Pharmacist training and practice considerations

The following information is an overview of pharmacist training and practice requirements in other Canadian jurisdictions and is intended to inform discussions about potential requirements that could accompany an expanded scope of practice for pharmacists.

Training requirements vary greatly across jurisdictions. While many of the proposed expanded scope activities can be performed without additional training beyond entry-to-practice education, some may require specific training, demonstrated competencies, or practice setting requirements (particularly for activities involving physical assessment, diagnostic testing, specimen collection, or specialized equipment).

The table below highlights activities and conditions for which some other jurisdictions have established additional requirements.

Please use the comment boxes in the survey to indicate if you believe specific training or competency requirements should apply to the specific condition.

Please note

Please note:

  • Most training requirements or practice considerations would generally be established through professional standards rather than legislation.
  • Many jurisdictions are actively expanding the range of conditions pharmacists can assess and prescribe for, and requirements may continue to evolve.

Area of expanded scope

Examples of training competencies

Sore throat and streptococcal pharyngitis



Physical assessment of the throat, use of clinical decision-making tools (e.g. Centor scoring), throat-swab collection, point-of-care testing, interpretation of test results, and identification of red flags or situations requiring referral.

Ear conditions (acute otitis externa and acute otitis media)


Performing ear assessments, use of an otoscope, distinguishing between acute otitis externa and acute otitis media, recognizing complications, and determining when referral is appropriate.

Point-of-care testing

Specimen collection, administration of point-of-care tests, interpretation of results, documentation requirements, and infection prevention and control procedures

Physical assessment and private consultation space

Some jurisdictions have identified the need for visually and acoustically private consultation rooms, particularly for sensitive conditions or services involving physical assessment.

Competency-based approaches

Alberta operates under a competency-based scope that relies on pharmacists practicing within their education, training and professional competence rather than condition-specific authorized lists. Nova Scotia has recently undertaken legislative changes that also support this model.