Clarifying Scope of Practice for Pharmacy Professionals
April 29, 2026We want to provide an update and some important clarifications regarding scope of practice and the performance of point of care tests.
Scope of Practice Update
Proposed changes that would expand the scope of practice for pharmacy professionals have not yet come into effect. The College is working with the Ministry of Health to determine an appropriate implementation date, ensuring that the expansion of scope activities can occur safely and that any necessary safeguards are in place.
At this time, there are no changes to the existing scope of practice for pharmacists or pharmacy technicians.
Point of Care Testing
The College has become aware of pharmacies promoting or offering point of care tests that pharmacy professionals are not currently authorized to perform. We would like to clarify what is permitted at this time.
Currently, O. Reg. 45/22 under the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act, 1990 (LSCCLA) authorizes pharmacy professionals to perform and collect specimens for the following point of care tests:
- Glucose
- Hemoglobin A1C
- Lipids
- Prothrombin time and International Normalized Ratio (INR)
Pharmacy professionals are authorized to pierce the dermis with a lancet-type device to collect a blood sample for the purposes of performing the above point of care tests. This is authorized by O. Reg. 256/24 under the Pharmacy Act, 1991.
Pharmacy professionals can also perform and collect specimens for COVID-19 point of care tests and immunologic tests for pregnancy. (This is an exemption under O. Reg. 45/22 under the LSCCLA).
At this time, pharmacy professionals cannot administer Group A Streptococcus (GAS or “strep”) tests, or any other tests beyond those listed above, even if a controlled act is not involved (e.g., throat or nasal swab). It is also important to note that exemptions and authorizations under the LSCCLA, including performing a strep test, cannot be delegated to a pharmacy professional by another healthcare professional, as confirmed by the Ministry of Health’s Laboratories and Diagnostics Branch.
We encourage pharmacies to review their current services and promotional materials to ensure they are aligned with existing authority.