Ministry Announces Upcoming Implementation of Scope of Practice Changes for Pharmacy Professionals

We are pleased to share with you that the Ministry of Health has announced upcoming changes that will expand the scope of practice for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The announcement follows the approval of regulation amendments submitted to the government late last year.

The changes below will come into effect July 1, 2026:

• Pharmacists will be able to assess and prescribe for nine additional minor ailments:
  • Calluses and corns
  • Dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis)
  • Dry eye (xeropthalmia, dry eye disease)
  • Head lice (pediculosis)
  • Jock itch (tinea cruris)
  • Mild headache
  • Nasal congestion (viral rhinitis, rhinosinusitis)
  • Ringworm (tinea corporis)
  • Warts (verrucae – vulgaris, plantar; excluding face and genitals)

• Pharmacists will be able to administer six additional publicly funded vaccines for eligible Ontarians, including
  • Tetanus
  • Pertussis
  • Diphtheria
  • Pneumococcal
  • RSV
  • Shingles vaccines

• Pharmacy technicians will be able to administer all vaccines listed in Schedule 3 of Ontario Regulation 256/24 under the Pharmacy Act, 1991, provided they meet specified requirements. Please note that the Board has approved mandatory CPR/First Aid certification for pharmacy technicians engaging in the expanded injection administration authority. Additional details on this certification requirement and its application to expanded, and existing scope, will be included in updated resources available on our website in the coming days.

The College is working on resources and FAQs to support registrant and public understanding of the expanded scope of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians along with additional resources to support the safe implementation of these activities. We continue to engage with the Ministry of Health on the remaining scope of practice activities that were part of our original regulation submission to the government. We anticipate being able to provide a further update on the progress of this work over the coming months, along with the outcome of our current consultation on the College’s proposed learning requirements for specified expanded scope activities. 

Ongoing updates will be provided on the College’s website, and key information will be shared in e-Connect and on other official College communication channels. Details on expanded scope activities anticipated to take effect in early 2027 will be shared when available. Questions related to vaccine supply should be directed to the Ministry.

Proposed changes to Standards of Operation to be presented to the Board
The College is also using feedback provided by the Board to refine draft amendments to the Standards of Operation. These proposed updates will further specify the existing operational requirements that enable pharmacies to support registrants’ ability to deliver safe and ethical care. They will also help ensure pharmacies have access to patient health information to support professionals in meeting the Standards of Practice, and to clarify physical space requirements in community pharmacies to support the safe and effective delivery of expanded scope of practice. The Board will be asked to review these amendments for the purposes of open consultation.

Watch for additional details in the Board meeting materials expected to be posted online about one week prior to the meeting.