Expanding Scope of Practice

What new vaccines have been added to Schedule 3 and who can administer those vaccines? 
As of May 11, 2026, three additional vaccines have been added to Schedule 3 of Ontario Regulation 256/24 under the Pharmacy Act, 1991: pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria. Pharmacists and interns who have registered their injection training with the College and maintain valid CPR & first aid certification can administer these additional vaccines as of May 11, 2026.    

Additionally, as of July 1, 2026, pharmacy technicians and intern technicians who have registered their injection training with the College (and obtain CPR and first aid certification by March 31, 2027) have the authority to administer all vaccines listed in Schedule 3 of Ontario Regulation 256/24 under the Pharmacy Act, 1991. From July 1, 2026, to March 30, 2027, pharmacy technicians and intern technicians may administer injections without CPR & first aid certification, provided they register their injection training with the College. As of March 31, 2027, pharmacy technicians and intern technicians administering vaccines must have CPR & first aid certification and register their injection training with the College.  

Starting July 1, 2026, the administration of tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria, pneumococcal, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and herpes zoster (shingles) vaccines by pharmacy professionals will be publicly funded for eligible Ontarians. To learn how to access these publicly funded vaccines, pharmacies should contact the Ministry of Health.

Where can I complete the CPR and first aid training requirement to administer injections?  
The College does not specify or endorse a particular CPR & first aid course provider. It is the responsibility of the pharmacy professional to ensure the course taken is equivalent to the St. John Ambulance or Red Cross Standard First Aid & CPR/AED (Level C) by consulting with the course provider directly. The course provider also stipulates the expiration date and recertification parameters. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario (WSIB) maintains a list of providers approved by the WSIB to deliver Standard First Aid. 

Am I responsible for covering the cost of the CPR and first aid training? 
Yes. Pharmacy professionals who choose to administer injections are responsible for arranging, scheduling and paying for the required CPR and first aid training. Pharmacy professionals may wish to discuss cost coverage with their employer. You may also be able to deduct training costs on your personal income tax. 
 
How do I inform the College I have completed CPR and first aid training?  
Instructions on how to register your injection training and complete the CPR and first aid declaration are available on the College’s website. The CPR and first aid declaration for pharmacy technicians and intern technicians will be available prior to July 1, 2026. You do not need to submit any documentation to the College, however you may choose to add this accomplishment to your Learning Portfolio. If you have completed CPR and first aid training but do not administer injections, you do not need to declare this information with the College. 

How can busy pharmacy professionals take on new expanded scope activities? 
Taking on additional scope of practice activities is a choice, not a requirement. Having the legislative authority to prescribe for minor ailments and administer injections does not mean all pharmacists must offer to provide these services. If a pharmacist does choose to take on new expanded scope activities, assessing and optimizing their pharmacy’s workflow and the role/responsibilities of other staff (e.g., pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants) can help pharmacists focus on clinical patient care.   

What role does the College play in compensation and funding for pharmacy professionals? 
The College’s role is to ensure that Ontarians receive safe pharmacy care from qualified pharmacy professionals. The provincial government funds Ontario’s public healthcare programs and pharmacy employers establish compensation for their employees.   

Under its legislated mandate, as set out in section 3 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, the College is responsible for fulfilling specific public‑interest obligations. These responsibilities do not include determining or influencing compensation for pharmacy professionals. 

When will CPR and first aid training become mandatory for pharmacy technicians who are administering injections?  
As of March 31, 2027, pharmacy technicians administering any Schedule 3 vaccine must have CPR & first aid certification (and registered their injection training with the College). As scope of practice continues to expand and more pharmacy services are available, establishing consistency among pharmacy professionals providing the same services is essential to help ensure high-quality care for patients.

Pharmacy technicians who have completed a College-approved injection training course and registered their injection training with the College can administer all Schedule 3 vaccines starting July 1, 2026, without needing CPR and first aid certification. They must continue to be supervised by a pharmacist or another healthcare professional who has CPR and first aid certification. As of March 31, 2027, pharmacy technicians are required to have their own CPR & first aid certification if they wish to continue to administer injections.

Pharmacy technicians are encouraged to complete their CPR and first aid training as soon as possible to ensure they can continue providing injection services without interruption as the March 31, 2027, certification deadline approaches.

If you are a pharmacy technician who is not engaged in administering injections, you are not required by the College to obtain CPR and first aid certification.  

I’m a pharmacy technician who has been administering vaccines safely without CPR and first aid certification. Why am I now required to obtain CPR and first aid certification?  
As scope of practice continues to expand and more pharmacy services are available, establishing consistency among pharmacy professionals providing the same services is essential to help ensure high-quality care for patients.

The College’s Board determined that mandatory CPR and first aid certification will help ensure a consistent level of knowledge, skills and abilities among pharmacy professionals administering injections. Requiring pharmacy technicians to complete and maintain up-to-date CPR and first aid training standardizes expectations among pharmacy technicians and pharmacists who are administering injections. It also gives patients confidence that pharmacy professionals administering injections are prepared to respond to any adverse reactions.

