Canadian pharmacy students and interns unified for excellence, advocacy and academics in pharmacy.
Français

Pharmacists’ Scope of Practice

Return to CAPSI.ca
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Initiating Prescriptions of Schedule 1 Drugs1,2:
NO Independently
NO In a collaborative practice setting/agreement
NO For minor ailments
NO For smoking cessation
NO In an emergency
Adapting/Managing Prescription of Schedule 1 Drugs1,3:
NO Independently4
NO Independently, in a collaborative practice4
YES Make therapeutic substitution
YES Change drug dosage/formulation/regimen/etc.
YES Renew/extend Rx for continuity of care
Injecting Authority (SC or IM) 1,5:
NO Any drug/vaccine
YES Vaccines6
YES Travel vaccines6
YES Influenza vaccine
Labs:
NO Order/interpret lab tests
Techs:
YES Regulated pharmacy technicians
 ALBERTA
Initiating Prescriptions of Schedule 1 Drugs1,2:
YES Independently5
YES In a collaborative practice setting/agreement5
YES For minor ailments
YES For smoking cessation
YES In an emergency
Adapting/Managing Prescription of Schedule 1 Drugs1,3:
YES Independently4,5
YES Independently, in a collaborative practice4,5
YES Make therapeutic substitution
YES Change drug dosage/formulation/regimen/etc.
YES Renew/extend Rx for continuity of care
Injecting Authority (SC or IM) 1,5:
YES Any drug/vaccine
YES Vaccines6
YES Travel vaccines6
YES Influenza vaccine
Labs:
YES Order/interpret lab tests
Techs:
YES Regulated pharmacy technicians
 SASKATCHEWAN
Initiating Prescriptions of Schedule 1 Drugs1,2:
NO Independently
YES In a collaborative practice setting/agreement4,5
YES For minor ailments
[Pending] For smoking cessation
YES In an emergency
Adapting/Managing Prescription of Schedule 1 Drugs1,3:
NO Independently4
YES Independently, in a collaborative practice4,5
YES Make therapeutic substitution
YES Change drug dosage/formulation/regimen/etc.
YES Renew/extend Rx for continuity of care
Injecting Authority (SC or IM) 1,5:
YES Any drug/vaccine
YES Vaccines6
YES Travel vaccines6
YES Influenza vaccine
Labs:
[Pending] Order/interpret lab tests8
Techs:
YES Regulated pharmacy technicians
 MANITOBA
Initiating Prescriptions of Schedule 1 Drugs1,2:
NO Independently
YES In a collaborative practice setting/agreement4,5
YES For minor ailments4,5
YES For smoking cessation4,5
YES In an emergency
Adapting/Managing Prescription of Schedule 1 Drugs1,3:
NO Independently4
YES Independently, in a collaborative practice4,5
NO Make therapeutic substitution
YES Change drug dosage/formulation/regimen/etc.
YES Renew/extend Rx for continuity of care
Injecting Authority (SC or IM) 1,5:
YES Any drug/vaccine
YES Vaccines6
YES Travel vaccines6
YES Influenza vaccine
Labs:
YES Order/interpret lab tests9
Techs:
YES Regulated pharmacy technicians10
ONTARIO
Initiating Prescriptions of Schedule 1 Drugs1,2:
NO Independently
NO In a collaborative practice setting/agreement
NO For minor ailments
YES For smoking cessation
NO In an emergency
Adapting/Managing Prescription of Schedule 1 Drugs1,3:
NO Independently4
NO Independently, in a collaborative practice4
NO Make therapeutic substitution
YES Change drug dosage/formulation/regimen/etc.
YES Renew/extend Rx for continuity of care
Injecting Authority (SC or IM) 1,5:
NO Any drug/vaccine7
YES Vaccines6
YES Travel vaccines6
YES Influenza vaccine
Labs:
NO Order/interpret lab tests
Techs:
YES Regulated pharmacy technicians
QUEBEC
Initiating Prescriptions of Schedule 1 Drugs1,2:
NO Independently
NO In a collaborative practice setting/agreement
YES For minor ailments
YES For smoking cessation
NO In an emergency
Adapting/Managing Prescription of Schedule 1 Drugs1,3:
NO Independently4
NO Independently, in a collaborative practice4
NO Make therapeutic substitution
YES Change drug dosage/formulation/regimen/etc.
YES Renew/extend Rx for continuity of care
Injecting Authority (SC or IM) 1,5:
NO Any drug/vaccine7
NO Vaccines6
NO Travel vaccines6
NO Influenza vaccine
Labs:
YES Order/interpret lab tests
Techs:
NO Regulated pharmacy technicians
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
Initiating Prescriptions of Schedule 1 Drugs1,2:
NO Independently
NO In a collaborative practice setting/agreement
YES For minor ailments
YES For smoking cessation
NO In an emergency
Adapting/Managing Prescription of Schedule 1 Drugs1,3:
NO Independently4
NO Independently, in a collaborative practice4
YES Make therapeutic substitution
YES Change drug dosage/formulation/regimen/etc.
YES Renew/extend Rx for continuity of care
Injecting Authority (SC or IM) 1,5:
YES Any drug/vaccine
YES Vaccines6
YES Travel vaccines6
YES Influenza vaccine
Labs:
NO Order/interpret lab tests
Techs:
YES Regulated pharmacy technicians
NOVA SCOTIA
Initiating Prescriptions of Schedule 1 Drugs1,2:
NO Independently
YES In a collaborative practice setting/agreement
YES For minor ailments
YES For smoking cessation
YES In an emergency
Adapting/Managing Prescription of Schedule 1 Drugs1,3:
NO Independently4
YES Independently, in a collaborative practice4
YES Make therapeutic substitution
YES Change drug dosage/formulation/regimen/etc.
YES Renew/extend Rx for continuity of care
Injecting Authority (SC or IM) 1,5:
NO Any drug/vaccine
YES Vaccines6
YES Travel vaccines6
YES Influenza vaccine
Labs:
[Pending] Order/interpret lab tests8
Techs:
YES Regulated pharmacy technicians

Legend

Learn about the changing scope of practice of each province!

Check Icon Task is legally authorized

X Icon Task is not legally authorized

Scope of activities, regulations, training requirements and/or limitations differ between jurisdictions. Please refer to the pharmacy regulatory authorities for details.

1 Scope of activities, regulations, training requirements and/or limitations differ between jurisdictions. Please refer to the pharmacy regulatory authorities for details.
2 Initiate new prescription drug therapy, not including drugs covered under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
3 Alter another prescriber’s original/existing/current prescription for drug therapy.
4 Pharmacists independently manage Schedule 1 drug therapy under their own authority, unrestricted by existing/initial prescription(s), drug type, condition, etc.
5 Applies only to pharmacists with additional training, certification and/or authorization through their regulatory authority.
6 Authority to inject may not be inclusive of all vaccines in this category. Please refer to the jurisdictional regulations.
7 For education/demonstration purposes only.
8 Ordering by community pharmacists pending health system regulations for pharmacist requisitions to labs.
9 Authority is limited to ordering lab tests.
10 Pharmacy technician registration available through the regulatory authority (no official licensing).

 

© Canadian Pharmacists Association December 2016 (https://www.pharmacists.ca/pharmacy-in-canada/)

Last updated: April 17, 2017