www.nspharmacy.ca, the official website of the Nova Scotia Pharmacy Regulator (NSPR), provides information about the pharmacy regulator, pharmacist and pharmacy technician registration, pharmacy licensure, and pharmacy practice in our province.

The information on this site is intended as a resource to pharmacy professionals and future pharmacy professionals, and to the public.

Public interpretation of health information on this site should not be substituted for the advice of a healthcare professional. For specific health matters, visitors to this site are encouraged to consult their pharmacist or other appropriate healthcare provider.

Occasionally, alternate websites are referenced on this site. This does not imply an endorsement by NSPR. The Nova Scotia Pharmacy Regulator does not endorse specific organizations, products, or therapies.

Nova Scotia Pharmacy Regulator is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People, and we acknowledge them as the past, present, and future caretakers of this land.

We respect and honour the Peace and Friendship Treaties that were signed in this territory, setting the terms of coexistence between settlers and the Mi’kmaq people. These Treaties remain in place today.

We recognize our responsibility to uphold the Treaties in the spirit of Reconciliation and collaboration. We acknowledge the harms that have created and continue to create health inequities for Mi’kmaq People, and we commit to moving forward in partnership.

We are all Treaty People.

We recognize the histories, legacies and contributions of African Nova Scotians, a distinct people with connections to the original 52 land-based Black communities. African Nova Scotians have been a key part of enriching the culture and history of Mi’kma’ki for more than 400 years.

Mi’kma’ki includes all of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, part of New Brunswick, the Gaspé region of Quebec, part of Maine, and southwestern Newfoundland.

Pharmacy

Opening or Acquiring a Pharmacy in Nova Scotia

To open a new pharmacy or acquire an existing one, you must apply for both pharmacy accreditation and a pharmacy licence. In accordance with the regulations, applications must be submitted at least 30 days before your proposed opening date.

It is important to understand that accreditation and licensing are two distinct steps in the approval process.

Accreditation is tied directly to the ownership of the pharmacy.

  • Issued to: The owner of the pharmacy.
  • Termination: Accreditation terminates immediately upon a change in the pharmacy’s ownership.

Note: A pharmacy cannot operate without valid accreditation. A pharmacy owner must advise the NSPR as soon as possible of any change that may affect the pharmacy’s ownership.

A pharmacy licence is tied directly to the management of the pharmacy.

  • Issued to: The licensed pharmacist who is the designated pharmacy manager.
  • Termination: The licence terminates immediately if the designated manager ceases to be the manager or is no longer a licensed pharmacist.

Note: A pharmacy cannot operate without a valid licence.

When You Must Apply for a New Pharmacy Licence

The pharmacy owner and manager are responsible for immediately notifying the NSPR and applying for a new pharmacy licence in the following situations:

  • Change in Pharmacy Manager: A new licence must be issued in the name of the new manager.
  • Change in Name: The operating name of the pharmacy or the corporate name of the owner changes.
  • Change in Location: The pharmacy relocates.

Annual Licence Renewal

A pharmacy licence expires on December 31 of each year.

In order for a pharmacy’s licence to be renewed for the following year, the pharmacy manager and owner must provide all of the requirements for licence renewal to the NSPR by November 30 of each year. Renewing after November 30 incurs a late fee.

The requirements for annual licence renewal are set out in the regulations.

Licence renewals can be completed through the NSPR Registrant Portal.

Pharmacy Manager Interview

The pharmacy manager’s role is critical to ensuring that appropriate policies and practices are established and implemented by the pharmacy for the optimal care and safety of its patients.

To support pharmacy managers in understanding their role and responsibilities as described in the legislation, the NSPR completes a Pharmacy Manager Interview with first time managers, those that have not been a manager in the previous two years, and then every five years thereafter.

Pharmacy Managers will be contacted by a NSPR inspector to schedule the interview.

Forms & Resources

Pharmacy Manager Role & Responsibilities

All pharmacies in Nova Scotia must, at all times, have a pharmacy manager in whose name the pharmacy’s licence to operate is issued. The role of pharmacy manager goes far beyond simply having one’s name on the pharmacy licence. Managers play a vital role in ensuring that Nova Scotians receive safe pharmacy care.

