Regulated health professions
Learn about Ontario’s regulated health professions, corresponding regulatory colleges, scope of practice and related legislation.
Overview
In Ontario, regulated health professions are governed under:
- the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA)
- health profession-specific Acts (for example, Medicine Act, 1991)
This legislative framework establishes health regulatory colleges which regulate the professions in the public interest. Health regulatory colleges are responsible for ensuring that regulated health professionals provide health services in a safe, professional and ethical manner. This includes, among other things:
- setting standards of practice for the profession
- investigating complaints about members of the profession and disciplining them, where appropriate.
The Health Professions Procedural Code, sets out a comprehensive set of rules that all health regulatory colleges must follow when:
- registering new members
- investigating complaints
- disciplining members of the profession
These rules ensure that:
- health professional regulations in Ontario are open, transparent, accessible and fair for those seeking to become regulated health professionals
- there are proper protections in place for patients and members of the public
Regulated health professions
There are 27 regulated health professions in Ontario each with their own profession-specific legislation which articulates their scope of practice, the types of activities that are authorized to the profession and the protected titles that members of the profession may use.
Applied behaviour analysis
Behaviour analysts apply the science of learning to understand and improve behaviour. They use evidence-based procedures, such as positive reinforcement to:
- address a client’s concerns and needs
- reduce behaviours that are harmful or interfere with learning
- increase desirable behaviour and helpful or functional skills
Related Acts and additional information
- College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario
- Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act, 2021
Audiology and speech-language pathology
Audiologists assess hearing and treat and prevent hearing problems to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment hearing and communication functions. Audiologists are authorized to prescribe hearing aids for individuals with hearing-impairment. Speech-language pathologists assess speech and language functions and treat as well as prevent speech and language dysfunctions or disorders to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment oral motor or communicative functions.
Related Acts and additional information
- College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario
- Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Act, 1991
Chiropody and podiatry
Chiropodists treat and prevent diseases, disorders or dysfunctions of the foot by therapeutic, orthotic or palliative means. Chiropodists are authorized to cut into the subcutaneous tissues of the foot, prescribe drugs designated in the regulations, inject into the feet a substance set out in the regulations and administer a substance by inhalation as set out in the regulations. Chiropodists may also perform acupuncture.
Podiatrists also treat and prevent diseases, disorders and dysfunctions of the foot by therapeutic, orthotic or palliative means. Podiatrists are also authorized to communicate a diagnosis identifying a disease or disorder of the foot as the cause of a person's symptoms, cut into subcutaneous tissues of the foot and bony tissues of the forefoot, prescribe drugs set out in the regulations, inject into the feet a substance set out in the regulations and administer a substance by inhalation as set out in the regulations.
Related Acts and additional information
Chiropractic
Chiropractors assess conditions related to the spine, nervous system and joints. They diagnose, prevent and treat, primarily by adjustment:
- dysfunctions or disorders arising from the structures or functions of the spine and the effects of those dysfunctions or disorders on the nervous system
- dysfunctions or disorders arising from the structures or functions of the joints
Chiropractors are authorized to communicate a diagnosis and move the joints of the spine among other activities. Chiropractors may also perform acupuncture within their scope of practice.
Related Acts and additional information
Dental hygiene
Dental hygienists assess teeth and adjacent tissues and treat by preventive and therapeutic means. They provide restorative and orthodontic procedures and services.
In the course of engaging in the practice of dental hygiene, dental hygienists may scale teeth and are authorized to prescribe, dispense, compound, or selling a drug designated in the regulations.
Related Acts and additional information
Dental technology
Dental technologists design, construct, repair or alter dental prosthetic, restorative and orthodontic devices.
Related Acts and additional information
Dentistry
Dentists assess the physical condition of the oral-facial complex and diagnose, treat and prevent any disease, disorder or dysfunction of the oral-facial complex.
Dentists are also authorized to prescribe drugs and administer substances by injection or inhalation among other activities. Dentists may also perform acupuncture.
Related Acts and additional information
Denturism
Denturists design, construct, repair, alter, order fit and dispense removable dentures.
Related Acts and additional information
Dietetics
Dietitians assess nutrition and nutritional conditions and treat and prevent nutrition related disorders by nutritional means. Dietitians are authorized to take blood samples by skin pricking for the purpose of monitoring capillary blood readings.
Related Ats and additional information
Homeopathy
Homeopaths assess body system disorders and treat using homeopathic techniques to promote, maintain or restore health of individuals.
Related Acts and additional information
Kinesiology
Kinesiologists assess human movement and performance and rehabilitate and manage to maintain, rehabilitate or enhance movement and performance.
Related Acts and additional information
Massage therapy
Massage therapists treat and prevent physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissues and joints of the body by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function or relieve pain.
Massage therapists may also perform acupuncture.
Related Acts and additional information
Medical laboratory technology
Medical laboratory technologists perform laboratory investigations on the human body or on specimens taken from the human body and evaluate the technical sufficiency of the investigations and their results. In the course of practicing the profession, medical laboratory technologists may also take blood samples from veins or by skin pricking if the procedure is ordered by a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario or the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, or by a prescribed person.
Related Acts and additional information
Medical radiation and imaging technology
Medical radiation and imaging technologists use ionizing radiation, electromagnetism and other prescribed forms of energy for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, the evaluation of images and data relating to the procedures and the assessment of an individual before, during and after the procedures.
Related Acts and additional information
- College of Medical Radiation and Imaging Technologists of Ontario
- Medical Radiation and Imaging Technology Act, 2017
Medicine
Physicians assess the physical or mental condition of an individual and diagnose, treat and prevent any disease, disorder or dysfunction.
In the course of practicing the profession, physicians may communicate a diagnosis, prescribe drugs and order diagnostic testing, among other things.
