How to buy a pharmacy in Nova Scotia: licences, ownership rules and what transfers

Buying a pharmacy in Nova Scotia means dealing with the Nova Scotia Pharmacy Regulator, known as the NSPR, and with two approvals rather than one. The NSPR says that to open a new pharmacy or acquire an existing one, you must apply for both pharmacy accreditation and a pharmacy licence, and that these are two distinct steps. One follows the owner and the other follows the manager, and a sale touches both. This guide explains how the NSPR describes each, what happens to them when ownership changes, and what to ask the seller for.

Who regulates pharmacy in Nova Scotia

The NSPR describes nspharmacy.ca as its official website, giving information about the pharmacy regulator, pharmacist and pharmacy technician registration, pharmacy licensure and pharmacy practice in the province. It also says it is continuing to update its documents to align with the Regulated Health Professions Act, and its legislation page lists that Act, the Regulated Health Professions General Regulations, the Pharmacy Regulations and its bylaws. Because that update is under way, check the current text of each document on the NSPR site when you read it, and ask your lawyer which version applies to your closing date.

Accreditation follows the owner

The NSPR states that accreditation is tied directly to the ownership of the pharmacy, and that it terminates immediately upon a change in the pharmacy’s ownership. It also states that a pharmacy cannot operate without valid accreditation. In plain terms, a buyer does not step into the seller’s accreditation. The buyer needs a new certificate of accreditation. The NSPR says an inspection will be scheduled after a new certificate of accreditation is issued to a new owner, so allow for that inspection in your closing timeline.

The licence follows the manager

The NSPR says a pharmacy licence is tied directly to the management of the pharmacy. All pharmacies in Nova Scotia must, at all times, have a pharmacy manager in whose name the licence to operate is issued. The licence terminates immediately if the designated manager ceases to be the manager or is no longer a licensed pharmacist. If the manager changes, the NSPR says a new licence must be issued in the name of the new manager: the outgoing manager must notify the NSPR of their resignation before their last day, and the pharmacy owner must promptly inform the NSPR of the change and apply for a new licence. Ask the seller whether their manager will stay after closing. The NSPR adds that the role goes far beyond having one’s name on the licence, and it points to sections 83 and 84 of its Bylaws for the manager’s qualifications and responsibilities. Read those sections before you decide who will manage.

Timing and notice

The NSPR says that, in accordance with the regulations, applications must be submitted at least 30 days before the proposed opening date. It also says a pharmacy owner must advise the NSPR as soon as possible of any change that may affect the pharmacy’s ownership. The NSPR also says a pharmacy owner and pharmacy manager must notify it of changes, planned or realized, including changes in the ownership of the pharmacy and, for a corporate owner, any change in its directors or registered agent. Ask the NSPR early in the deal how these steps fit your timetable. The NSPR also publishes a form for acquiring an existing pharmacy or changing ownership; ask the NSPR which forms apply to your structure and who must sign each.

Renewal on the calendar

The NSPR says a pharmacy licence expires on December 31 of each year, and that for renewal the pharmacy manager and owner must provide all the renewal requirements to the NSPR by November 30. If your closing falls near the end of the year, find out whether the seller has met the renewal requirements, and who will do so after closing. Those requirements are set out in the regulations, and renewals are completed through the NSPR registrant portal.

Federal rules that sit alongside

Health Canada says class exemptions under the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act could apply to people in a geographic area, such as a provincial class exemption, or to a profession, such as pharmacists. That is a federal matter, separate from the NSPR’s accreditation and licence. Ask your lawyer which federal permissions the pharmacy relies on and whether they attach to the business or to its pharmacists.

What to ask the seller for

• The current certificate of accreditation and the pharmacy licence, showing the owner and the manager named on each.
• Confirmation of whether the designated manager will remain, and the manager’s own plans.
• Any NSPR inspection reports and correspondence about conditions or past changes.
• Evidence that the licence renewal requirements for the current year have been met.
• The seller’s understanding of which NSPR forms apply to the sale, and what the seller has already filed.

The wider buying process is covered in our guide to buying a pharmacy in Canada. For a different Nova Scotia permit that follows a change of owner, see food premises permits on a change of owner in Nova Scotia. Current listings are on the pharmacies for sale page.