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 Practice Hub

Note: The NSPR is continuing to update its documents to be aligned with the Regulated Health Professions Act. Some documents may still refer to the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists and previous legislation while this transition is being completed.

Latest Pharmacy Practice News

Latest Professional Notices

Practice Supports & Resources

Firstline

There is now expanded guidance for prescribers on the treatment of common community-based infections such as pharyngitis, respiratory tract infections, and skin and soft tissues infections on Firstline. This poster provides instructions on how to access Firstline and can be shared and posted. Set your location as Nova Scotia Health to access local adult guidelines and IWK Health for local pediatric/obstetrical guidelines.

Public Website

The website Using Antibiotics Safely was created as a reliable resource for patients and members of the public to learn more about antibiotics and how everyone can play a role in preventing antimicrobial resistance.

Since the introduction of the Standards of Practice: Non-Sterile Compounding, the NSPR has received questions from practitioners about how to apply the standards to their compounding practice.

To address frequently asked questions with real life examples, the NSPR has created five non-sterile compounding videos on YouTube. These video modules are a helpful resource to aid you as you continue to incorporate the standards into routine practice.

To access all five video modules, please visit the NSPR YouTube Channel.

The modules have been accredited for a total of 1.5 CEUs by Dalhousie College of Pharmacy Continuing Pharmacy Education. A certificate of completion can be accessed by completing a five-minute, anonymous survey using the link provided in the video description.

Note: All pharmacies are expected to be prepared to provide basic compounding services, and all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are expected to maintain their competence to do so (see the Position Statement: Professional Responsibilities to Meet Patient Needs Related to Compounding, Opioid Agonist Therapy, and Prescribing).

Considerations for the Evaluation of the Compounding Practice Environment

Non-Sterile Compounding: Policy and Procedure Template

Dalhousie University Continuing Pharmacy Education

Emergency Preparedness

All pharmacy managers are required to have an emergency preparedness plan in place that ensures continuity of care (Standards of Practice: General Pharmacy Practice, s. 5.3.5). Pharmacy managers should ensure that this plan is available and communicated to all staff.

Temporary Closures

Pharmacies should review the Temporary Pharmacy Closures Policy. Should you need to evacuate or temporarily close, please notify the NSPR at the earliest opportunity by using the Notification of Temporary Pharmacy Closure Form located in the policy.  

Transferring Prescriptions

Given that it is not possible to transfer a prescription from a pharmacy that is closed, pharmacists can prescribe renewals for patients needing a supply of their medication, supported by information in the NS Drug Information System (DIS).

The Standards of Practice: Prescribing Drugs provides the following direction to pharmacists on prescribing for a renewal when a prescription transfer is not possible:

4.3 Occasionally it may be necessary for pharmacists to provide refills for patients whose home pharmacy is closed due to unforeseen circumstances, making a prescription transfer not possible. In this situation, pharmacists may prescribe for the patient by doing the following:

  • consult the patient’s Nova Scotia Drug Information System (DIS) profile
  • prescribe the medication for the patient consistent with the number of refills remaining on the patient’s prescription (for clarity when prescribing in this circumstance, the requirements in Standard 4.1 and Appendix C do not apply)
  • discontinue/inactivate the existing prescription in the DIS.

Health Canada CDSA Exemption for Emergency Evacuation

Health Canada has issued an Exemption for Pharmacists in Canada in Emergency Evacuation to protect patient access to medication containing controlled substances during emergency evacuation. Please review the exemption for more information, including terms and conditions.

Other Resources

Standard of Care During a Crisis

A Pharmacy Professional’s Duty During a Crisis: An Ethical Framework

Pandemic Emergency Preparedness and Response

Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Canada

ISMP Canada Safety Bulletins

National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA)

Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia (PANS)

Pharmacist Consult Services

Addictions Medicine Consult Service (AMCS) provides rapid Addictions Medicine consultant advice to a variety of Nova Scotia healthcare providers by telephone.

The AMCS is available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Call toll-free: 1-855-970-0234. * Voicemail only evenings, weekends, and holidays.

As the healthcare system is working to find care delivery solutions, pharmacists are being asked to make full use of their prescribing authority to resolve their patient’s drug-related needs. This clinical practice support aims to build pharmacists’ confidence to prescribe and incorporate this activity into their routine practice.

Advice for clinical matters related to direct patient care, including:

  • prescribing
  • therapeutic substitution
  • adaptation
  • renewals

Practical peer-to-peer support to discuss:

  • risks and benefits of therapeutic alternatives
  • selecting a drug, dose, route, frequency, and duration
  • monitoring and follow-up
  • ethical considerations

SHARE access for consultations to enable informed decisions.

To request a consultation, email admin@rxconsultns.com or call/text (613) 406-0984.

  • The service is available 8am to 8pm Monday-Friday and 8am-4pm on weekends/holidays
  • Emails will be returned within 1 hour (during business hours)
  • Pre-registration is recommended but not required

Book online now or learn more

Vaccine Consult Service

Prescriptions for narcotics and controlled substances are monitored by the Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program (NS PMP).

All prescribers, pharmacists, and pharmacies must register with the NSPMP if prescribing and/or dispensing monitored drugs in NS.

The policies and requirements for prescribing and dispensing controlled drugs and substances can be found on the NS PMP Website.

For out of province prescribers, please contact the NSPMP team for any questions on the registration form.

PMP Pharmacist Consultant

Pharmacy Practice FAQs

Can you provide the CE file number for my continuing education program (e.g., CPR/First Aid, Dal Preceptor)?

The NSPR does not accredit any continuing education programs. You may contact Dalhousie University Continuing Pharmacy Education (Dal CPE) to inquire if the program has been accredited and they can provide you with a CE number. 

What is the annual deadline for continuing education required for licensing?

November 30th is the deadline for continuing education to be completed. However, CEUs completed from September 1st to November 30th of any given year can be used toward that year’s renewal or the subsequent year’s renewal. For example, if you complete a CEU from September to November 2025, you can use this for your 2026 or 2027 renewal. Note: CEUs can only be used for one year and cannot be used twice.

I obtained 10 CEUs for a course but only need 5 of them for the current licensing year. Can I split the CEUs for this course between two registration years?

No, CEUs from one continuing education program cannot be split between two years.

How do I know if a continuing education program or training is accredited for CEUs? 

The following accrediting bodies are accepted for continuing education: 

  • CE Division Dalhousie University
  • Canadian Council of Continuing Education and Pharmacy (CCCEP)
  • Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
  • Mainpro+

If your continuing education is not accredited by one of the above bodies, you can submit the program information to Dalhousie University Continuing Pharmacy Education (Dal CPE) to review for accreditation.