Pharmacy managers are considered to be the representative of the NSPR in the pharmacy and are:

  • accountable to the NSPR for ensuring that the pharmacy operates in accordance with all applicable federal and provincial legislation, bylaws, standards, and polices;
  • responsible for ensuring that individuals who work in the pharmacy are appropriately licensed and insured;
  • responsible for ensuring that individuals that work in the pharmacy are kept informed about communications that come from NSPR, including when there are changes to standards and policies that impact pharmacy practice; and
  • responsible for the day-to-day regulatory oversight of the pharmacy.

Pharmacy managers are often required to make declarations to the NSPR that they have completed certain activities required by the NSPR and about their pharmacy’s compliance with regulatory requirements.  It is important to understand that a declaration is a formal statement that certain facts are true, complete, and accurate.

Making a false declaration is the same as telling a lie and is taken very seriously by the NSPR. It is considered professional misconduct and could be subject to the professional conduct process.

Before accepting a role as pharmacy manager, an individual should take steps to educate themself about what it means to be a pharmacy manager and what they will be responsible and accountable for in the operation of a community pharmacy.

Information about the qualifications and responsibilities of a pharmacy manager can be found in sections 83 and 84 of the NSPR Bylaws. More detailed information about pharmacy manager responsibilities can also be found in various NSPR Standards of Practice and Policies.

Any person wishing to become or considering a role as a pharmacy manager is strongly encouraged to review these documents in their entirety.

Pharmacy Manager Interviews

To ensure new and returning pharmacy managers are well-versed in their roles and responsibilities, the NSPR conducts a Pharmacy Manager Interview. This interview is required for:

  • First-time pharmacy managers.
  • Managers who have not held the position in the previous two years.
  • All managers on an approximate five-year cycle.

To support pharmacy managers in understanding their role and responsibilities as described in the legislation, the NSPR completes a Pharmacy Manager Interview with first time pharmacy managers, those that have not been a manager in the previous two years, and then approximately every five years thereafter. Pharmacy Managers will be contacted by an NSPR inspector to schedule the interview.

Change in Pharmacy Manager

A valid pharmacy licence, issued in the name of a qualified pharmacy manager, is essential for the legal operation of a pharmacy in Nova Scotia. When a change in pharmacy manager occurs, specific steps must be followed to ensure a smooth transition and maintain continuous licensing.

Who Can Be a Pharmacy Manager?

A pharmacy manager must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be licensed as registrant on a practising register.
  • Have a minimum of 12 months of direct patient care experience in a Canadian pharmacy within the last five years.
  • Practice at the pharmacy location they manage.
  • Hold a licence with no practice limitations.
  • Manage only one pharmacy at a time, with exceptions for emergency, or interim roles.

Mandatory Notification and Application Process

When a pharmacy manager is leaving their position, both the outgoing manager and the pharmacy owner have distinct responsibilities:

  • Outgoing Pharmacy Manager: Must notify the NSPR of their resignation before their last day by submitting the Resignation of Pharmacy Manager form.
  • Pharmacy Owner: Must promptly inform the NSPR of the change and apply for a new pharmacy licence by submitting the Change in Pharmacy Manager form.

Important: A pharmacy cannot operate without a valid licence. It is crucial to coordinate the transition to prevent any interruption in service.

Pharmacy Manager Interviews

To ensure new and returning pharmacy managers are well-versed in their roles and responsibilities, the NSPR conducts a Pharmacy Manager Interview. This interview is required for:

  • First-time pharmacy managers.
  • Managers who have not held the position in the previous two years.
  • All managers on an approximate five-year cycle.

To support pharmacy managers in understanding their role and responsibilities as described in the legislation, the NSPR completes a Pharmacy Manager Interview with first time pharmacy managers, those that have not been a manager in the previous two years, and then approximately every five years thereafter. Pharmacy Managers will be contacted by an NSPR inspector to schedule the interview.

