Pharmacy Technician Authorization Expanded in New Controlled Substances Regulation
The Controlled Substances Regulations (CSR) published in the Canada Gazette, Part 2, Volume 159, Number 26: Controlled Substances Regulations December 17, 2025 introduces long-awaited changes to the authorization pharmacy technicians are granted related to the handling and destruction of controlled substances.
The CSR will authorize a pharmacy technician to independently conduct many of the activities that a pharmacist is authorized to conduct. These authorized activities include compounding, sending, delivering or transporting a controlled substance, transferring a prescription to a pharmacist or another pharmacy technician, or destroying a controlled substance on site. Pharmacy technicians will be subject to the responsibilities of record-keeping and security for the activities they conduct independently.
Because selling or providing prescription drugs to a patient require patient consultation, which is not part of a pharmacy technician’s scope, only pharmacists remain authorized to complete this activity. In our feedback to Health Canada, PTSA asked for the further expansion of authorized activities for pharmacy technicians to include ordering controlled substances. Health Canada has acknowledged this feedback and will further consider it, along with the administration of drugs, as part of future regulatory changes.
Other changes that affect pharmacy practice addressed in the new CSR, include the removal of barriers to central fill services and making permanent authorizations provided through time-limited exemptions. Under the CSR, there will continue to be separate schedules for the difference categories of controlled substances, as follows:
- Schedule 1 – Narcotics
- Schedule 2 – Controlled Drugs (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3)
- Schedule 3 – Targeted Substances (Part 1 and Part 2)
- Schedule 4 – Restricted Drugs
Consequential amendments to other regulations, including the Food and Drugs Regulations will follow. Unlike the CSR, the Cannabis Regulations will not be amended to authorize activities specifically for pharmacy technicians. The authorization to conduct activities in this context already apply to pharmacy technicians as an agent or employee of a pharmacist.
While pharmacy technicians may be eager to adopt these changes in practice, the CSR will come into force on October 1, 2026. Additionally, only those activities authorized under provincial legislation and standards will apply so watch for more information from the Alberta College of Pharmacy.
How will these changes benefit your practice? Share your comments below.