Profession Practice Standards
Practice Standards
Practice Standards are established in order to assist registrants by setting out the minimum level of traditional Chinese medicine care and for the registrants to better understanding their professional obligations, support their professional development, and define and resolve professional practice issues.
The Practice Standards also serve as information to the public and to our patients to better understand the level of care they can expect from a registered traditional Chinese medicine professional.
- Acupuncture for Induction of Labour
- Clinical Record Keeping with Sample Form
- Communicable Diseases: Preventing Practitioner-to-Patient Transmission
- Consent to Treatment
- Draping for Patients
- Ethical Practice and Professional Accountability
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Professional Duty of Candour
- Sexual Misconduct
- Practice Standard on Providing Virtual Care Services to Patient(s)
- Indigenous Cultural Safety, Humility, and Anti-Racism
Practice Guidance
Practice Guidance are established to provide clarity related to specific areas of professional practice, to assist with clinical decision making, and to help registrants better understand their responsibilities and the regulatory requirements set by the College.
While Practice Guidance documents may reference specific requirements for practice, they are different from Practice Standards. Practice Guidance provides registrants with practical advice to inform their decision-making and enhance quality of care, whereas Practice Standards establish the minimum requirements for practice. Practice Standards also serve the public by informing them of the care to expect from a registered traditional Chinese medicine professional.
- Consent to Treatment
- Where’s the Line
- Billing & Insurance
- Marketing & Advertising
- Photos and Recording in the Practice Environment
- Ethical Principles for the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in TCM/A Practices
- Communication Challenges & Equitable Care in Clinical Practice
- Leaving Practice Setting
- TCM Treatments for Cosmetic/Aesthetic Purposes
- Preventing Injuries in Cupping & Moxibustioni Practices
- Infection Prevention and Control in Practice Environments
- Preventing Pneumothorax Accidents in Acupuncture Practice
Practice Notice
- Point Injection Therapy (PIT) & Tuina Techniques Using High Velocity Low Amplitude
- Point Injection Therapy
For More Information
TCMA registrants can contact ac.cbphcc@troppuSecitcarP with questions related to professional practice standards, guidance, and notices.
Quality Assurance Program
The Quality Assurance Program Handbook (Version 1-2022) provides complete information regarding the Quality Assurance Program (QAP).
At this time, the QAP is focussed on the Practice Support Program (PSP), a refinement of the previous “Continuing Education” program. The PSP emphasizes self-assessment of the registrant’s professional practice, professional development planning to assist registrants to select learning opportunities that target their practice needs, and self-reflection to ensure the continued learning is effective in improving the registrant’s practice.
The Quality Assurance Committee continues to develop the QAP in order to meet the legislated expectation that registrants’ professional performance be regularly assessed.
Friendly Reminder: Registrants whose current QA cycle began on April 2022 must complete their Self-reflective Assessment by the end of the year (2022) under the QA Policy.
Practice Support Program
As a provincial healthcare regulator, the College strives to ensure that registrants continually improve the quality of services they provide. Improved client outcomes and enhanced public safety are of paramount importance and the College recognizes and initiates related activities.
The Practice Support Program (PSP) supports registrants in ongoing career development by promoting professional behaviour, self-evaluation, peer mentorship and continued learning. The Practice Support Program takes a supportive approach to facilitate registrant development in all workplace settings, across career-span.
Over the period May 22 – June 12, 2018 the College undertook an online survey to assess Registrant opinion regarding the importance of the 14 Career-Span Competencies in TCM practice. The results of the survey may be viewed by clicking the link below:
For More Information
TCMA registrants can contact ac.cbphcc@smargorPAQ with questions related to quality assurance.
Continuing Competency Requirements
The specific requirements to maintain Continuing Competency are set out in the following document:
- Continuing Competency Requirements (updated July 2023)
Compliance with the Continuing Competency Requirements Policy is required for renewing registration with the College. A minimum of 50 hours should be reported per reporting period. Registrants are required to follow the Steps of the Practice Support Program (PSP) for their QA cycle starting on or after April 1st, 2022, in order to be compliant with the Continuing Competency Requirements in the Quality Assurance Program (QAP). A minimum of 4 hours must focus on ethical practice. Registrants make declaration during annual registration renewal that they are complying with College Bylaws.
PSP (formerly Category D) helps registrants assess their practice and develop an individualized continuing learning plan of activities that can enhance the registrant’s TCM/A practice. By completing the PSP, registrants can earn 50 CE in a QA cycle to satisfy the minimum Continuing Competency Requirements.