Forms & Resources

Required Notification of Changes

A pharmacy owner and pharmacy manager must notify the NSPR of changes, planned or realized, to the pharmacy including:

  • changes in the ownership of the pharmacy and, in the case of a corporate owner, any change in the directors or registered agent of the corporate owner;
  • changes in the pharmacy that would affect the information provided to the NSPR in the application for accreditation or a renewal, including changes that result in changes to the pharmacy diagram, the location of the pharmacy, the corporate name of the owner or the operating name of the pharmacy;
  • changes in the pharmacy manager; and
  • changes in the registrants employed by the pharmacy.

Relocation of a Pharmacy

A pharmacy relocation refers to a change in the physical address of an existing pharmacy where the ownership remains the same. In a relocation, there is no transfer of patient files or prescription records to a new owner.

If you are planning to relocate your pharmacy, you must inform the NSPR at least 30 days before your planned move.

To ensure a smooth transition, please follow these steps:

How to Notify the NSPR of a Relocation

  1. Submit the Required Documents: Complete and submit the Notification: Relocation of an Existing Pharmacy form. This must be accompanied by a detailed pharmacy diagram and the non-refundable relocation fee.
  2. Provide a Pharmacy Diagram: Your diagram must be drawn to scale and will be verified during the inspection. It must clearly show:
    • The layout and perimeter of the dispensary (see sample diagrams under Forms and Resources).
    • The location of all professional service areas, such as patient consultation rooms.
    • The general location of non-prescription drugs (e.g., Schedule III and over-the-counter medications) in relation to the dispensary.
  3. Schedule an Inspection: After submitting your notification, you will work with the NSPR to schedule an inspection of the new premises.

Important Responsibilities

Public Notification: You are required to clearly notify the public of your pharmacy’s new address and the effective date of the move. This ensures patients can continue to access their care without interruption.

Third-Party Notifications: It is crucial to also notify third-party payers and programs, including all relevant third-party insurance providers and/or adjudicators, of your new address and any resulting changes to your pharmacy’s licence number.

Please contact the following organizations as soon as possible::

  • Medavie Blue Cross (MSI)
  • The Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP)
  • Drug Information System (DIS)

Forms & Resources:

Renovation of a Pharmacy

A renovation involves changes to the configuration of your pharmacy’s layout that differ from the diagram currently on file with the NSPR.

What is considered a renovation?

A renovation could include:

  • Altering the layout of the dispensary or professional services areas.
  • Adding or removing walls.
  • Installing a new private consultation room.
  • Installing a “lock and leave” enclosure.

For a change to be classified as a renovation, there can be no change in pharmacy ownership, address, or transfer of patient files. Minor cosmetic updates, like new paint or flooring, that do not alter the approved diagram are not considered renovations.

You must notify the NSPR at least 30 days before your renovation is complete. Follow these steps to ensure compliance:

How to Proceed with a Renovation

  1. Submit Your Notification Package: Provide the NSPR with the following three items:
  2. Provide an Accurate Pharmacy Diagram: Your diagram must be drawn to scale and will be confirmed by an inspector (see sample diagrams in the Forms and Resources section below). It must clearly show:
    • The perimeter and layout of the dispensary.
    • The location of all professional services areas (e.g., consultation rooms).
    • The general location for non-prescription drugs (Schedule III and OTCs) relative to the dispensary.
  3. Schedule an Inspection: Once your submission is received, you will work with an NSPR Inspector to schedule an inspection. The inspection will take place within one month of the completed renovation to verify the new layout.

Forms & Resources

Pharmacy Trade Name

Forms & Resources

Change in Pharmacy Professionals

The pharmacy manager is responsible for providing the NSPR with the name of each registrant employed by the pharmacy and to notify the NSPR of any changes.

Forms & Resources

Opioid Use Disorder

Pharmacies providing treatment for opioid use disorder (i.e., pharmacies dispensing either methadone and/or buprenorphine/naloxone) must do so in compliance with the Standards of Practice: Drug Therapy for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder and must notify the NSPR.

Forms & Resources

Centralized Prescription Processing

“Centralized prescription processing (central fill)” refers to the processing, by a central fill pharmacy, of a request from an originating pharmacy to prepare a drug order or to perform processing functions such as packaging medication or preparing non-customary products (e.g., non-traditional compounded prescriptions) to be dispensed by the originating pharmacy pursuant to a prescription.

