Professional RegulationThere are 26 regulated health professions in British Columbia, of which 25 are self-regulating professions governed by 22 regulatory colleges under the Health Professions Act. One profession (emergency medical assisting) is regulated by a government-appointed licensing board under a separate statute. The colleges have been delegated the authority under provincial legislation to govern the practice of their members in the public interest. Their mandate at all times is to serve and protect the public. The primary function of the colleges is to ensure their members are qualified, competent and following clearly defined standards of practice and ethics. All colleges administer processes for responding to complaints from patients and the public and for taking action when it appears one of their members is practising in a manner that is incompetent, unethical, illegal or impaired by alcohol, drugs or illness. More information about the roles and responsibilities of the regulatory bodies and how to make a complaint can be obtained from the pamphlet "Your Assurance of Competent, Ethical Health Care", available from the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia. Since 2001, the health professions regulatory framework has been undergoing significant reform. This initiative is being guided by the reports and recommendations of the former Health Professions Council, particularly the report “Safe Choices: A New Model for Regulating Health Professions in British Columbia”. Information about the legislation and regulatory body for a regulated profession can be viewed on the page for each profession in the list below. The information includes notices of proposed regulation amendments, as well as summaries of approved regulation amendments and filed college bylaw amendments. The full text of a college's current bylaws and information about any proposed bylaw amendments may be obtained by contacting the college.
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