June 28, 2024, marked the creation of two new multi-profession regulatory colleges: the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC and the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC. These two new regulatory bodies have been created through the amalgamation of 11 legacy colleges. The amalgamations are part of the Ministry of Health’s multi-year initiative to modernize BC’s health profession regulatory framework.
The College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC has been formed through the amalgamation of four colleges. This new college regulates acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopathic physicians and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.
The College of Health and Care Professionals of BC has been formed through the amalgamation of seven different colleges. This new college regulates audiologists, dietitians, hearing instrument practitioners, occupational therapists, opticians, optometrists, physical therapists, psychologists and speech-language pathologists.
Background
Reducing the number of BC’s health regulatory colleges was identified as a Ministry of Health priority and was a key recommendation from the Steering Committee on Modernization of Health Professional Regulation’s final report: Recommendations to modernize the provincial health profession regulatory framework. In November 2017, the Health Professions Act was amended to allow colleges to amalgamate. Since then, the total number of colleges reduced from 22 to six.