Regulatory modernization - BCHR - BC Health Regulators

Background/context

The Province of British Columbia passed new legislation to modernize the provincial framework for health profession regulation. The Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) came into force on April 1, 2026, replacing the Health Professions Act, as confirmed by Lieutenant Governor in General (LGIC) regulations that were approved on July 16, 2025.

For more information about the HPOA, you can refer to the legislation online and find additional background on the Ministry of Health’s Professional Regulation webpage, as well as a webpage specific to the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA).

The HPOA was informed by recommendations outlined in the 2020 report Recommendations to modernize the provincial health profession regulatory framework, which included a recommendation to reduce the number of regulatory colleges through amalgamation. As of June 2024, six health profession regulatory colleges are operating under the HPOA.

Government funding supported readiness for HPOA

In recognition of the extensive work required for all health profession regulatory colleges to prepare and align themselves with the HPOA, the BC Ministry of Health awarded a $4.5-million grant to BC Health Regulators (BCHR) to support all six health regulatory colleges by centrally coordinating this shared work.

BCHR launched a major project to develop resources and supports to help B.C.’s health profession regulators prepare to regulate in the public interest under the new HPOA.

To learn more about the HPOA Project, visit The HPOA Project page and see our news bulletins about regulatory modernization and a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Further information

Visit the BC Ministry of Health’s Professional Regulation page for details about the government’s initiative to modernize the provincial health profession regulatory framework.

Visit the Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office webpage for details about the office overseeing health regulatory colleges and the Discipline Tribunal.

Visit individual college websites to learn about each college’s specific activities related to modernization.

BCHR bulletins about regulatory modernization

Names Proposed for New Multi-Profession Colleges December 1, 2023 The Ministry of Health has posted proposed regulatory amendments to reflect the proposed names for two new multi-profession colleges in British Columbia. Read more
Provincial government passes new health legislation November 28, 2022 Bill 36 – 2022: Health Professions and Occupations Act has completed the legislative process to become an Act. Read more
Dental colleges amalgamate to create the BC College of Oral Health Professionals September 12, 2022 As of September 1, 2022, the BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) is now serving as the regulator for 16,000 oral health professionals in BC, including certified dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental technicians, dentists and denturists. Read more
Newly completed amalgamations reduce number of BC’s health regulatory colleges from 21 to 19 September 2, 2020 These changes are in line with the Ministry of Health’s focus on modernizing the health regulation system and reducing the number of colleges overall. Read more
Dental colleges collaborate to develop a single oral health regulatory college September 2, 2020 A new College of Oral Health Professionals will oversee all six of BC’s regulated oral health professions, currently served by four colleges. Read more

Frequently Asked Questions about Regulatory Modernization

This section will be updated as new information becomes available.

What changes are happening to BC’s health profession regulatory system?

April 1, 2026 the Health Professions Act (HPA) was replaced by the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA).

As stated on the Ministry of Health’s  Health Professions and Occupations Act webpage: “the HPOA aims to improve public protection and safety in the health system by doing the following:

Establishing the Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office (HPOROO) to ensure regulatory colleges are focused on patient safety and the public interest.
Enhancing a commitment to cultural safety and humility, through requiring Indigenous support workers for Indigenous peoples going through the discipline process.
Creating an independent disciplinary hearing process that provides support services and support workers for people going through the process.
Including all instances of disciplinary actions and summary protection orders against a health professional on the public registry following the disciplinary hearing process.
Moving to fully appointed college boards, whose board members are selected based on merit and competency.”

What is the status of college amalgamations?

The 2020 report, Recommendations to modernize the provincial health profession regulatory framework, included a recommendation to improve “efficiency and effectiveness through a reduction in the number of regulatory colleges.”

Regulators completed their amalgamation work to reduce the number of health profession regulatory colleges to six: These colleges are:

College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (amalgamated August 31, 2020)
BC College of Nurses and Midwives (amalgamated September 1, 2020)
BC College of Oral Health Professionals (amalgamated September 1, 2022)
College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (amalgamated June 28, 2024)
College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (amalgamated June 28, 2024)
College of Pharmacists of BC

What steps toward modernization are already completed/underway?

B.C.’s health profession regulatory colleges have undertaken a number of initiatives that support the directions of the Ministry of Health’s modernization plan. These initiatives include:

Amalgamation

Regulators completed their amalgamation work to reduce the number of health profession regulatory colleges to six. These colleges are:

College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (amalgamated August 31, 2020)
BC College of Nurses and Midwives (amalgamated September 1, 2020)
BC College of Oral Health Professionals (amalgamated September 1, 2022)
College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (amalgamated June 28, 2024)
College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (amalgamated June 28, 2024)
College of Pharmacists of BC

HPOA Project

With $4.5M in funding from the BC Ministry of Health, BCHR led a major project for regulatory modernization. The HPOA Project delivered key resources for supporting consistency across the regulatory colleges in ensuring they would be in compliance with the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) when it came into force on April 1, 2026.

Regulatory practice excellence

Through BCHR, the colleges developed shared resources to support a consistent, high-quality regulatory approach. These resources included: the BCHR Framework for Quality Assurance Programs; the BCHR Framework for a Model Patient-Practitioner Relationship Program; the BCHR Public Notification Framework for Inquiry Results; and a learning module to help registrants gain competency in interprofessional practice. Also, BCHR hosts educational events for college staff and boards, including a Governance 101 program.

Public engagement

A BC Public Advisory Network (BC-PAN) was created to serve as an ongoing resource for health regulatory colleges interested in seeking public input on important issues related to health regulation.

Improvements by colleges

Visit individual health regulator websites to learn about the changes each is making in support of modernization. The list of BCHR’s member colleges provides links to college websites.

Where should I go for more information?

Visit the BC Ministry of Health’s Professional Regulation page and the Health Professions and Occupations Act page for details about modernization of the provincial health profession regulatory framework, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions.