On April 1, 2026, BC’s health‑profession regulatory rulebook will change. The Health Professions Act (HPA) will be repealed and replaced by the Health Professions and Occupations Act (the HPOA), reshaping how regulated health professionals—and their colleges—are governed.
The HPOA aims to boost consistency and transparency in the name of public safety—but it also marks a shift away from traditional self‑regulation. How this unfolds in practice will be worth paying attention to.
This article highlights three key changes brought by the HPOA:
- New Health Regulator Superintendent
- New Bylaws
- New Prescribed Licensee Duties
New Health Regulator Superintendent
One of the most significant changes introduced by the HPOA is the creation of a health regulator's oversight office: the Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office (the Superintendent's Office).
At a high level, the Superintendent's Office is designed by the HPOA to be an independent, centralized regulator‑of‑regulators. Specifically, it will oversee and regulate the following six health regulatory colleges in British Columbia:
- British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives: Which regulates licensed practical nurses, midwives, registered nurses, and registered psychiatric nurses.
- British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals: Which regulates dentists, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and denturists.
- College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC: Which regulates chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopathic physicians, and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists.
- College of Health and Care Professionals of BC: Which regulates audiologists, dietitians, hearing instrument practitioners, occupational therapists, opticians, optometrists, physical therapists, psychologists, and speech language pathologists.
- College of Pharmacists of British Columbia: Which regulates pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
- College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia: Which regulates physicians and podiatric surgeons.
(collectively, the Regulatory Colleges).
Pursuant to its mandate to regulate the Regulatory Colleges, the Superintendent's Office will, among other things, (i) establish, adopt, and publish performance standards and best practices for the Regulatory Colleges; (ii) conduct general reviews, audits, oversight investigations or systemic reviews of the Regulatory Colleges; (iii) make findings and recommendations related to the Regulatory Colleges' performance and require them to take remedial or corrective action; (iv) develop and administer merit‑based appointment processes for regulatory college boards; and (v) operate a disciplinary tribunal (the Superintendent's Office Discipline Tribunal) independently from the Regulatory Colleges.
These items break new ground in health‑profession regulation and highlight the HPOA's shift to a government-driven regime. It remains to be seen how the Superintendent’s Office will interpret and apply its powers under the HPOA.
New Bylaws
Under the HPOA, each Regulatory College is required to establish bylaws setting out the procedures for regulatory complaints and practice standards, including: (i) the types of health services provided by licensees; (ii) informed consent; (iii) maintaining patient confidentiality; and (iv) record‑keeping and reporting.
As a result, a new set of bylaws has been created for each Regulatory College, which will come into force on April 1, 2026. Please see your College's new bylaws on their website:
- British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives;
- British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals;
- College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC;
- College of Health and Care Professionals of BC;
- College of Pharmacists of British Columbia; and
- College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
New Prescribed Licensee Duties
The HPOA also codifies and expands duties for licensees:
- Professional duties are now in the statute: Core obligations (fitness to practice, ethical conduct, cooperation, compliance) are set out directly in the HPOA — not just in college bylaws.
- Anti‑discrimination is a statutory duty: Licensees must practice in a way that protects the public from harm and discrimination and take anti‑discrimination measures as part of everyday practice.
- Stronger duty to cooperate with regulators: Prompt responses, participation in investigations and quality assurance, and compliance with registrar orders are now explicit statutory requirements.
- Expanded notice and information obligations: Licensees must proactively report eligibility issues, changes in circumstances, and provide information or records when requested.
- Some duties continue after practice ends: Cooperation and record‑related obligations can survive resignation or non‑renewal.
Under the previous regulatory regime, many of these obligations existed in practice but were dispersed across professional standards or college bylaws, rather than being consolidated in legislation. The HPOA reconfigures that framework by codifying core professional obligations directly into statute, broadening the scope and making them directly enforceable through discipline.
Looking Forward
The foregoing changes will significantly reshape how health professionals are regulated in British Columbia. Additional amendments are expected following the implementation of the HPOA. We will be monitoring these changes and how the regulation of health professionals evolves under this new regime and will keep you updated!
If you have any questions relating to this blog post, or if we can help advise your business on similar or other health law-related issues, please contact one of the authors of this blog, or another member of the Bennett Jones Health Law group, for more information.
