Expanded scope opens new opportunities for Ontario techs

Ontario pharmacy technicians are taking a bigger role in vaccine delivery following an expansion to their scope of practice that took effect July 1.Pharmacy technicians and intern technicians in the province are now authorized to administer all vaccines listed in Schedule 3 of O. Reg. 256/24 under the Pharmacy Act, 1991, provided they complete a College-approved injection training course and register this training with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP). As of March 31, 2027, pharmacy technicians and intern technicians administering injections must also hold CPR and first aid certification and declare this with the College.As has always been the case, the pharmacist must assess the patient to determine the therapeutic appropriateness of the vaccine before it is administered; pharmacy technicians are not permitted to complete the therapeutic check.The administration of tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, pneumococcal, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and herpes zoster (shingles) vaccines by pharmacy professionals will be publicly funded for eligible adults in Ontario. The regulatory amendments also allow pharmacists and interns to assess and prescribe for nine 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); and warts (verrucae—vulgaris, plantar, excluding face and genitals).OCP’s board of directors approved the amendments to expand the scope of practice in December 2025, pending government approval. In May 2026, the Ministry of Health announced the changes that would take effect July 1.“The College continues to engage with the Ministry of Health on the remaining scope of practice activities that were part of our original regulation submission to the government,” says OCP in a summary of the changes. “We anticipate being able to provide a further update on the progress of this work over the coming months.”

Expanded scope opens new opportunities for Ontario techs

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