I’m a pharmacy technician who is currently administering vaccines. What happens if I can’t complete my CPR and first aid training by March 31, 2027?  
If it’s not possible for you to acquire CPR and first aid training by March 31, 2027, it is your responsibility to inform your employer that you cannot engage in administering any injections until you have completed the CPR and first aid training requirement.   

I won’t be administering injections as a pharmacy technician. Do I need to complete CPR and first aid training?  
No. If you are a pharmacy technician who is not engaged in administering injections, you are not required by the College to obtain CPR and first aid certification.  

• Table: Injection Authority – Current and Future Environment  

• Quick Reference: Schedule 3 Vaccines  

When will CPR and first aid training become mandatory for intern technicians who are administering injections? 
As of March 31, 2027, intern technicians administering any Schedule 3 vaccine must have CPR and first aid training (and registered their injection training with the College). As scope of practice continues to expand and more pharmacy services are available, establishing consistency among pharmacy professionals providing the same services is essential to help ensure high-quality care for patients.

Intern technicians who have completed a College-approved injection training course and registered their injection training with the College can administer all Schedule 3 vaccines starting July 1, 2026, without needing CPR and first aid certification. They must continue to be supervised by a pharmacist or another healthcare professional who has CPR and first aid certification. As of March 31, 2027, intern technicians are required to have their own CPR & first aid certification if they wish to continue to administering injections.

Intern technicians are encouraged to complete their CPR and first aid training as soon as possible to ensure they can continue providing injection services without interruption as the March 31, 2027, certification deadline approaches.

If you are an intern technician who is not engaged in administering injections, you are not required by the College to obtain CPR and first aid certification.  

I won’t be administering injections as an intern technician. Do I need to complete CPR and first aid training?  
No. If you are an intern technician who is not engaged in administering injections, you are not required by the College to obtain CPR and first aid certification.

• Table: Injection Authority – Current and Future Environment  

• Quick Reference: Schedule 3 Vaccines  

When can pharmacists and interns assess and prescribe for additional minor ailments?  
As of July 1, 2026, pharmacists and interns can assess and prescribe for the following additional minor ailments:  

• Calluses and corns 
• Dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis) 
• Dry eye (xeropthalmia, dry eye disease) 
• Head lice (pediculosis) 
• Jock itch (tinea cruris) 
• Mild headache (tension-type) 
• Nasal congestion (viral rhinitis, rhinosinusitis) 
• Ringworm (tinea corporis) 
• Warts (verrucae – vulgaris, plantar; excluding face and genitals) 

What drugs can pharmacists and interns prescribe for the additional minor ailments?
Drugs that can be prescribed for specific minor ailments are outlined in Schedule 4 of Ontario Regulation 256/24 under the Pharmacy Act, 1991.

Before assessing and prescribing for the new minor ailments, what resources should I review?
The College expects that pharmacists and interns understand their ethical, legal and professional obligations and that they possess the required knowledge, clinical skills, and judgment to safely assess and prescribe medications for minor ailments.

The resources below are available to help pharmacists and interns assess and prescribe for minor ailments safely and with confidence.

• Orientation for Minor Ailments Prescribing Module
  • All Part A pharmacists and interns must complete the Minor Ailments Prescribing Module before engaging in prescribing for minor ailments. There is no cost for completing this module.

• Clinical-based Continuing Education
  • Pharmacists and interns are encouraged to support their practice with clinical-based continuing education. It is a requirement of the College’s Quality Assurance Program that Part A pharmacists participate in continuing professional development and maintain a learning portfolio. With respect to minor ailments prescribing, this means the College expects pharmacists will have identified any learning opportunities and completed clinical education programs to enable them to safely and confidently prescribe for minor ailments before engaging in this expanded scope activity.
    
• Treatment and Assessment Algorithms
  • The Canadian Pharmacists Association has developed algorithms for several minor ailments. These are available on the Canadian Pharmacists Association’s website (a paid subscription to CPS is required to access this content). The How to Find Algorithms and Drug Tables infographic provides instructions in English and French on how to quickly access the algorithms and drug tables that feature a trillium to indicate drugs that are eligible for minor ailments prescribing in Ontario.
  • Pharmacists may choose to use clinical algorithms from other relevant sources that enable them to provide safe and effective patient care.

Who decided upon the additional minor ailments? 
The Minister of Health requested a recommendation from the College in 2023 for additional minor ailments that pharmacists can assess and prescribe for. A list of minor ailments was developed by the College, informed by an expert advisory group, approved by the Board of Directors, and submitted to the Minister of Health for consideration. In September 2025, the Ministry of Health officially requested that additional minor ailments be added to the scope of pharmacy practice.  

Does the College expect pharmacists and interns to provide the additional expanded scope services in their pharmacy?  
Taking on additional scope of practice activities is a choice, not a requirement. Having the legislative authority to prescribe for minor ailments and administer additional vaccines does not mean all pharmacists must offer to provide this service.  