Registrants should work on taking their continuing educational activities entirely within the PSP, using the self-reflective assessment and evaluation steps built into the PSP to design a Professional Development Plan that targets specific quality practice goals. There are no maximums for specific types of learning activities to take within PSP. Activities related to the career-span competencies 1 through 6 can be counted as “Ethical” hours.
Qualifying Learning Activities for PSP Step 3
In PSP Step 3, registrants can participate in many types of learning activities for their continuing education, such as in-person, recorded, real-time courses, conferences, webinars, self-study, and structured interactive activities with peers.
- “Direct participatory, formal programs” (formerly Category A) include live (i.e., real-time) in-person or online interactive workshops, seminars, or training when attendance is taken and monitored; or electronically-offered continuing education when attendance is taken and monitored and when there is an assessment tool for the course.
- “Self study” (formerly Category B) includes reviewing academic journals, professional publications, bylaws and standards, and taking online and distance learning courses and webinars when no attendance is taken and/or when no assessment tool is available.
- “Structured interactive activities” (formerly Category C) include regularly scheduled or routine consultations with peers or case conferences.
Registrants whose current QA cycles began before April 2022 and are still on-going, are also encouraged to participate fully in the PSP when they self-assess, plan, participate, and self-reflect on their continued learning. Please note that activities that were acceptable for reporting under Categories A-C can be reported in Category D when it is part of the Professional Learning Plan drawn up before the activity was taken. Registrants are exempted from the 6 in-person (face-to-face) hours requirement when having hours reported in PSP.
For More Information
TCMA registrants can contact ac.cbphcc@smargorPAQ with questions related to quality assurance.
QA Programs Templates & Activity Log
Step 1 – Assessment – Self-Reflective Assessment
Step 2 – Professional Development – Learning Objectives
Step 3 – Professional Development – Plan and Complete Activities
Step 4 – Professional Development – Evaluate Activities
Step 5 – Professional Development – QA Cycle Evaluation
The purpose of the Activity Log is to facilitate ensuring whether 50 CE hours have been achieved in the reporting period.
Samples of Completed Templates and Activity Log
For More Information
TCMA registrants can contact ac.cbphcc@smargorPAQ with questions related to quality assurance.
Professional Development Activities
Professional Development Activities
Professional development activities, if instructor-led, must be delivered by qualified instructors/lecturers, i.e.
- Instructors/lecturers must have at least 7 years experience OR a university degree plus 3 years experience
- Instructors must have thorough knowledge of the subject matter OR credentials recognized by the College
Only actual instructional hours should be counted.
The PSP’s Learning Resource Guide provides some suggestions of activities related to each Career-Span Competency (CSC).
The College does not endorse or guarantee the content of the listed courses, programs and activities, and takes no responsibility for the descriptions of them. Registrants are advised to use their own judgment before registering to attend the programs, especially if there is a cost to participate.
The guide and listings are provided to inform registrants about continuing education courses and professional activity opportunities which are offered from time-to-time. Please note that registrants can source other activities that are not listed to be included in their professional development learning plan. Registrants must justify how the activity directly benefits their practice quality.
Audit
Each year the College randomly selects a number of renewing registrants, who are at the end of a reporting period, to audit the individual records of Continuing Competency Activity Log.
Registrants make declaration during annual registration renewal that they are complying with College Bylaws.
If it is your reporting year, please make sure you are fulfilling the requirements when making the declaration during registration renewal, having the forms and activity log completed, and keeping records and supporting documents of activities in the Professional Development Plan. If a registrant is selected for the audit, they will receive a written request to send in their Continuing Competency Activity Log (as the first step). Registrants only need to provide proof of complying with this requirement when requested by the College.
Continuing Education Courses
The information contained in this part of the website is provided by the individual, association or company that is offering each continuing education program. The College does not endorse or guarantee the content of the programs and takes no responsibility for the descriptions of them. Registrants are advised to use their own judgment before registering to attend the programs.
The information on the page is provided to assist registrants by increasing awareness of the continuing education courses which are offered from time-to-time.
Online Course Providers
Please contact your association for current CE offerings.
CE Event Listings
Please contact your association for current CE offerings.
Learning Resources
Jurisprudence Handbook
THE JURISPRUDENCE COURSE HANDBOOK
The purpose of the Jurisprudence Handbook is to provide information on the ethical and legal framework within which TCM Practitioners and Acupuncturists are expected to practice in British Columbia. It is expected that registrants will use the Handbook as a clinic reference manual, students will use the Handbook as a guide in their studies, and public health authorities and members of the public will use the Handbook as a source of information.
