91

About

The College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (91) regulates chiropractors, registered massage therapists, naturopathic physicians, and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists to ensure they have the competencies needed to practice and that they adhere to the standards needed for safe and ethical care.

Our Regulatory Role

In B.C.’s healthcare landscape, the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC is dedicated to regulating health professionals whose professions harmonize wisdom with diverse and innovative health practices: acupuncturists, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, registered massage therapists, and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists. 

By regulating these professions in the public interest, the College helps uphold these professionals to the highest standards of safety, ethics, and care. 

The formation of the College in June 2024, merged distinct, yet complementary health professions under one regulatory banner, representing a significant leap forward in health regulation. This strategic unification has been designed to streamline regulatory processes, elevate public safety, and cultivate an integrated health community through shared knowledge, resources, and standards.

Central to the College’s mission is its role to serve the public interest by working to ensure ethical and safe healthcare, with a commitment to transparency and integrity. It fulfills this role in several ways:

  • by rigorously enforcing professional standards and practices,
  • by managing the registration and professional development of the health professionals it regulates,
  • by managing and responding to public complaints.

Through dedication to excellence, the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC is set to modernize the landscape of regulation for complementary healthcare professionals, helping to ensure safer and ethical healthcare practices for everyone living in BC.

Professions We Regulate

Chiropractors

What is A Chiropractor?

Chiropractors are licensed primary health-care professionals who:
  • diagnose and assess disorders of the spine or other joints of the body, muscles and the nervous system
  • treat disorders and conditions of the nervous, muscular and skeletal systems with a variety of treatment options, including manual therapy, massage, exercise recommendations, and posture correction
  • provide advice and counselling on matters related to the condition of the spine and other joints, muscles, and the nervous system
  • are permitted to take and read X-rays when they are clinically necessary to assist in diagnosis

Use of Reserved Titles

In B.C., only chiropractors who are registered with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC can legally call themselves:
  • “C󾱰DZٴǰ”
  • “Chiropractic Doctor”
  • “Doctor of Chiropractic”

Standards & Legislation

Chiropractors in B.C. are governed under the following:
  • : Umbrella legislation that provides a common regulatory framework for health professions in British Columbia.
  • 91 bylaws
  • Code of Ethics
  • Standards of Practice

as well as other provincial legislation applicable to health professionals.

Public Register

Check the Public Register to verify that an individual is currently registered/licensed to practice with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC, and to see information about credentials and scope of practice.

Complaints

Chiropractors must practice in a competent, safe and ethical manner. If you have concerns that the care you received does not meet the standards of practice, please share them with the College by filing a complaint.

Naturopathic Physicians

What is a naturopathic physician?

Naturopathic physicians provide:

  • Health care services that combine modern scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine
  • both primary care and complementary medicine, treating acute and chronic conditions while also promoting prevention and overall well-being.

The philosophy of naturopathic medicine is to stimulate the body’s natural healing power, addressing the root cause of illness rather than simply treating symptoms. Naturopathic treatments are tailored to each individual patient to enhance overall health and wellness.

Use of Reserved Titles

In B.C., only naturopathic physicians who are registered with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC may use the following titles:

  • “naturopathic doctor”
  • “naturopathic physician”
  • “nٳܰDZ貹ٳ”

Standards & Legislation

Naturopathic physicians in B.C. are governed under the following:

  • Umbrella legislation that provides a common regulatory framework for health professions in British Columbia.
  • 91 bylaws
  • Code of Ethics
  • Standards of Practice

as well as other provincial legislation applicable to health professionals.

Public Register

Check the Public Register to verify that an individual is currently registered/licensed to practice with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC, and to see information about credentials and scope of practice.

Complaints

Naturopathic Physicians must practice in a competent, safe and ethical manner. If you have concerns that the care you received does not meet the standards of practice, please share them with the College by filing a complaint.

Registered Massage Therapists

What is a Registered Massage Therapist?

Registered massage therapists are registered health-care professionals who:

  • assess soft tissue and joints of the body for the treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders
  • have undergone extensive post-secondary education in the treatment and prevention of injury, pain and physical disorders though the manual manipulation of structures of the body, such as ligaments, tendons, connective tissue, muscles, blood vessels, organs and other soft tissues.

Use of Reserved Titles

In B.C., only massage therapists who are registered with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC can legally call themselves:

  • “Registered Massage Therapist”
  • “Massage Therapist”
  • “Registered Massage Practitioner”
  • “Massage Practitioner”
  • Or, the abbreviations “RMT”, “MT”, “RMP”, and “MP”

In addition, anyone who is not a College registrant in the designated health profession of massage therapy is prohibited from using these titles as part of a different or longer title to describe themselves or their work.

The terms “massage specialist”, “bodyworker”, “spa therapist”, and “Raynor therapist” are not reserved by law in BC. Any individual with an interest in massage, no matter his/her/their level of education, may use these terms. These unregulated individuals do not necessarily carry liability insurance and there is no recourse to the College should they practice unsafely, ineffectively, or unethically.

