You’re offline. This is a read only version of the page.
Version 1.2
Download Academic Misconduct Policy (7 pages PDF)
This policy defines misconduct and describes how we will treat incidents of academic misconduct. It applies to candidates undertaking our exams, either within a test centre or in an online proctored environment.
We aim to treat all examination candidates in an impartial, equitable, ethical and sensitive manner.
The Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) delivers high-stakes exams to candidates in Australia and overseas. We are an independent body, authorised by the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PharmBA) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) to deliver exams to assess knowledge, skills and competency in pharmacy.
We assess pharmacists’ knowledge and competence by developing and delivering the following exams:
In the interest of public safety, it is important that exam results accurately represent the ability of candidates. We prioritise safeguarding the integrity of exam processes. To achieve this, we must be aware of and respond to any incidents of academic misconduct as these incidents may jeopardise the validity and fairness of APC’s exams. This policy defines misconduct and describes how we will treat incidents of academic misconduct. We aim to treat all candidates in an impartial, equitable, ethical and sensitive manner
This policy applies to all candidates undertaking our exams, either within a test centre or in an online proctored environment.
We deliver exams in partnership with an external exam vendor:
Academic misconduct within exams is defined as any behaviour or attempted behaviour from a candidate before, during, or after an exam that circumvent this test of individual knowledge and skills that may result in an unfair advantage to which the candidate is not entitled, or disruption of this process for other candidates. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
APC does not condone academic misconduct and acts to prevent and detect misconduct in order to fulfill our role of protecting public health by setting and maintaining high standards for pharmacists. Academic misconduct and any breach to the exam rules, terms and conditions will be subject to action undertaken by us.
We will respond to reports of academic misconduct with the following:
Incidents of academic misconduct for APC purposes are identified through the following methods outlined in our Academic Misconduct Procedure (internal use only):
We will contact identified candidates in writing to inform of them of an investigation, with processes outlined in our Academic Misconduct Procedure. In the interests of natural justice, identified candidates will be provided the opportunity to respond and provide their own evidence during the investigation. While an investigation is underway the candidate's exam result will not be released.
We will investigate all identified incidents of potential academic misconduct.
We will contact identified candidates in writing to inform of them of an investigation, with processes outlined in our Academic Misconduct Procedure. In the interests of natural justice, identified candidates will be provided the opportunity to respond and provide their own evidence during the investigation. While an investigation is underway the candidate's exam result will not be released.
After initial investigation the candidate will be informed of the outcome of the investigation in writing. Where investigation finds that no misconduct has occurred the candidates exam results can be released.
Where there is sufficient evidence of misconduct we may impose consequences for candidates, and will notify candidates of this in writing.
Potential outcomes of confirmed academic misconduct include but are not limited to:
Decisions made by us under this policy may be appealed under the Appeals Policy.