A significant portion of the Handbook was adapted from the Jurisprudence Course Handbook developed by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario. The College of Complementary Health Professionals of British Columbia gratefully acknowledges permission from the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario to adapt the document for use in British Columbia.
Safety Program Handbook
DOWNLOAD THE SAFETY PROGRAM HANDBOOK
The Handbook has been developed for TCM professionals to use as a clinic reference manual, for the student to use as a handbook for the Safety Examinations, remedial application for registrants not meeting accepted standards of practice, and as a source of information for public health authorities and members of the public.
The Handbook was developed over a 2-year period with a team of consultants working with more than two dozen content experts and practitioners from the provinces of British Columbia and Ontario. Participants from both provinces spent significant hours in research and development. The assessment tools for testing in the Safety Examinations were validated by test-writing practitioners in both provinces.
In development of the Handbook content, experts drew extensively from the mandatory safety courses developed by CTCMA-BC and the College and Association of Alberta. A significant portion of the Herbology section 5.3 was adapted from guidelines developed by the Chinese Medicine Registration Board of Victoria, Australia. CCHPBC gratefully acknowledges the contribution made by the participants.
Examinations
All applicants seeking to register with the College must complete the registration examinations. The registration examinations measure the competencies required of entry-level traditional Chinese medicine practitioners for safe, ethical and effective practice. For more information on registration requirements, please refer to the Application section of the website.
The College offers the following examinations:
- Doctor of TCM Written and Clinical Examinations
- Pan-Canadian Written and Clinical Case-study Examinations for Acupuncturists, TCM Herbalists and TCM Practitioners
- Safety Competency
- Jurisprudence Examination
Jurisprudence Examination
Important Announcement
Beginning February 1, 2023, the procedure to take the Online Jurisprudence Exam through remote proctoring will be updated to include using the Guardian Secure Browser (GSB) developed by Meazure Learning. Downloading the Guardian Browser will be one of the first steps to begin a proctored exam session.
For detailed information about preparing and using the Guardian Secure Browser (GSB) to launch a proctored exam session, please check:
Resources for taking Online proctored exam with Meazure Learning:
- Meazure Online Proctoring FAQ Page
- What to Expect Video
All applicants applying for registration with the College must successfully complete the Jurisprudence Examination.
In order to enhance the candidate experience with the Jurisprudence Examination administration, CCHPBC has collaborated with Yardstick to officially launch the Online Jurisprudence Examination with Remote Examination Proctoring in August 2020.
Application Procedure
The College contracted with Yardstick to administer the Jurisprudence Examination. Please follow the procedures below to apply to write the Jurisprudence Examination:
- Go to the Jurisprudence Examination Site.
- Click the ‘sign up’ button to create an account (if this is your first application to write the Jurisprudence Examination).
- Complete the required information in order to proceed with the application.
- Click on the ‘products’ tab and purchase the Jurisprudence Examination. Purchases are made online using a credit card only (no other form of payment is accepted). A Purchase Receipt Email is sent right after the exam is purchased. A Booking Instructions email will be sent to you with information of the steps to book an online session and support information for Remote Proctoring from ProctorU.
Please keep the information email handy as you may need the information when having trouble booking online exam session, confirming setup preparedness, and/or experiencing technical difficulties on Exam Day.
Examination Resources
Jurisprudence Examination Candidate Handbook
The Jurisprudence Examination Candidate Handbook contains detailed information about the policies, procedures for the Examination, including examination format, scoring, passing grades, and application process.
Jurisprudence Course Handbook
The Jurisprudence Examination is based on the:
- Jurisprudence Course Handbook (English)
- Jurisprudence Course Handbook (Simplified Chinese)
- Jurisprudence Course Handbook (Traditional Chinese)
Jurisprudence Examination Accommodation
Candidates with a disability who requires examination accommodations must submit a request for consideration (in writing, signed, dated, and enclosed with supporting documentation) to the College at least twenty (20) business days prior to their anticipated examination write date.
Pan-Canadian Examinations
All applicants except those who qualify for registration through reciprocity registration, applying for registration as a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.), Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbalist (R.TCM.H.), or Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCM.P.) with the College must successfully complete the Pan-Canadian Written and Clinical Case-study Examinations in respect to the title of registration applying for.
Announcements
- All exam application enquiries can be sent to: ac.cbphcc@snoitacilppa
Examination Schedule
The examination schedule for October 2024 Pan-Canadian Examinations is as below. Please note that to avoid delays in ordering official transcripts and/or credential evaluation reports during the busy application season, we would recommend the applicants interested in writing the October 2024 Pan-Canadian Examinations to start to collect information as early as possible.
We accept PCE applications by either mail or via Uploading to October 2024 PCE application Upload Site. Please check Page 9 of the Application Guide for details.
