diff --git a/doc/conf.py b/doc/conf.py
index 2a8193e55..a2548fc65 100644
--- a/doc/conf.py
+++ b/doc/conf.py
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 """Sphinx configuration."""
 
 import datetime
-
-import pkg_resources
+from importlib.metadata import version
 
 # Sphinx configuration below.
 project = "amazon-braket-sdk"
-version = pkg_resources.require(project)[0].version
+version = version(project)
 release = version
 copyright = "{}, Amazon.com".format(datetime.datetime.now().year)
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 6c0a9e984..34d220161 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
         "amazon-braket-schemas>=1.21.0",
         "amazon-braket-default-simulator>=1.21.2",
         "oqpy~=0.3.5",
-        "setuptools",
         "backoff",
         "boltons",
         "boto3>=1.28.53",
@@ -41,6 +40,7 @@
         "openpulse",
         "openqasm3",
         "sympy",
+        "backports.entry-points-selectable",
     ],
     extras_require={
         "test": [
diff --git a/src/braket/devices/local_simulator.py b/src/braket/devices/local_simulator.py
index faee13fdf..69fcfdaff 100644
--- a/src/braket/devices/local_simulator.py
+++ b/src/braket/devices/local_simulator.py
@@ -13,14 +13,13 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import sys
 from functools import singledispatchmethod
 from itertools import repeat
 from multiprocessing import Pool
 from os import cpu_count
 from typing import Any, Optional, Union
 
-import pkg_resources
-
 from braket.ahs.analog_hamiltonian_simulation import AnalogHamiltonianSimulation
 from braket.annealing.problem import Problem
 from braket.circuits import Circuit
@@ -39,9 +38,12 @@
 from braket.tasks.local_quantum_task import LocalQuantumTask
 from braket.tasks.local_quantum_task_batch import LocalQuantumTaskBatch
 
-_simulator_devices = {
-    entry.name: entry for entry in pkg_resources.iter_entry_points("braket.simulators")
-}
+if sys.version_info.minor == 9:
+    from backports.entry_points_selectable import entry_points
+else:
+    from importlib.metadata import entry_points
+
+_simulator_devices = {entry.name: entry for entry in entry_points(group="braket.simulators")}
 
 
 class LocalSimulator(Device):