Extended practice certification

There are five areas of practice which are considered extended practice under the Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician Regulations :

1. administering a vaccine or drug therapy to a patient orally or by injection prescribed by a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner;
2. prescribing or administering intranasally or by injection a vaccine for a disease listed in Schedule A;
3. prescribing and administering orally or by injection a vaccine for a disease listed in Schedule B
4. dispensing methadone or Suboxone
5. diagnosing and prescribing drugs for minor ailments listed in Schedule C

Only a pharmacist registered in the General Class of the Pharmacist Register, who holds an Extended Practice Certificate (EPC), may practice any of the extended practice activities. The EPC is valid for one year and expires on April 1. The application for the EPCs can be found in the member portal of the PEI College of Pharmacy website. All EPCs must be renewed annually through the member portal.

The requirements for initial application are outlined below. Proof of completion of the required education programs may be submitted to the College via the document upload function in the member portal at the time the application is submitted.

1. Extended Practice Certificate in Drug Administration

Pharmacists who hold an Extended Practice Certificate in Drug Administration may administer a drug or vaccine The list of vaccines a pharmacist can prescribe and administer, in accordance with the age-related conditions, can be found in Schedule A of the Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician Regulations. These include:

(a) diphtheria;
(b) hepatitis A;
(c) hepatitis B;
(d) herpes zoster;
(e) human papillomavirus;
(f) influenza;
(g) pertussis;
(h) pneumococcal disease;
(i) rabies (pre-exposure only);
(j) tetanus.

Pharmacists who choose to administer drugs or vaccines listed in Schedule A may submit an application for an EPC in Drug Administration and include evidence that they have completed a CCCEP stage II accredited immunization and injection training and education program (e.g. Dalhousie llATP). There is a $50.00 application fee.

Pharmacists are required to renew their EPC each year. Renewals are be completed in the member portal. The fee for renewing an EPC in Drug Administration is $25.00.

The Practice Directives-Drug Administration establish responsibility for pharmacists when administering drugs. Pharmacists will practice in accordance with these Practice Directives, Public Health Immunization Regulations , Code of Ethics , Standards of Practice , as well as regulations established under the Regulated Health Professions Act .

Additionally, pharmacists who hold an Extended Practice Certificate in Drug Administration may apply for additional authority to prescribe and administer travel related vaccines for diseases in Schedule B, which are:

(a) European tick-borne encephalitis;
(b) Japanese encephalitis;
(c) traveller’s diarrhea;
(d) typhoid;
(e) yellow fever.

Pharmacists are required to complete an accredited education and training program that covers the diseases listed in Schedule B. An Extended Practice application for additional Travel Vaccine authority can be found in the registrant profile. There is no additional fee to obtain the additional Travel Vaccine Authority.

2. Extended Practice Certificate in Minor Ailment Prescribing

Pharmacists who hold an Extended Practice Certificate in Minor Ailment Prescribing may give a prescription for either a schedule I, II or III drug for a condition listed in Schedule C of the Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician Regulations. A pharmacist may not give a prescription for a drug listed in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and Regulations .

A pharmacist who chooses to prescribe for minor ailments must submit an application for an EPC in Minor Ailment Prescribing with the fee of $100.00 and include evidence that they have completed an education program for minor ailment prescribing approved by Council. The program currently offered is PEI College of Pharmacy – Prescribing for Minor Ailments in PEI. This program was originally presented as a live webinar in 2014, is available as a recorded webinar. To register for the webinar, contact the PEI College of Pharmacy. The fee for the webinar is $75.00.

3. Extended Practice Certificate in Dispensing Methadone and Suboxone

In accordance with the Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician Regulations, any pharmacist who is involved in the provision of methadone or Suboxone is required to obtain an Extended Practice Certification in Dispensing Methadone and Suboxone.

In order to apply for an EPC in Dispensing Methadone and Suboxone, a pharmacist is required to submit an application in the member portal along with evidence of completion of an education program approved by Council. Certificates of completion may be uploaded in the registrant profile at the time of application. The course options are:

1. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Course

2.  PEI Opioid Use Disorder-Integrating Knowledge into Person-Centered Care

This course is now available through Dalhousie Continuing Pharmacy Education as of January 17, 2023. Click on the link above to register