October 2024 – PAN-CANADIAN EXAMINATIONS SCHEDULE
Application Starts:
- Monday, June 3, 2024 (8:30 AM Vancouver Local Time)
Note: Taking a ‘refresher course’ for the purpose of being eligible to take or re-take an examination can be done anytime so that the course can be completed as required for the examination to be approved.
Application Deadline:
- Monday, July 15, 2024 (4:30PM Vancouver Local Time)
Deadline for Special Accommodation Request:
- Monday, July 15, 2024 (4:30PM Vancouver Local Time)
Application Fee Due Date:
- 48 hours after the payment link sent from CCHPBC
Deadline** for Withdrawal of Applications
- Noon (Vancouver Local Time) Thursday, August 15, 2024 (application fee is non-refundable)
Date of TCM Herbalists Examination – HER
- October 1 & 2, 2024
Date of TCM Practitioners Examination – PRA
- October 3 & 4, 2024
Date of Acupuncturists Examination – ACU
- October 23 & 24, 2024
Important Notes:
- A. Please note that the October 2024 dates for the TCM Herbalists and TCM Practitioners examinations are under review and are currently scheduled for October 1-4, 2024. The exams were previously scheduled to overlap on October 2&3, 2024.
- B. The computer-based April 2024 Pan-Canadian Examinations will be delivered IN-PERSON at TESTING CENTERS across Canada. For the latest available testing center locations across Canada, please refer to the CARB-TCMPA website HERE.
- C. Please refer to the CARB-TCMPA website for future exam dates HERE.
- D. The languages offered for the October 2024 administration are still under review. Please refer to the CARB-TCMPA website HERE for more updates.
Examination Requirements and Forms
Education Requirements
Applicants are required to meet the education requirements (both TCM and two years liberal arts/sciences study) for registration in respect to the title of registration applying for. Please refer to the Registration section of the website for further information.
Application Forms and Fees
Please use the forms below to submit your application to register.
- 2024 October Pan-Canadian Entry-Level Examination – Application Form – Application Closed
If you plan to take the Registration Examination and graduated from a TCM/A education program for more than 3 years ago OR failed an examination and will apply for the 2nd or 3rd attempt, you are required to complete a Refresher Program/Course that is pre-approved by CCHPBC. The Refresher Program/Course must be pre-approved by CCHPBC before you start it and completed before the examination application deadline. Please use the following form to apply for the pre-approval from the college:
If you request accommodation for special needs, you are required to complete the following two forms and submit to gro.apmct-brac@snoitadommocca directly. Please note that an Accommodation Request form is required for each specific examination administration, and the request when approved by CARB-TCMPA, will only apply to the current examination administration.
Pan-Canadian Examinations Fee Chart:
CARB-TCMPA has updated the PCE examination fees effective April 2025 PCE administration. More details are available at 2025 Examination Fee Increase – CARB-TCMPA.
Effective April 2025 PCE – (one Application Fee when applying for more than 1 type of exam in the same administration)
PCE Acupuncturists Examination – ACU
- Non-refundable application fee $300
- Examination fee $942
PCE TCM Herbalists Examination – HER
- Non-refundable application fee $300
- Examination fee $942
PCE TCM Practitioners Examination – PRA
- Non-refundable application fee $300
- Examination fee $1295
(plus applicable tax)
Examination Resources
Past PCE Examinations Results and Future Dates
Application Guide
The Application Guide is designed to provide candidates with information on the application process, policies, and instructions for the Pan-Canadian Examinations.
Blueprint
The Blueprint documents outline the content tested on the Pan-Canadian exam. For the Pan-Canadian Registration Examination for Acupuncturists, TCM Herbalists and/or TCM Practitioners, the content consists of the competencies that an entry-level practitioner is required to possess in order to practise safely, effectively and ethically. Please refer to the Examination Blueprint Table(s) on Page 12 and 14 of the Pan-Canadian Examination Candidate Handbook – Updated November 26, 2023.
Entry-Level Competencies for TCM practitioners
For more information on the Entry-Level Competencies for TCM practitioners, please refer to the Entry-Level Competencies page.
Pan-Canadian Examinations Candidate Handbook
The Examination Guide is designed by the Canadian Alliance of Regulatory Bodies of TCM Practitioners and Acupuncturists (CARB-TCMPA) to familiarize candidates with the format of the actual examination and to provide information on the content of the examination. More information is available at CARB-TCMPA.
Pan-Canadian Examination candidate Handbook – updated November 26, 2023
Doctor of TCM Examination
Important Note:
Applications are closed at this time and the information below is kept for reference only.
