Legislation, Bylaws & Standards

On April 1, 2026, the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) came into force as the governing legislation for regulation of health professions in BC.

Also on April 1, 2026, updated regulations went into force.

To learn more about the HPOA, see About the HPOA.

For information about the regulations, see Regulations.

The BC government has updated the regulations for health professions to align them with the Health Professions and Occupations Act. The regulations include:

• Health and Care Professionals Regulation: This regulation applies to the professions regulated by the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC. It sets out scope of practice statements of each profession, the restricted activities of each profession (including limits and conditions, and those that require certification to perform), and exclusive titles that only regulated health professions may use.
• Regulated Health Practitioners Regulation: This regulation applies to all regulated health professions in BC. It includes a table of all prescribed restricted activities that can be performed by specific health professionals. To understand the scope of practice for the professions regulated by CHCPBC, it will need to be read alongside the Health and Care Professionals Regulation.
• Health Professions and Occupations Regulation: This regulation provides additional governance, oversight, and administration direction for health profession regulatory colleges, the Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office, and the Health Professions Review Board.

Effective April 1, 2026, the updated regulations are in force.

The following legislation is relevant to health and care professionals regulated by CHCPBC: 

• Adult Guardianship Act, section 46
• Adult Guardianship Act, Designated Agencies Regulation
• Child, Family, and Community Service Act, Sections 13 and 14
• Criminal Records Review Act
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
• Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act
• Infants Act
• Limitation Act
• Personal Information Protection Act

The CHCPBC Bylaws set out the details of the operation of the organization, including:  

• the duties and responsibilities of a governing Board, Committees, and the Registrar 
• qualifications for registration and licensing 
• the regulation of professional conduct and ethics 
• fee schedules.

Bylaws are enacted by the College’s Board and are subject to oversight by the Minister of Health.  

Bylaws under Health Professions and Occupations Act

CHCPBC Bylaws (PDF)

There are no proposed bylaw amendments at this time.

To view the CHCPBC Fee Schedule, see the Fees page.

Effective April 1, 2026, one harmonized set of Ethics and Practice Standards, under the Health Professions and Occupations Act, outlines the requirements for all licensees in all professions regulated by CHCPBC. See the Ethics and Practice Standards.

Licensure

• Accommodations (PDF)
• Criminal Record Check – Outside of Canada (PDF)
• Examination Appeals (PDF)
• Examination Number of Attempts (PDF)
• Examination Withdrawal and Rescheduling (PDF)
• Examiner/Assessor Qualifications & Competencies (PDF)
• Good Character Requirements (PDF)
• Identity Documents (PDF)
• Language Proficiency (PDF)
• Provisional Licensure (PDF)
• Validity of Applications and Supporting Documentation (PDF)