Title Protection

Last updated on December 23, 2024

Reserved Titles

Reserved titles, prescribed under section 12 of the Health Professions Act as being for the exclusive use of registrants of regulatory colleges, are a central and critical public protection element of British Columbia’s health professions regulatory framework.

Section 12.1 of the Health Professions Act expressly prohibits a person other than a registrant of a health professions regulatory college from using a reserved title, an abbreviation of the title or an equivalent of the title in another language to describe the person’s work or to imply that the person is a registrant or associated with the regulatory college. Contravention of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more than $2000 or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.

Current Reserved Titles

Profession Regulatory College Reserved Title(s)
Acupuncture College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC
  • acupuncturist
Audiology College of  Health and Care Professionals of BC
  • audiologist
Chiropractic College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC
  • chiropractor
  • doctor
Dental Hygiene  BC College of Oral Health Professionals
  • dental hygienist
Dental Technology BC College of Oral Health Professionals
  • dental technician
Dentistry BC College of Oral Health Professionals
  • dentist
  • dental surgeon
  • surgeon
  • doctor
  • dental therapist
Denturism BC College of Oral Health Professionals
  • denturist
Dietetics College of Health and Care Professionals of BC
  • dietitian
Emergency Medical Assisting Emergency Medical Assistants
Licensing Board
  • emergency medical assistant
Hearing Instrument Dispensing College of Health and Care Professionals of BC
  • hearing instrument practitioner
Massage Therapy College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC
  • massage therapist
  • registered massage therapist
  • massage practitioner
  • registered massage practitioner
Medicine College of Physicians and
Surgeons of BC
  • medical practitioner
  • physician
  • surgeon
  • doctor
  • osteopath
  • osteopathic physician
Midwifery BC College of Nurses and Midwives
  • midwife
Naturopathic medicine College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC
  • naturopath
  • naturopathic physician
  • naturopathic doctor
  • physician
  • doctor
Nursing (Licensed Practical) BC College of Nurses and Midwives
  • nurse
  • licensed practical nurse
  • practical nurse
Nursing (Registered) BC College of Nurses and Midwives
  • nurse
  • registered nurse
  • licensed graduate nurse
  • nurse practitioner
  • registered nurse practitioner
Nursing (Registered Psychiatric) BC College of Nurses and Midwives
  • nurse
  • registered psychiatric nurse
  • psychiatric nurse
Occupational Therapy College of Health and Care Professionals of BC
  • occupational therapist
Opticianry College of Health and Care Professionals of BC
  • optician
  • dispensing optician
  • contact lens fitter
Optometry College of  Health and Care Professionals of BC
  • optometrist
  • doctor
Pharmacy College of Pharmacists of BC
  • apothecary
  • druggist
  • pharmacist
  • pharmaceutical chemist
  • pharmacy technician
Physical Therapy College of Health and Care Professionals of BC
  • physical therapist
  • registered physical therapist
  • physiotherapist
  • registered physiotherapist
  • remedial gymnast
  • registered remedial gymnast
Podiatric Medicine College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC
  • podiatrist
  • podiatric surgeon
  • surgeon
  • doctor
Psychology College of Health and Care Professionals of BC
  • psychologist
  • school psychologist
Speech-Language Pathology College of Health and Care Professionals of BC
  • speech-language pathologist
  • speech therapist
Traditional Chinese Medicine College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC
  • traditional Chinese medicine practitioner
  • traditional Chinese medicine herbalist
  • doctor of traditional Chinese medicine
  • doctor