Community Pharmacy Expanded Scope of Practice: Legislation and Community Pharmacist Prescribing Code

To support the implementation of the Community Pharmacy Expanded Scope of Practice in South Australia, amendments were made in November 2025 to the Controlled Substances (Poisons) Regulations 2011 (Poisons Regulations).

Regulation 17A of the Poisons Regulations enables authorised pharmacists to provide additional services within community pharmacies in South Australia. Specifically, these amendments permit a pharmacist to prescribe certain Schedule 4 medicines if:

Community Pharmacist Prescribing Code

The Community Pharmacist Prescribing Code (PDF 709KB) (CPP Code) sets out the requirements that pharmacists must comply with to provide Community Pharmacy Expanded Scope of Practice services in South Australia. The CPP Code specifically addresses:

  • Pharmacist requirements
  • Prescribing requirements
  • Training requirements
  • Schedule 4 medicines that may be prescribed by a pharmacist for the specific indications, including any restrictions or conditions, in accordance with approved Clinical Practice Guidelines and Protocols.

SA Health Register of Authorised Pharmacists

To be included on the SA Health Register of Authorised Pharmacists, pharmacists must meet the requirements set out in the Community Pharmacist Prescribing Code (PDF 709KB) and apply for authorisation. Upon receiving authorisation, a pharmacist is issued with a prescriber number and added to the SA Health Register of Authorised Pharmacists. The register is publicly searchable and can be used to verify the authenticity of prescriptions issued by authorised pharmacists in South Australia.

Further information

If you have any questions about Community Pharmacy Expanded Scope of Practice services in South Australia, please contact the Office of the Chief Pharmacist at Health.CommunityPharmacyInitiatives@sa.gov.au.