Related Acts and additional information
Midwifery
Midwives assess and monitor women during pregnancy, labour and the post-partum period and their newborn babies. They provide care during normal pregnancy, labour and post-partum period and conduct spontaneous normal vaginal deliveries.
In the course of practising the profession, midwives may communicate a diagnosis, prescribe drugs and order laboratory tests among other things.
Related Acts and additional information
Naturopathy
Naturopaths assess diseases, disorders and dysfunctions, make naturopathic diagnoses and treat diseases, disorders and dysfunctions using naturopathic techniques to promote, maintain or restore health.
In the course of practising the profession, naturopaths may communicate a naturopathic diagnosis, order laboratory tests and prescribe drugs, among other things. Naturopaths may also perform acupuncture.
Related Acts and additional information
Nursing
Registered nurses, registered practical nurses and nurse practitioners, promote health and assess, provide care for and treat health conditions by supportive, preventive, therapeutic, palliative and rehabilitative means in order to gain or maintain optimal function.
In the course of practising the profession, certain nurses may prescribe and administer drugs and order laboratory and imaging tests. Nurses may also perform acupuncture.
Related Acts and additional information
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapists assess function and adaptive behaviour and treat and prevent disorders which affect function or adaptive behaviour to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment function or adaptive behaviour in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure. In the course of practising the profession, occupational therapists may treat their clients using psychotherapy techniques. Occupational therapists may also perform acupuncture.
Related Acts and additional information
Opticianry
Opticians provide, fit and adjust subnormal vision devices, contact lenses or eye glasses. Opticians are also authorized to dispense subnormal vision devices, contact lenses or eye glasses.
Related Acts and additional information
Optometry
Optometrists assess the eye and vision system and diagnose, treat and prevent:
- disorders of refraction
- sensory and oculomotor disorders and dysfunctions of the eye and vision system
- prescribed diseases
Optometrists are also authorized to communicate a diagnosis, apply a prescribed form of energy, prescribe drugs and prescribe for vision or eye problems, subnormal vision devices, contact lenses or eyeglasses.
Related Acts and additional information
Pharmacy
The practice of pharmacy is:
- the custody, compounding, dispensing and prescribing of drugs
- the provision of health care aids and devices
- the provision of information and education related to the promotion of health, prevention and treatment of disease, disorders and dysfunctions through monitoring and management of medication therapy, and the assessment of conditions to provide medication therapies
In the course of engaging in the practice of pharmacy, pharmacists are able to, subject to terms and conditions on the certificate of registration, compound, dispense, sell drugs and supervise the part of the pharmacy where drugs are kept, administer a substance by injection or inhalation, prescribe a drug and perform a procedure on tissue below the dermis.
Related Acts and additional information
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists assess neuromuscular, musculoskeletal and cardio-respiratory systems, diagnose diseases or disorders associated with physical dysfunction, injury, or pain, treat, rehabilitate, and prevent relief of physical dysfunction, injury or pain to develop, maintain, rehabilitate, or augment function; and promote mobility. In the course of engaging in the practice of physiotherapy, a physiotherapist may communicate a diagnosis, move the joints of the spine, use tracheal suctioning, treat a wound below the dermis and administer a substance by inhalation. Physiotherapists may also perform acupuncture.
Related Acts and additional information
Psychology
Psychologists:
- assess behavioural and mental conditions
- diagnose neuropsychological disorders and dysfunctions and psychotic, neurotic and personality disorders and dysfunctions
- prevent and treat behavioural and mental disorders and dysfunctions
- maintain and enhance physical, intellectual, emotional, social and interpersonal functioning
Psychological associates and behaviour analysts are also regulated by the College of Psychologists of Ontario.
In the course of engaging in the practice of psychology, psychologists are authorized to communicate a diagnosis and treat their clients using psychotherapy techniques.
Related Acts and additional information
- College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario
- Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act, 2021
Psychotherapy
Registered psychotherapists and registered mental health therapists assess and treat cognitive, emotional or behavioural disturbances by psychotherapeutic means, delivered through a therapeutic relationship based primarily on verbal or non-verbal communication.
In the course of engaging in the practice of psychotherapy, psychotherapists are authorized to treat their clients using psychotherapy techniques.
Related acts and additional information
- College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario
- Psychotherapy Act, 2007
Respiratory therapy
Respiratory therapists provide oxygen therapy, cardio-respiratory equipment monitoring and the assessment and treatment of cardio-respiratory and associated disorders to maintain or restore ventilation.
In the course of practicing the profession, respiratory therapists are authorized to perform a procedure below the dermis, perform intubation and suctioning, administer a substance by injection or inhalation and apply soundwaves for the purposes of diagnostic ultrasound.
Related Acts and additional information
Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners assess body system disorders through traditional Chinese medicine techniques and treat individuals using traditional Chinese medicine therapies to promote, maintain or restore health. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners may also perform acupuncture and communicate a traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis.
Related Acts and additional information
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006
Submitting a scope of practice change proposal
A profession’s scope of practice is set out in health profession-specific Acts (for example Nursing Act, 1991, Pharmacy Act, 1991) supporting regulations and in other pieces of legislation. It describes:
- what a profession does
- the services it provides
- the activities a regulated health professional is authorized to perform
To submit a scope of practice change proposal, applicants must use the appropriate ministry form. To aid applicants in their submission, the ministry has created the ‘Guide for Submitting Scope of Practice Change Proposal’ document, which sets out expectations and requirements when submitting a proposal.
If you wish to submit the forms for a scope of practice change proposal, please contact the manager of the Regulatory Design and Implementation Unit for the interactive forms at RegulatoryProjects@ontario.ca.
Forms
The forms provided below are for instructional purposes only.