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.

November 12, 2020

Pharmacy Technicians in Nova Scotia Now Able to Administer Vaccines

Home/Press Release/


Pharmacy technicians across Nova Scotia are now able to administer injections offered in the
province’s 310 pharmacies, including flu shots and other vaccines. This makes Nova Scotia the
first province in Canada to make full use of all regulated pharmacy practitioners in the
administration of vaccines.


This change is the outcome of work the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists (NSCP) began in
2018 and comes during a year where demand for vaccines – particularly flu shots – is
significantly higher than normal. With over 250 registered pharmacy technicians in Nova Scotia,
this represents a substantial increase in the number of practitioners able to meet this demand.
This expansion of technicians’ scope of practice means they will also be able to support a future
COVID-19 vaccination campaign for Nova Scotians.


“This important advancement in pharmacy care delivery reflects a commitment to ensure there
are no regulatory barriers to pharmacies, as community healthcare providers, operating
effectively to meet the needs of the public and to support the province’s public health
strategies,” said Beverley Zwicker, CEO and Registrar of the NSCP.


Pharmacy technicians are regulated healthcare providers who are trained in the technical
aspects of preparing and dispensing prescriptions. Technicians administering vaccines will have
completed an accredited injection training program and will work in partnership with a
pharmacist. By taking this team-based approach, pharmacies will be better able to meet the
healthcare needs of Nova Scotians.


“As we enter cold and flu season in a pandemic, health remains a top concern for many Nova
Scotians, and pharmacies will be busy places in the weeks to come. This change will help
manage that demand,” explained Zwicker.


The NSCP encourages individuals to check with their pharmacy by calling or visiting their
website to learn how they can be immunized or receive other healthcare services. This will help
to avoid crowding in the pharmacy, keeping them a safe space for the public.

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