The central fill pharmacy is defined as a pharmacy accredited by the NSPR acting as an agent of the originating pharmacy to fill or process prescription orders.

The originating pharmacy is defined as the patient contact pharmacy accredited by the NSPR that uses a central fill pharmacy to fill or process prescription orders.

Pharmacies involved in central fill prescription processing must do so in accordance with the Standards of Practice: Centralized Prescription Processing.

The originating pharmacy is responsible to inform the NSPR 30 days in advance of the intent to operate or utilize the services of a central fill pharmacy by submitting the appropriate and completed form provided by the NSPR.

Forms & Resources

Forms & Resources

Selling or Closing a Pharmacy

When you sell your pharmacy, you are responsible for ensuring a smooth and compliant transition for your patients, their records, and the new ownership. As the seller, you must complete the following key steps before the pharmacy officially closes or changes hands.

Step 1: Complete and Submit Closing Form

Your first step is to formally notify the NSPR. You must complete and submit the Pharmacy Closing Form prior to the final closure or sale date. This ensures the NSPR has an official record of the change in operation.

Information and Form: Closing a Pharmacy

Step 2: Notify Patients

You must inform all patients of the pharmacy’s upcoming sale and closure as soon as possible. This notification should clearly explain:

  • The date of closure or change in ownership.
  • How their patient records will be securely managed.
  • The process for any transfer of their records to the acquiring pharmacy.

Methods for notification can include:

  • Prominent in-store signage
  • Newspaper or radio advertisements
  • Personal phone calls or mailouts to patients

Step 3: Manage the Secure Transfer of Patient Records

Protecting patient privacy is paramount. By law, you cannot disclose personal patient information without consent.

Best Practice: To ensure compliance with privacy legislation, the selling and acquiring pharmacies should enter into a joint confidentiality agreement. This agreement ensures the new owner maintains the patient records securely and agrees not to access them until a patient chooses to use the new pharmacy’s services, thereby providing their implied consent.

You must also be prepared to provide patients with a copy of their records upon request.

Step 4: Ensure Continuity of Patient Care

Throughout the transition, you must have a plan in place to provide for the orderly and uninterrupted continuation of care for all your patients. This includes managing prescription transfers and answering patient questions in a timely manner.

In addition to notifying patients and managing records, every pharmacy owner/manager who permanently closes a pharmacy location must take the following final steps to decommission the site and its inventory in accordance with all regulations.

  • Immediately remove all signs and symbols related to the practice of pharmacy.
  • Immediately remove and dispose of all drugs and devices according to law:
    • Narcotic and controlled drugs and substances may only be sold or transferred to another pharmacist/pharmacy or a licensed dealer in accordance with federal legislation. An accurate inventory of the narcotic and controlled drugs must be completed and verified by the managers of the closing pharmacy and the purchasing pharmacy.
    • Narcotic and controlled drugs may only be destroyed in accordance with federal legislation.
  • Scheduled drugs (non-narcotic and controlled) may be sold or transferred only to another pharmacist/pharmacy or a licensed dealer.

Information and Form: Closing a Pharmacy

Pharmacy Inspections

Pharmacy inspections are a key part of how the NSPR ensures public safety and upholds the standards of practice in Nova Scotia. Inspections confirm that a pharmacy meets all requirements set out in the regulations and bylaws.

The main types of pharmacy inspections are as follows:

Before any new pharmacy can open and receive its certificate of accreditation, the NSPR will conduct a mandatory on-site inspection. The purpose of this inspection is to verify that the new pharmacy fully complies with all operational and physical requirements.

Pharmacies undergo routine pharmacy inspections approximately every three years.

Pharmacies are reinspected in the following situations:

  • After a Change in Ownership: An inspection will be scheduled after a new certificate of accreditation is issued to a new owner.
  • After a Relocation: If your pharmacy moves to a new physical address.
  • After Major Renovations: If you make changes to the pharmacy that alter the diagram submitted in your original accreditation application.
  • In instances where the requirements as set out in a routine inspection have not been met to the satisfaction of the NSPR.

Note: These re-inspections are conducted at the pharmacy’s expense.