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Subject to Part 4 – Health Profession Corporation of the Health Professions Act and the BCCOHP bylaws, Part 14 – Health Profession Corporations registrants may apply to the Board for approval of a Dental Hygiene Corporation Name and a Health Profession Corporation Permit.
For a one-page summary of the incorporation process, download a copy of BCCOHP‘s Health Profession Corporation Name and Permit Information Sheet.
A Health Profession Corporation that holds a valid permit may not carry on any activities other than the provision of dental hygiene services or services that are directly associated with the provision of those services that would, for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), give rise to income from business.
Note that the timeline for processing applications may vary.
In order to obtain a permit, you must:
Review BCCOHP bylaw 14.05(3) (pages 125-131) for the Health Profession Corporation naming requirements.
Apply to the Registrar of Companies to reserve your proposed name.
Download a Dental Hygiene Corporation Name Application. Complete the form and return it to the College office. Refer to the College bylaws for information about naming your corporation.
Please note that processing time may vary; it may take up to six weeks for your application to be processed.
Once you receive name approval from BCCOHP, apply to the BC Corporate Registry for consent to incorporate.
Once your corporation has been registered under the B.C. Business Corporations Act, you may apply for a permit. Download a Health Profession Corporation Permit Application Form. This form is for an initial application (please see below for renewal forms). Complete the form and return it to the College office along with the following additional documentation:
The permit is valid from the date issued by BCCOHP until the following March 1.
Payment can be made by cheque, money order, or online by credit card. If paying by credit card, once your application has been reviewed, payment can be made through the single fee payment tab on your registrant profile.
Please allow six weeks for your application to be processed.
You must renew your permit annually to ensure that BCCOHP has up-to-date information about oral health professionals who are practising through a health profession corporation. You will receive a notice from BCCOHP when it is time to renew your permit. To maintain your permit, you must submit an HPC Renewal Application Form, completed accurately and fully, with a renewal fee of $30 (to be paid online on your registrant profile under “Make a payment.”
A health profession corporation must disclose on all letterhead and business cards and in all other advertisements that the services of dental hygiene are being provided by a health profession corporation. See Part 14.11 of the bylaws.
If you intend to change the name of your health profession corporation, you must apply to BCCOHP for a certificate that BCCOHP does not object to the intended name of the health profession corporation. See Part 14.08 of the bylaws.