Standards & Legislation

Massage therapists in B.C. are governed under the following:

  • Umbrella legislation that provides a common regulatory framework for health professions in British Columbia.
  • 91 bylaws
  • Code of Ethics
  • Standards of Practice

as well as other provincial legislation applicable to health professionals.

Public Register

Check the Public Register to verify that an individual is currently registered/licensed to practice with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC, and to see information about credentials and scope of practice.

Complaints

Registered Massage Therapists must practice in a competent, safe and ethical manner. If you have concerns that the care you received does not meet the standards of practice, please share them with the College by filing a complaint.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists

What is a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner/acupuncturist?

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists:

  • look at the balance of body, mind and spirit to determine how to restore the yin-yang balance (qi) and good health
  • have extended clinical practice, advanced training, and substantive theoretical knowledge
  • are trained to diagnose various conditions
  • can help prevent disease and manage certain disorders and imbalances using a range of treatments. Treatment can include acupuncture, cupping, acupressure, herbal medicines, massage, exercise, lifestyle counselling, and other holistic health approaches.

Use of Reserved Titles

In B.C., only traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists who are registered with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC can legally call themselves:

  • Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCM.P.): Authorized to practise acupuncture, and prescribe, compound, or dispense Chinese herbal medicine.
  • Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.): Authorized to practise acupuncture.
  • Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbalist (R.TCM.H.): Authorized to prescribe, compound, or dispense Chinese herbal medicine.
  • Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Dr.TCM): Authorized to practise acupuncture, and prescribe, compound, or dispense Chinese herbal medicine. Has met training and examination requirements at a higher level than registrants with titles listed above.
  • Student Registrant: Authorized to perform clinical treatment procedures ONLY while under the  supervision of a full registrant in a recognized training setting

Standards & Legislation

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists in B.C. are governed under the following:

  • : Umbrella legislation that provides a common regulatory framework for health professions in British Columbia.
  • 91 bylaws
  • Code of Ethics
  • Standards of Practice

as well as other provincial legislation applicable to health professionals.

Public Register

Check the Public Register to verify that an individual is currently registered/licensed to practice with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC, and to see information about credentials and scope of practice.

Complaints

Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists must practice in a competent, safe and ethical manner. If you have concerns that the care you received does not meet the standards of practice, please share them with the College by filing a complaint.

Other Regulatory Colleges in BC

Regulates audiologists, dietitians, hearing instrument practitioners, occupational therapists, opticians, optometrists, physical therapists, psychologists, and speech-language pathologists.

Regulates certified dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, dental therapists, dentists and denturists.

Cultural safety and humility

According to the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA):

Cultural safety is an outcome based on respectful engagement that recognizes and strives to address power imbalances inherent in the healthcare system. It results in an environment free of racism and discrimination, where people feel safe when receiving health care.

Cultural humility is a process of self-reflection to understand personal and systemic biases and to develop and maintain respectful processes and relationships based on mutual trust. Cultural humility involves humbly acknowledging oneself as a learner when it comes to understanding another’s experience.

On March 1, 2017, BC’s health regulatory colleges, the First Nations Health Authority, and the Ministry of Health signed the . This declaration pledged a commitment to advancing cultural safety and humility among all regulated health professions in BC.

Making a meaningful and ongoing commitment to cultural safety and humility in the regulation of health professionals serving Indigenous peoples is a fundamental priority for the College.

Territorial acknowledgement


The College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (91) regulates more than 10,000 health professionals, including: acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopathic physicians, and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, who practise in the province of what is referred to today as B.C. We acknowledge that the College serves all people living in the traditional and unceded territories of more than 200 First Nations which comprise the land colonially known as British Columbia.

91 Bylaws

The College’s bylaws set out the details of the operation of the organization, including: 

  • the duties and responsibilities of a governing Board, Committees and the registrar 
  • qualifications for registration and licensing
  • the regulation of professional conduct and ethics
  • fee schedules.

Bylaws are enacted by the College’s Board and are subject to oversight by the Minister of Health. 

91 bylaws

Staff

Carin Plischke

Registrar & CEO

Carin is a trained occupational therapist. She was the Registrar and CEO of the College of Occupational Therapists of BC (COTBC). Prior to that, Carin served on the COTBC Board, including as Board Chair. Other roles have included working as the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Lead, Special Projects, at the Office of the Seniors Advocate, and as a Leading Practice Reviewer with the Health Standards Organization. Carin is a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

  • Aaron Gray, Executive Director, Communications
  • Jonathan Ho, Executive Director, Operations & Deputy Registrar
  • Kate Parisotto, Chief Regulatory Officer
  • Jane Sun, Executive Director, Strategy, Quality Improvement and Performance
  • Eric Wredenhagen, General Counsel & HPOA Transition Lead
  • Simon Auyoung, Director, Registration
  • Lee Dorner, Director, Inquiry & Discipline
  • Dr. Doug Wright, Director, Quality Assurance & Practice

Careers With 91

The employees of the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (91) work in a team-based environment where the contributions of each individual are valued. We take pride in offering our employees salaries and a comprehensive benefits package that are competitive within our industry. We also encourage and provide the support needed for each person to develop their professional skills. We focus on creating and maintaining a workforce that honours inclusivity and diversity.