Pharmacists are encouraged to consider how they can use their authorized scope to support patient access and care within their community, based on their practice setting and professional judgment. When this is not possible, pharmacists have an ethical obligation to make reasonable efforts to ensure continuity of patient care.  

Can pharmacists and interns prescribe medications for minor ailments to patients of any age? 
While the regulations authorizing pharmacists and interns to prescribe for minor ailments do not include age restrictions, it is possible that age may be relevant to the treatment of specific minor ailments. Pharmacists and interns must assess each patient seeking treatment for minor ailments, and if age or any other factor impacts their decision to prescribe medications, it should be explained to the patient along with a follow-up plan for monitoring and/or next steps. This could include a referral to another healthcare provider. 

• Table: Injection Authority – Current and Future Environment
• Quick Reference: Schedule 3 Vaccines 
• Quick Reference: Minor Ailments  
• Minor Ailments Timeline

Does a pharmacist need to supervise a pharmacy technician or intern technician while they administer injections in a community pharmacy?   
Yes. As outlined in the College’s Supervision of Pharmacy Personnel Policy, pharmacy technicians and intern technicians working in community pharmacy must work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist. Direct supervision means that the pharmacist is physically present (on-site) at the pharmacy. 

• Table: Injection Authority – Current and Future Environment
• Quick Reference: Schedule 3 Vaccines 
• Quick Reference: Minor Ailments  
• Minor Ailments Timeline

Can the public see which expanded scope services a pharmacy offers on the College’s Find a Pharmacy / Pharmacy Professional tool?  
Because the services a pharmacy offers may differ and evolve over time, a list of all services a particular pharmacy offers are not published on the public register (Find a Pharmacy / Pharmacy Professional tool).  

How do I know if my local pharmacy offers a particular service?   
Certain services, like administering injections or prescribing for minor ailments, may not be offered at all pharmacies and may require an appointment. Patients should speak to their pharmacy team to find out what healthcare services they offer, how to access those services, and whether they are right for their needs. 

What publicly funded vaccines can I get from my local pharmacy?
Pharmacy professionals can (or will be able to) administer these publicly funded vaccines for eligible Ontarians.

• COVID-19
• Influenza
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (publicly funded as of July 1, 2026)
• Pertussis (publicly funded as of July 1, 2026)
• Tetanus (publicly funded as of July 1, 2026)
• Diphtheria (publicly funded as of July 1, 2026)
• Pneumococcal (publicly funded as of July 1, 2026)
• Shingles (publicly funded as of July 1, 2026)

Please check with your pharmacy to find out what healthcare services they offer and if they are right for your needs.

Do any vaccines require a prescription?
Yes, certain vaccines may require a prescription before they can be administered at a pharmacy. Please check with the pharmacy to confirm what services they offer, and which vaccines require a prescription.

Will my primary care provider (e.g., doctor, nurse practitioner) know if I am prescribed medications by a pharmacist? 
Pharmacists who prescribe medications for minor ailments are required by law to notify a patient’s primary care provider to support continuity of care and positive treatment outcomes. If there is no primary care provider, this information is retained on the patient record in accordance with legislation and must continue to be accessible to the patient and their circle of care.  

Are pharmacists qualified to prescribe medications for minor ailments? 
Pharmacists have the clinical training and expertise to safely treat minor ailments, and it is the expectation of the College that all pharmacists who are registered in Ontario maintain their competency to meet the standards of practice. Pharmacists are also expected to stay current with their clinical knowledge through continuing education opportunities, as needed throughout their professional career. 

Can pharmacists charge a fee for providing minor ailment services if the patient doesn’t have a health card or is otherwise ineligible for reimbursement under Ministry of Health funding? 
As with other services that are not covered by a publicly funded program and which are over and above the services included in the usual and customary dispensing fee, pharmacists may charge fees for professional pharmacy services in accordance with the College’s Fees for Professional Pharmacy Services Policy. For example, it should be clear to the patient what the fee is for, and the charge should be reasonable for the service provided. 

Patients with private insurance or health benefits may inquire with their provider regarding possible reimbursement of any fees for minor ailment services, and pharmacists are encouraged to provide an invoice or receipt upon request for patients to use for this or other purposes. 

If I have a virtual visit with my pharmacist, can I still get a prescription? 
Pharmacists may provide minor ailments services virtually, and must follow the Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice and relevant policies and guidelines including the College’s Virtual Care Policy. Importantly, the pharmacist must first determine that the manner in which virtual care is provided is suitable for the patient assessment and will enable them to meet all legal and professional obligations. For example, if a physical assessment is necessary, the pharmacist must ensure that a virtual assessment is as safe and effective as an in-person assessment. Patients are encouraged to speak to their pharmacist to find out what healthcare services they offer and whether they are right for their needs.

• Minor Ailments Timeline