How to Get PrEP: Where to Go in the US, UK and Australia, and What Happens Next

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine that lowers the chance of getting HIV. Deciding you want it is the first step. Working out where to actually get it can be the harder one, because the route depends on where you live and how your healthcare is paid for.

This guide covers the main routes in the United States, the UK and Australia, what happens at your first appointment, and what official guidance says about buying generic PrEP from overseas.

The short version

Wherever you are, PrEP is a prescription medicine, and you need an HIV test before you start¹³.

How to get PrEP in the United States

• Your own doctor. Any healthcare provider who can write prescriptions can prescribe PrEP. You do not need an HIV or infectious disease specialist¹.
• A pharmacist, in some states. HIV.gov lists Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Virginia as states where pharmacists can prescribe PrEP¹.
• A community health centre. Many of the more than 15,000 health centres across the country offer PrEP, with fees on a sliding scale based on what you can pay¹.
• The HIV Services Locator on HIV.gov finds PrEP providers near you if you do not have a regular provider¹.

Paying for it. Under the Affordable Care Act, PrEP counts as a preventive service. Almost all health insurance plans must cover the medicine, the clinic visits and the lab tests with no co-payment, even if you have not met your deductible¹. Medicaid expansion plans and Medicare Part B also cover PrEP without cost-sharing¹. If you have no insurance, our PrEP cost guide explains the options.

How to get PrEP in the UK

PrEP is free on the NHS from sexual health clinics², where a health professional assesses you and prescribes it⁵. The UK PrEP guideline notes that NHS PrEP is available in all four nations of the UK, and through private clinics too³.

The NHS PrEP tablet contains tenofovir disoproxil and emtricitabine⁵. Some people may need an injection every two months instead². For how the injections compare, see our guide to the PrEP shot.

Appointments are not always easy to get. The UK guideline itself recognises that a lack of clinic appointments may be one reason some people buy generic PrEP online³. More on that below.

How to get PrEP in Australia

• Any doctor or authorised nurse practitioner can prescribe PrEP⁴.
• With a Medicare card, you get PrEP through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and pay a co-payment at the pharmacy⁴. The PBS co-payment is currently up to $25.00, or $7.70 with a concession card⁶.
• Without Medicare, you can get a private prescription, but the medicine costs more than through the PBS⁴.
• Injectable PrEP is not subsidised on the PBS, according to healthdirect⁴.

What happens when you ask for PrEP

The steps are much the same everywhere:

1. An HIV test. PrEP is only for people who do not have HIV, so you need a test first¹. The UK guideline recommends a laboratory blood test, not a saliva self-test, before starting³.
2. Other tests to check PrEP is safe for you¹, such as kidney tests and a hepatitis B test³. Our guide to PrEP and hepatitis B explains why that one matters.
3. A prescription and a chat about how to take it, daily or, for some people, around the times you have sex. Our guide to how long PrEP takes to work covers starting doses.
4. Check-ups. On daily tablets you see a healthcare provider every 3 months for an HIV test and a refill. On injections it is every two or six months, depending on the injection¹.

Tell the clinic if you have severe kidney or liver problems, hepatitis, a weakened immune system, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding⁷. If you want to know what to expect from the tablets, see our guide to PrEP side effects.

Buying generic PrEP from overseas

Some people buy generic PrEP online, usually because they cannot get a clinic appointment, do not qualify for free PrEP, or prefer to manage it themselves. Official guidance in the UK and Australia treats this as a real option, as long as it is done safely.

What the UK guideline says³:

• The UK medicines regulator advises that it is legal to bring in up to 3 months of medicine from outside the UK for personal use. Keep it in its original packaging.
• The medicine should come from a manufacturer listed by the US Food and Drug Administration, and the label should show both tenofovir and emtricitabine.
• There is no evidence that PrEP bought online from the major suppliers to the UK is substandard.
• Order in advance, in case of delivery delays.
• You still need testing: an HIV blood test before you start, HIV tests every 3 months, kidney tests and checks for other sexually transmitted infections. The guideline recommends that NHS clinics give full PrEP support, including kidney monitoring, to people who buy PrEP online.

What healthdirect says for Australia⁴: importing a generic version from a trusted overseas supplier can be a good solution if you are not eligible for Medicare or find a private prescription too expensive. You still need a prescription from your doctor.

For the rules on bringing medicine into your country, see our guides to importing prescription medicine into the UK, Australia and the United States. Generic PrEP such as Tenvir-EM is covered on our generic Truvada page.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a prescription for PrEP?

Yes. PrEP is a prescription medicine in the US, the UK and Australia. In the US, any provider who can prescribe can write it, including pharmacists in some states. In the UK, NHS sexual health clinics provide it. In Australia, any doctor or authorised nurse practitioner can prescribe it.

Is PrEP free?

In the UK, it is free from NHS sexual health clinics. In the US, almost all insurance plans must cover it with no co-payment, and Medicare and Medicaid expansion plans cover it too. In Australia, Medicare card holders pay the PBS co-payment.

Can I get PrEP without seeing a doctor?

You need an HIV test and a prescriber in every route described here. In some US states a pharmacist can prescribe it. Even people who buy generic PrEP online are advised to have a blood test for HIV before starting and regular tests after.

How long does it take to get PrEP?

It depends on how quickly you can get an appointment and your test results. If you are worried about a recent exposure, do not wait for PrEP: PEP needs to start within 72 hours. See our guide to PrEP vs PEP.

Can I get PrEP if I am visiting the UK or Australia?

Rules on who can use NHS clinics or Medicare depend on your residency and visa. In Australia, people without Medicare can get a private prescription. Check with the clinic before you go.

Is generic PrEP the same as Truvada?

Generic PrEP contains the same two medicines as Truvada: tenofovir disoproxil and emtricitabine. The UK guideline advises choosing a product from an FDA-listed manufacturer whose label shows both medicines.

Sources & references

1. HIV.gov. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Updated 9 October 2026.
2. NHS. HIV and AIDS. Page last reviewed 9 July 2025.
3. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV and British HIV Association. BASHH/BHIVA guidelines on the use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) 2025. Section 9: Buying generic PrEP online.
4. healthdirect Australia. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Last reviewed September 2024.
5. NHS. About PrEP. Page last reviewed 10 March 2023.
6. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Fees, patient contributions and safety net thresholds.
7. NHS. Who can and cannot take PrEP. Page last reviewed 10 March 2023.

Related reading

• Our PrEP guide: cost and generic options
• PrEP for women
• Truvada vs Descovy
• Daily vs on-demand PrEP

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Rules on prescribing, funding and importing medicines change and differ by country; check with a clinic or pharmacist where you live. Used as prescribed by a licensed medical professional.