bigger share of advertisers' wallets as it is integrating agentic artificial intelligence (AI) into its browsers that will perform tasks on users' behalf. Opera's Browser Operator platform will allow users to shop online, book tickets, look for hotels, and complete other tasks on the web with the help of an AI agent that will take instructions from users before going about its job. This could help Opera strike more advertising deals through preferred partnerships and revenue-sharing models. For instance, the AI agent could direct the user toward a preferred travel booking website for booking tickets or hotels, and Opera could earn a commission out of the transaction. All this explains why the company is now confident of delivering stronger growth in 2025. Even better, analysts are expecting Opera to maintain a healthy double-digit growth rate for the next couple of years as well. Consensus estimates are projecting an 18% increase in Opera's earnings this year to $1.14 per share. That's expected to accelerate to 23% next year, which is not surprising considering the stellar improvement in the ARPU that the company clocked last quarter. With Opera integrating new features, such as AI, into its browsers that could unlock more value for advertisers and encourage them to spend more on its platform, it won't be surprising to see the company's earnings growth accelerating beyond the next couple of years. That's why now would be a good time to buy this tech stock as it is trading at just 18.5 times earnings, a discount to the Nasdaq-100 index's earnings multiple of 31 (using the index as a proxy for tech stocks). If the market decides to put a higher valuation on Opera because of its improving growth profile and it trades in line with the index's multiple after a year, its stock price could hit $35 (based on the projected earnings estimate for 2025). That would be nearly double the current levels, indicating that Opera has the potential to outpace analysts' one-year price target and skyrocket substantially going forward. Before you buy stock in Opera, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Opera wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $638,985!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $853,108!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 978% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This Incredibly Cheap Growth Stock Could Soar 44%, According to Wall Street Analysts was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Incredibly Cheap Growth Stock Could Soar 44%, According to Wall Street Analysts
Opera delivered outstanding results recently and its guidance points toward an improvement in its growth. The stock is cheaply valued, and its earnings growth suggests it is on track to deliver solid gains to investors. 10 stocks we like better than Opera › Shares of Opera (NASDAQ: OPRA) have blown hot and cold on the market so far this year, as the company's strong quarterly results have been overshadowed by the broader stock market weakness; however, analysts are expecting shares of the Norway-based web browser maker to reverse the 8% drop they have witnessed so far in 2025 and head higher in the coming year. Opera stock carries a 12-month price target of $25 as per the seven analysts covering the stock, with all of them having a buy rating. That points toward 44% gains from current levels. There is a good chance that Opera will be able to indeed deliver such solid gains and head higher thanks to its impressive growth and attractive valuation. Let's look at the reasons why buying Opera stock right now could turn out to be a smart move. Opera released its first-quarter results on April 28, and the company crushed Wall Street's expectations by a big margin. Its revenue shot up 40% year over year, while adjusted earnings increased by 35%. This marks a significant improvement from the year-ago period when the company reported a 17% jump in revenue and a flat bottom-line performance. What's more, Opera has raised its full-year revenue growth guidance by three points to 20% to $575 million at the midpoint. The company, which is known for its web and mobile browsers, has been benefiting from the stronger monetization of its properties. Advertisers are now spending more money on the company's Opera Ads platform, which gives them multiple channels to reach its 293 million monthly active users (MAUs) across both mobile and desktop. From programmatic advertising that uses real-time data to help advertisers buy and serve ads to premium display areas on its web browsers to push notifications and in-app notifications, Opera is trying to entice advertisers by offering multiple ways to display ads. The good part is that this strategy is paying off. Opera's ad revenue shot up an impressive 63% year over year in the previous quarter and accounted for two-thirds of its top line. Another thing worth noting is that Opera's average revenue per user (ARPU) increased by an impressive 45% year over year in Q1, owing to the terrific growth of the advertising business. Looking ahead, there is a good chance that Opera will be able to win a bigger share of advertisers' wallets as it is integrating agentic artificial intelligence (AI) into its browsers that will perform tasks on users' behalf. Opera's Browser Operator platform will allow users to shop online, book tickets, look for hotels, and complete other tasks on the web with the help of an AI agent that will take instructions from users before going about its job. This could help Opera strike more advertising deals through preferred partnerships and revenue-sharing models. For instance, the AI agent could direct the user toward a preferred travel booking website for booking tickets or hotels, and Opera could earn a commission out of the transaction. All this explains why the company is now confident of delivering stronger growth in 2025. Even better, analysts are expecting Opera to maintain a healthy double-digit growth rate for the next couple of years as well. Consensus estimates are projecting an 18% increase in Opera's earnings this year to $1.14 per share. That's expected to accelerate to 23% next year, which is not surprising considering the stellar improvement in the ARPU that the company clocked last quarter. With Opera integrating new features, such as AI, into its browsers that could unlock more value for advertisers and encourage them to spend more on its platform, it won't be surprising to see the company's earnings growth accelerating beyond the next couple of years. That's why now would be a good time to buy this tech stock as it is trading at just 18.5 times earnings, a discount to the Nasdaq-100 index's earnings multiple of 31 (using the index as a proxy for tech stocks). If the market decides to put a higher valuation on Opera because of its improving growth profile and it trades in line with the index's multiple after a year, its stock price could hit $35 (based on the projected earnings estimate for 2025). That would be nearly double the current levels, indicating that Opera has the potential to outpace analysts' one-year price target and skyrocket substantially going forward. Before you buy stock in Opera, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Opera wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $638,985!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $853,108!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 978% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This Incredibly Cheap Growth Stock Could Soar 44%, According to Wall Street Analysts was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opera announces Opera Neon, the first AI agentic browser
OSLO, Norway, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Opera, the Norwegian browser company [NASDAQ: OPRA], is announcing Opera Neon, a new agentic browser that rethinks the role of the browser in the coming generation of the AI agentic web. A result of years of development, Opera Neon is a browser that can understand users' intent and perform tasks for them as well as bring their ideas and needs to life on the web. To achieve this, Opera Neon introduces agentic AI browsing capabilities that go beyond traditional browsing and turn user intent into action. "We're at a point where AI can fundamentally change the way we use the internet and perform all sorts of tasks in the browser. Opera Neon brings this to our users' fingertips," said Henrik Lexow, Senior AI Product Director at Opera. "We see it as a collaborative platform to shape the next chapter of agentic browsing together with our community." Opera Neon's users can chat using the browser's native, fully integrated AI agent that allows them to search the web, get reliable answers and contextual information to the webpage they are on, and access most of the functions they have come to expect from an AI chat in a browser. Opera Neon also comes with an AI agent previously showcased as "Browser Operator." This gives users the opportunity to automate routine web tasks (like filling forms, making hotel bookings, and even shopping), and have the browser do them by understanding and interacting with the content of web pages. Neon performs these tasks locally in the browser – preserving users' privacy and security. Finally, Opera Neon allows the early adopter community to try out something never before seen in a browser – a complete AI engine capable of understanding and interpreting what they want to make, and creating it for them. Neon employs AI agents that work beyond the browser – in a virtual machine hosted in the cloud – and can continue working on the users' creation even when they go offline. Opera Neon users can, for example, ask the browser to make a game, a report, a snippet of code, or even a website – it will research, design, and build whatever users need. Opera Neon can even be asked to make multiple things at the same time – enabling true agentic multitasking right in the browser. Opera Neon is a premium subscription product. Early adopters can join the waitlist starting today. To join the waiting list, click here. About Opera Opera is a user-centric and innovative software company focused on enabling the best possible internet browsing experience across all devices. Hundreds of millions use Opera web browsers for their unique and secure features on mobile phones and desktop computers. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Opera is a public company listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol OPRA. Download the Opera web browsers and other Opera products from Learn more about Opera at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Opera Limited
Time Business News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
OPRA Exam Fees in India: 2025 Cost Breakdown, Insights & More
With a thousand students appearing for the pharmacist registration exam to get a job in Australia, there has been quite a lot of buzz around the OPRA exam fees in India. In this guide, we're breaking down everything you need to know about the OPRA exam fees, especially for Indian candidates planning their journey in 2025. Not just the exam cost, we're talking real numbers, hidden costs, must-know facts, and tips you won't find on most websites. OPRA stands for Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment. It is the official licensure exam for internationally qualified pharmacists who want to work legally in Australia. The OPRA exam, introduced by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), replaced the old KAPS exam earlier this year. It's more streamlined, relevant, and designed to match real-world pharmacy practice in Australia. Whether you're from India, the Philippines, Pakistan, China, Nepal or any other country, clearing this exam is the first major step toward becoming a registered pharmacist in Australia. Here's what you're really here for: a transparent, easy-to-understand table outlining the OPRA exam fees in Indian Rupees, AUD, and USD, based on the current exchange rates. Steps involved Fee (AUD) Fee (USD) Fee (INR) Eligibility Check $810 $520 ₹44.1k Skills Assessment Outcome $300 $190 ₹16.1k Updated Skills Assessment (optional) $610 $390 ₹33.1k OPRA Exam $2,190 $1,410 ₹1 lakh 19 thousand Total (without optional update) $3,300 $2,130 ₹1,81,500 Note: INR conversion is based on the 2025 exchange rate. Rates vary, so always check the latest exchange rates before