All applicants applying for registration as a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Dr.TCM) must successfully complete the Doctor of TCM Written and Clinical Examinations.
Examination Schedule
Important Note: The delivery format and the dates for the 2024 Dr.TCM Clinical Retaking Examination might be revised to reflect the public health directive of physical distancing in Winter 2024. Candidates will be updated via email and website announcement when it is close to the examination dates, if necessary.
2024 Dr.TCM Clinical Retaking Examination
Application Starts:
- Tuesday, January 16, 2024 (8:30 AM Vancouver Local Time)
Application Deadline:
- Thursday, February 8, 2024 (4:30PM Vancouver Local Time)
Deadline for Special Accommodation Request:
- Thursday, February 8, 2024 (4:30PM Vancouver Local Time)
Application Fee Due :
- 48 hours after the payment link sent from CCHPBC via email
Examination Fee Due:
- Noon of Monday, February 26, 2024 (Vancouver Local Time) (payment link of the examination fee will be sent to those approved candidates by February 21, 2024)
Deadline for Withdrawal of Application:
- Noon of Monday, February 26, 2024 (Vancouver Local Time) (Application fee is non-refundable)
Date of Dr.TCM Clinical Examination:
- Saturday, March 9, 2024
Examination Requirements and Forms
Education Requirements
Applicants must meet the education requirements* for both TCM and the two years liberal arts/sciences study to successfully register as a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Dr. TCM).
Please refer to the Registration section of the website for further information.
*Applicants applying to write this examination must already be registered as R.TCM.P. or be eligible to apply for R.TCM.P. registration.
Application Forms and Fees
Please use the forms below to submit your application to register.
- 2024 Dr. TCM Clinical Examination Application Form
If you request accommodation for special needs, you are required to complete the following two forms and submit to CCHPBC by the application deadline
- 2024 Dr. TCM Clinical Examination Special Accommodation – Candidate Form
- 2024 Dr. TCM Clinical Examination Special Accommodation – Verification Form
If you plan to take the Registration Examination and graduated from a TCM/A education program for more than 3 years ago OR failed an examination and will apply for the 2nd or 3rd attempt, you are required to complete a Refresher Program/Course that is pre-approved by CCHPBC. The Refresher Program/Course must be pre-approved by CCHPBC before you start it and completed before the examination application deadline. Please use the following form to apply for the pre-approval from the college:
Application and registration fees are available under the College Bylaws and also in the application form.
Dr.TCM Written and Clinical Examinations
- Application (Non-refundable) $- 200
- Written Examination – $700
- Clinical Examination – $700
Dr.TCM Clinical Examination only (* For Retake Applicants with Eligible Status)
- Application (Non-refundable) – $100
- Written Examination – nil
- Clinical Examination – $700
Examination Resources
Examination Candidate Handbook
Detailed information about the policies and procedures for the examinations, including examination format, scoring, passing grades, and application process can be found in the:
- Dr. TCM Examination Candidate Handbook – 2024 – New with document submission requirements on Page 8
Entry-Level Competencies for Doctor of TCM
For more information on the Entry-Level Competencies for Doctor of TCM, please refer to the Entry-Level Competencies page.
Interactive Safety Course
All applicants applying for registration with the College must successfully complete the Interactive Safety Course. Please refer to the Registration section of the website for the examination required to register for each registration title.
To learn more about the Application Procedure and Extension Procedure.
Course Resources
Interactive Safety Course Application Guide
The Interactive Safety Course Application Guide contains detailed information about the course overview, policies, procedures for the Course, including course format, technical specifications, application process, and what a candidate needs to do to complete the course after enrollment is granted
The Interactive Safety Course is based on the:
- Safety Program Handbook (English)
- Safety Program Handbook (Simplified Chinese)
- Safety Program Handbook (Traditional Chinese)
Interactive Safety Course – Modules
To become R.Ac.
1 – Infection and Prevention Control
2 – Risk Management of TCM Practice
3 – Safe Procedures and Practices – Acupuncture
To become R.TCM.H.
1 – Infection and Prevention Control
2 – Risk Management of TCM Practice
4 – Safe Procedures and Practices – Herbology
To become R.TCM.P. ***
1 – Infection and Prevention Control
2 – Risk Management of TCM Practice
3 – Safe Procedures and Practices – Acupuncture
4 – Safe Procedures and Practices – Herbology
To become Dr.TCM ***
1 – Infection and Prevention Control
2 – Risk Management of TCM Practice
3 – Safe Procedures and Practices – Acupuncture
4 – Safe Procedures and Practices – Herbology