The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian education and training. The AQF describes qualifications from the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education through to Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), including three kinds of master’s degrees (at AQF Level 9): coursework, research, and extended masters. The degree title “Master of …” (e.g. Master of Pharmacy) is the approved title for master’s degrees, unless an alternative title has been approved by the AQF Council.

The AQF defines a Master’s Degree (Extended) “to qualify individuals who apply an advanced body of knowledge in a range of contexts for professional practice and as a pathway for further learning”. The AQF defines this postgraduate degree as being awarded following completion of a minimum of a 3 year Level 7 qualification, such that the volume of learning of a Master’s Degree (Extended) is typically 3 – 4 years following completion of a minimum of a 3 year Bachelor (Level 7) qualification.

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), Australia's independent national quality assurance and regulatory agency for higher education, allows universities to self-accredit their degree standard to determine the level of qualification. In Australia, a number of universities have accredited their graduate-entry Master of Pharmacy degrees to be AQF 9 Master’s Extended.

The AQF allows use of the qualification title:

• ‘Juris Doctor’ is permitted for a Master’s Degree (Extended) for legal practice.
• ‘Doctor of …’ is permitted for a Master’s Degree (Extended) for six professions: medical practice; physiotherapy; dentistry; optometry; veterinary practice; and pharmacy.
• ‘Doctor of …’ is permitted for a Master’s Degree (Extended) for two qualifications: Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Doctor of Clinical Podiatry.

These exceptions are not Doctoral Degrees.

The AQF allows use of the prenominal title “Doctor” for graduates who have completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree (AQF10).

The use of the title “Doctor of ...” is permitted for a Master’s Degree (Extended) for six professions: medical practice; physiotherapy; dentistry; optometry; veterinary practice; and pharmacy. The qualification title and a statement that the qualification is an “AQF level 9 Master’s Degree” appears on relevant certification documents, on any national, state/territory or institutional registers of qualifications, and in institutional information and promotional materials.

From 1 January 2025, graduates who have completed the course requirements for an AQF Level 9 Master’s Degree (Extended) course in the pharmacy discipline will be able to use the qualification title “Doctor of Pharmacy”. The exemption does not apply retrospectively to graduates who met the course requirements and graduated prior to 1 January 2025. See AQF FAQ.

The qualification may not be referred to as a Doctoral Degree in any written, oral or electronic information.

Any new pharmacy degree program in Australia (after internal university approval processes) must seek accreditation which requires external review by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) and approval by the APC’s Accreditation Committee. The review and approval process can take 12 to 18 months after internal university approval.

In Australia there are a variety of pharmacy degree programs that can lead to registration as a pharmacist. These include Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees which require completion of an accredited Intern Training Program (ITP). Some universities also offer integrated Bachelor’s and Master’s programs which incorporate the equivalent of the intern training requirements. All graduates and interns (regardless of which pharmacy degree they complete) must still complete the Pharmacy Board Registration examinations (and other Board requirements) in order to be registered. This will also apply to graduates of a Master of Pharmacy (Extended) that uses the title “Doctor of Pharmacy”.

There is currently no requirement that the Master’s Extended degree with the title “Doctor of Pharmacy” will be the only entry level pharmacy qualification in Australia.

From 1 January 2025, graduates who complete an Australian Master of Pharmacy (Extended) will be able to use the title “Doctor of Pharmacy”. This is not retrospective for graduates of any Master of Pharmacy degree prior to 1 January 2025.

The pathway for currently registered pharmacists who do not hold a Master’s Extended qualification will depend on the requirements of individual higher education institutions to recognise the experience and training of a pharmacist to meet the equivalent qualification for the Master’s Extended.

The current changes in the scope of practice of pharmacists presents an exciting opportunity for the profession and healthcare sector (in collaboration with higher education institutions). There are currently a range of accredited training pathways (recognised by jurisdictional Ministries of Health) that support pharmacists being able to practice at full scope. Whether a Master’s Extended can meet the accreditation requirement for full scope of practice will depend on the course content provided by the host university. The qualification title “Doctor of Pharmacy” will not be the only pathway for pharmacists to practice at full scope.