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Professions & Occupations Excluded from the Act - Regulation Part 7, Section 31

Last updated on June 2, 2023

Contents:

Summary
Text of Legislation
Policy Interpretation
Related Information

Summary

This section identifies certain types of employees who are not covered by the Employment Standards Act based on their profession or occupation. 

Text of Legislation

31. The Act does not apply to an employee who is

(a) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 32/2023, Sch. B, s. 4 (a).]

(b) a member, other than an honorary member, of the Organization of Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia under the Chartered Professional Accountants Act or a person enrolled as a student under that Act,

(c) a member of the Law Society of British Columbia under the Legal Profession Act or a person enrolled as an articled student under that Act,

(d) a registrant of the College of Chiropractors of British Columbia continued under the Health Professions Act,

(e) a registrant of the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals who is authorized to use the title "dentist", "dental surgeon", "surgeon" or "doctor",

(f) a professional engineer, professional licensee engineering or engineer in training under the Professional Governance Act,

(f.1) an architect under the Professional Governance Act,

(g) a person licensed as an insurance agent or adjuster under the Financial Institutions Act,

(h) a practising land surveyor, land surveyor associate or land surveyor in training as those terms are defined in the Land Surveyors Act,

(i) a registrant of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia continued under the Health Professions Act,

(j) a registrant of the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia established under the Health Professions Act,

(k) a registrant of the College of Optometrists of British Columbia established under the Health Professions Act,

(l) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 209/2020, s. 3.]

(m) a person licensed under the Real Estate Services Act,

(n) a person registered under section 35 of the Securities Act,

(o) a registrant of the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia continued under the Veterinarians Act, or

(p) a professional forester under the Professional Governance Act,

so long as that person is carrying on the occupation governed by the Acts referred to in paragraphs (a) to (p).

Policy Interpretation

Section 3 of the Employment Standards Act establishes that the Act applies to all employees other than those excluded by regulation, as is the case for employees in the professions and occupations listed in this section.

As long as a person is carrying on the profession or occupation governed by the Acts referred to in paragraphs (a) to (p), they are not covered by the Employment Standards Act.

Specific information regarding some of the above listed occupations follows:

  • Section 31(e) applies only to registrants of the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals. A registrant who only uses the title "dental therapist" is not excluded from the Act. Certified dental assistants are not registrants, and are not excluded from the Act.
  • Section 31(g) applies only to employees holding a licence as an insurance agent or adjuster and carrying on work in this occupation. An employee licensed as a “general insurance salesperson” is not excluded from the Act. While there are various levels of licences for persons employed in the insurance industry an employee who is licensed as an insurance salesperson, regardless of the level of the licence, is not excluded from the Act. Only those individuals specifically licensed as either an Agent or an Adjuster are excluded.
  • Section 31(n) applies to, among others, dealers, underwriters, advisors, and salespeople who are required to be registered under the Securities Act. Registration information is contained on the BC Securities Commission website.

Other exclusions from the Act

In addition to the exclusions from the Act named in this section, other classes of employees are also excluded from the Act, in its entirety, or from specific sections of the Act. These types of employees are identified in other sections of Part 7 of this Regulation. Employees covered by a collective agreement may also be excluded from certain parts of the Act in accordance with s.3 of the Act.

The Employment Standards Act is “benefits-conferring” legislation, therefore, should be interpreted in a broad and generous manner. Exclusions under the Regulation should be interpreted in a narrow manner so not to take away benefits otherwise conferred by the legislation. An exemption is applicable only in the clearest of cases.

The burden is on the employer to show that an employee is not covered by the Act because of an exclusion contained in this regulation. Criteria to be considered when identifying an appropriate exclusion include definitions from both the Act and Regulation, and a review of any other relevant statutes and regulatory policies.

Related Information

Related sections of the Act or Regulation

ESA

ESR