payments. What are You Paying for? Let's demystify what you're actually paying for: The APC will verify your academic qualifications. They check whether your pharmacy degree is equivalent to Australian standards. This is a mandatory first step. Once your documents are reviewed, you'll get a letter stating whether your qualifications meet Australian expectations. This is your green light to proceed. Did you complete a new internship or submit additional documents? Then you might need a reassessment. This step is optional and only necessary in special cases. The main OPRA pharmacy exam assesses your clinical knowledge, understanding of therapeutic care, and ability to work in an Australian healthcare environment. Are there any Hidden Costs for OPRA exam? Well, not exactly, but if you're an overseas pharmacist or candidate looking to appear for OPRA, you should also know the other costs that are required: What else do you need? Fees in AUD Fees in USD Fees in Indian Rupees (₹) as per current exchange rates English Language Test (IELTS/PTE/OET/TOEFL) 276-312 177-200 15k-17k Document Translation & Courier 92-184 59-118 5k-10k OPRA Exam Coaching (optional) 459-1838 294-1178 25k-1 lakh Travel & Accommodation 735-2206 471-1413 40k-1.2 lakh APC Application Support (Consultants) 367-735 235-471 20k-40k What is the OPRA Exam Syllabus?The OPRA syllabus 2025 has been revamped to focus more on applied knowledge than just theory. Here's what you'll study: Therapeutics and Patient Care (45%) : Focuses on clinical scenarios, patient safety, drug interactions, adverse effects, and medication management. : Focuses on clinical scenarios, patient safety, drug interactions, adverse effects, and medication management. Biomedical Sciences (20%) : Covers body functions, metabolism, pathophysiology, microbiology, and immunology. : Covers body functions, metabolism, pathophysiology, microbiology, and immunology. Pharmacology and Toxicology (15%) : Addresses drug effects and toxicological aspects. : Addresses drug effects and toxicological aspects. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (10%) : Covers drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and action mechanisms. : Covers drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and action mechanisms. Medicinal Chemistry and Biopharmaceutics (10%): Focuses on drug design, development, formulation, and delivery. This isn't your typical memorise-and-recall type test. The OPRA exam questions are based on real-life scenarios you'll face as a practising pharmacist in Australia. OPRA Exam Dates & Schedule 2025 When can you sit for the OPRA exam in 2025? According to the latest updates from APC: Session Application Period Exam Date 3 – 5 March 2025 9 January – 3 February 2025 1 April 2025 14 – 16 July 2025 8 April – 16 June 2025 12 August 2025 24 – 26 November 2025 19 August – 27 October 2025 22 December 2025 OPRA vs KAPS: What has Changed? Many Indian pharmacists are still unsure how the OPRA exam differs from the older KAPS exam. Here's a side-by-side comparison: Feature KAPS Exam OPRA Exam 2025 Focus Theoretical knowledge Clinical and therapeutic care promoting practical awareness and knowledge on real-life case-based scenarios No. of Papers 2 1 (integrated format) Total Cost (avg.) ₹2.5 – ₹3 lakhs ₹1.8 – ₹2 lakhs Exam Type Knowledge-based Case-based assessment (uses AI-Rasch model of assessment to assess students) Global Acceptance Limited APAC-wide recognition The OPRA exam is not only more affordable but also better aligned with global pharmacy practices. There's no one-size-fits-all book, but here are the best resources for OPRA exam preparation: Pharmaceutical Calculations: Howard C. Ansel Rang & Dale's Pharmacology: James M. Ritter Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics: Roger Walker Aulton's Pharmaceutics: Michael Aulton Goodman & Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics: Laurence Brunton Looking for structured guidance? Join the OPRA exam coaching online that has an academic excellence of 12+ years. They also provide AI-based mock tests, study plans, and expert mentorship. Become a Registered Pharmacist in AustraliaIf you're passionate about a global career, good income, and professional growth, this section is for you: Average Salary of a Pharmacist in Australia (2025):According to statistics by the average salary for a pharmacist in Australia is AUD $95,000 per year (approx. ₹52 lakhs per annum). Entry-level roles start at AUD $70,000, while experienced pharmacists earn up to AUD $120,000. That's a solid ROI on a ₹3 lakh investment. OPRA Exam Registration: Step-by-Step GuideHere's how to register for the OPRA exam: Create an account on the APC Candidate Portal Submit Eligibility Assessment Wait for Skills Assessment Outcome Pay for the OPRA exam. Schedule your exam Receive the result & proceed to internship registration. Always keep copies of your passport, pharmacy degree, internship certificate, and language test ready. If you're committed to becoming a pharmacist in Australia, the OPRA exam is your gateway. But more than just taking the test, you need to plan financially, mentally, and academically. Bookmark the OPRA exam dates so that you don't miss attending Start collecting the required documents early to avoid last-minute hassles. Understand your OPRA exam eligibility so that your fee for the Initial skills assessment does not go to waste. Begin saving towards the OPRA exam cost, because it is the main exam fee, and you should have that much money prior to applying. Join an affordable, reliable OPRA coaching programme because it is indeed quite some bucks, hence make the most use of it so that you can clear the exam in the first attempt. Buy only essential OPRA exam books that APC has approved. Stay updated with changes in the OPRA exam syllabus 2025 and the latest trends. Need Help with OPRA Exam Preparation? Contact the expert team of OPRA Exam. They will support you every step of the way from eligibility to exam success. Explore our affordable, expert-led courses designed specifically for Indian students. Let's make your dream of pharmacy registration in Australia a reality. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
