Health Profession Corporation Permit

When considering a name for your health profession corporation, it is important to remember the following: 

• Your HPC name must not be the same or so closely resemble the name of another HPC that it could cause confusion or mislead the public. 
• It must include the word “incorporated”, “limited”, or another word or abbreviation that clearly indicates that the name refers to a corporation. 
• Must comply with the Professional Standard: Advertising and Marketing . You may also wish to review the FAQ: Advertising and Marketing. 
• This includes the following: 
  • The name cannot use comparative language that infers superiority, such as “best.”  
  • The name cannot use reserved titles to promote services that fall outside of scope (e.g. a name cannot have Chiropractic if there is no Chiropractic licensee working there). 
  • Cannot use terms such as “expert” or “specialist”, or any similar language implying special status, accreditation, or expertise. 
  • The name must be clear and accurate and not cause confusion about the services offered. 
• Your corporation may use your name or the name of another licensee, but that licensee must be a voting shareholder in the corporation and must actively provide health care services through the HPC. 

Examples of Rejected Names for Health Profession Corporations (including but not limited to): 

• RMT (this is reserved for registered music teachers in British Columbia with BC Registries) 
• Credentials that could be revoked, for example but not limited to FABNO, LMCC 
• Doctor Approved 
• Licence credentials not issued by CCHPBC, for example but not limited to RCC, Physiotherapist 
• Medic or CosMedic 
• Medical (without Chiropractic or Naturopathic) 
• Medical Aesthetics 
• Any medical designation such as oncologist/oncology, cardiologist/cardiology, neurologist/neurology 
• Names including “Medical” separate from the designated health profession such as Naturopathic and Medical, Chiropractic and Medical, or Massage Therapy and Medical 
• References to drugs, alcohol, and/or partying such as Champagne Aesthetics, Rave Massage, or Botox Parties 
• Use of Specialized, Specializing, or Specialist  
• Health Lab or Lab (confusing to the public)

Once you have decided on a name, please follow the instructions below. 

Step 1: Apply for Business Name with BC Registry Services 

Step 2: Email registration@cchpbc.ca the completed Business Name Consent Intake form and the Name Request Results PDF (NR Document) from BC Registries 

If additional information is required, CCHPBC staff will contact you. Once your proposed business name has been approved, the College will submit its consent directly to BC Registries, and you will receive a confirmation by email. 

To incorporate your business, please keep in mind the following: 

• Your corporation’s Articles of Incorporation must comply with the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) and section 8 of the College Bylaws. In simple terms, the person who owns the shares must also keep the right to vote those shares. The Articles cannot include any agreement or arrangement that gives those voting rights to someone else. 
• All voting shareholders of the corporation must be licensees with CCHPBC. 
• All non-voting shares of the corporation must be held by one of the following: 
  • CCHPBC licensees or family members of voting shareholders. 
  • companies where all non-voting shares are legally and beneficially owned by eligible licensees or family members of eligible licensees. 
  • held in trust by a trustee who is a resident in Canada and approved by the board subject to s.59(2) of the HPOA. 
• All Directors and Officers of the corporation must be CCHPBC licensees. 

To apply for a Health Profession Corporation permit, you must submit the following documents to the College: 

1. HPC Application form. 
2. Certificate of Solicitor form stamped or sealed by a lawyer registered with the Law Society of BC. (A Certificate of Solicitor is required to ensure that an HPC meets all the requirements of Part 3, Division 4 of the HPOA and the College Bylaws, including that an eligible CHCPBC licensee has been nominated as the “designated person” in accordance with the Bylaws. This Certificate must be signed by a member in good standing of the Law Society of British Columbia (see the Lawyer Directory). Consider choosing a lawyer who specializes in business law or has a corporation or commercial legal practice). 
3. Acknowledgement of Shareholder form (one per voting shareholder) 
4. Certificate of Incorporation from BC Registry Services 
5. Certificate of Good Standing from BC Registry Services 
6. Central Securities Register from BC Registry Services 
7. Register of Directors and Officers from BC Registry Services 
8. Articles of Incorporation from BC Registry Services 
9. Professional Liability Insurance with either the corporation as a named insured or professional liability insurance for each licensee providing services via the corporation if all employees providing health care services are licensees 
10. Any filed transition application, certificate of amalgamation, certificate of continuation, certificate of corporation name change, and/or certificate of restoration issued to or filed by the Corporation with BC Registries 

If your corporation will have more than one (1) licensee shareholder, the shareholders will need to decide on which of them will be the designated licensee who is responsible for the administrative work in relation to the HPC and who will be responsible for updating the information on file with the College. 

Step 1: Once you have all of the required documents completed, email them as separate PDF documents to registration@cchpbc.ca with the subject line: RE: HPC Application – Corporation Name 

CCHPBC staff will review your application. If additional information is required, you will be contacted via email.  

In some cases, a review by the Permit Committee may be required. You will be notified if the Permit Committee is required to review your application and the reason why a review is required. You will be given the opportunity to provide written submissions for the Permit Committee’s consideration. 

Upon receipt of your application, CCHPBC staff will contact you via email to advise that the Health Profession Corporation permit fee invoice is ready for payment.  

Step 1: Once you receive notification, please login to the Licensee Portal, pay the invoice, and send confirmation of payment completion to registration@cchpbc.ca.   

Step 2: Once payment is verified, CCHPBC staff will review your application. If your application is approved, you will receive your HPC Permit Approval confirmation via email which will include your HPC Permit number.  

Step 3: Once you have received approval and your HPC Permit number your corporation can begin offering the designated health care services to the public. The permit will be valid until March 31 of the licensing period in which the permit was issued. 

To apply for reinstatement of your previous HPC permit, you must submit the following documents: 

1. HPC Reinstatement Application form 
2. Certificate of Solicitor form stamped or sealed by a lawyer registered with the Law Society of BC 
3. Acknowledgement of Shareholder form (one per voting shareholder) 
4. Certificate of Incorporation from BC Registries 
5. Certificate of Good Standing from BC Registries 
6. Central Securities Register from BC Registries 
7. Register of Directors and Officers from BC Registries 
8. Articles of Incorporation from BC Registries 
9. Professional Liability Insurance with either the corporation as a named insured or professional liability insurance for each licensee providing services via the corporation if all employees providing health services are licensees 
10. Any filed transition application, certificate of amalgamation, certificate of continuation, certificate of corporation name change, and/or certificate of restoration issued to or filed by the Corporation with BC Registries 

If your corporation has more than one licensee shareholder, one shareholder must be designated as the primary contact responsible for the corporation’s administration and for maintaining its information with the College. 

If your corporation name was approved before April 1, 2026, it must be re-approved under the current Bylaws. 

Once all required documents have been completed, submit each as a separate PDF to registration@cchpbc.ca with the subject line: RE: HPC Reinstatement – Corporation Name. 

CCHPBC staff will review your application and contact you if additional information is required. In some cases, the application must be reviewed by the Permit Committee. If so, you will be notified of the reason for the review and given an opportunity to provide written submissions for the Committee’s consideration. 

After your application is received, CCHPBC staff will notify you by email when your HPC Permit fee invoice is available. Log in to the Licensee Portal to pay the invoice, then email your payment confirmation to registration@cchpbc.ca. 

Once payment has been verified, the College will review your application. If approved, you will receive your HPC Permit number by email. Your corporation may begin providing designated health care services only after your permit has been issued. HPC permits are valid until March 31 of the licensing period in which they are issued.