Ethics and Practice Standards
Standards of practice outline the minimum level of acceptable performance and professional practice required of CHCPBC licensees to ensure safe and ethical care for the public. Licensees are required to know and adhere to CHCPBC standards. The standards are enforceable under governing legislation for professions regulated by the College.
Prior to April 1, 2026, seven sets of legacy college standards, codes of ethics, and codes of conduct established under the Health Professions Act (HPA) set out requirements for the nine professions regulated by CHCPBC. The legacy standards and codes are retired as of April 1, 2026. See Retired Standards below.
As of April 1, 2026, one harmonized set of Ethics and Practice Standards, under the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), outlines the requirements for all licensees in all professions regulated by CHCPBC.
Ethics and Practice Standards
Read the Ethics and Practice Standards (Code of Ethics, practice standards, and glossary in separate PDFs)
- Code of Ethics (PDF)
- Collaborative Care (PDF)
- Communications (PDF)
- Conflict of Interest (PDF)
- Consent (PDF)
- Discontinuing Health Services and Ensuring Continuity of Care (PDF)
- Evidence-Informed Practice and Outcome Evaluation (PDF)
- Indigenous Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility, and Anti-Racism (PDF)
- Marketing, Advertising, and Promotion (PDF)
- Privacy and Confidentiality (PDF)
- Professional Boundaries and Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and Abuse (PDF)
- Professional Performance and Responsibility (PDF)
- Records (PDF)
- Restricted Activities and Certifications (PDF)
- Risk Management and Safety (PDF)
- Supervision (PDF)
- Glossary (PDF)
Retired standards
The Ethics and Practice Standards (PDF) under the HPOA govern the practice of CHCPBC licensees as of April 1, 2026. The profession-specific standards, codes of ethics, and codes of conduct established by legacy colleges under the HPA — retired as of that date — remain available below for reference: they continue to apply to complaints where the events in question occurred prior to April 1, 2026, and may otherwise serve as helpful guidance to support licensees’ practice while new documents are being developed for that purpose.
Select the boxes below to view retired standards:
AUDIOLOGISTS
Clinical Practice Standards
- Client Consent (PDF)
- Communication Health Assistants (Delegation & Assignment) (PDF)
- Communication Health Assistants (Education, Training & Competence) (PDF)
- Documentation & Records Management (PDF)
- Provision of Clinical Services (Terms & Definitions) (PDF)
- Supervision (PDF)
- Virtual Care (PDF)
Professional Standards
- Attaining & Maintaining Practice Competence (PDF)
- Certified Practice & Above Entry Level Practice (PDF)
- Duty to Report (PDF)
- Indigenous Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility & Anti-Racism (PDF)
- Inter-Professional Collaborative Practice (PDF)
- Marketing (PDF)
- Professional Accountability & Responsibility (PDF)
- Registrant Code of Ethics (PDF)
- Registrant Code of Ethics (Annotated) (PDF)
- Unique & Shared Scope of Practice (PDF)
Dietitians
Hearing Instrument Practitioners
Clinical Practice Standards
- Client Consent (PDF)
- Communication Health Assistants (Delegation & Assignment) (PDF)
- Communication Health Assistants (Education, Training & Competence) (PDF)
- Documentation & Records Management (PDF)
- Provision of Clinical Services (Terms & Definitions) (PDF)
- Supervision (PDF)
- Virtual Care (PDF)
Professional Standards
- Attaining & Maintaining Practice Competence (PDF)
- Certified Practice & Above Entry Level Practice (PDF)
- Duty to Report (PDF)
- Indigenous Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility & Anti-Racism (PDF)
- Inter-Professional Collaborative Practice (PDF)
- Marketing (PDF)
- Professional Accountability & Responsibility (PDF)
- Registrant Code of Ethics (PDF)
- Registrant Code of Ethics (Annotated) (PDF)
- Unique & Shared Scope of Practice (PDF)
Occupational Therapists
- Code of Ethics (PDF)
- Practice Standard for Supervision of Occupational Therapist Assistants (OTAs) (PDF)
- Indigenous Cultural Safety, Humility, and Anti-Racism Standard of Practice (PDF)
- Practice Standards for Conflict of Interest (PDF)
- Practice Standards for Consent (PDF)
- Practice Standard for Infection Prevention and Control (PDF)
- Practice Standard for Managing Client Information (PDF)
- Practice Standard for Preventing Sexual Misconduct (PDF)
- Practice Standard for Professional Boundaries (PDF)
Opticians
- Code of Ethics (PDF)
- Standards of Practice (PDF)
Optometrists
Physical Therapists
- Code of Ethical Conduct (PDF)
- Standards of Practice (PDF)
Psychologists
Speech-language pathologists
Clinical Practice Standards
- Client Consent (PDF)
- Communication Health Assistants (Delegation & Assignment) (PDF)
- Communication Health Assistants (Education, Training & Competence) (PDF)
- Documentation & Records Management (PDF)
- Provision of Clinical Services (Terms & Definitions) (PDF)
- Supervision (PDF)
- Virtual Care (PDF)
Professional Standards
- Attaining & Maintaining Practice Competence (PDF)
- Certified Practice & Above Entry Level Practice (PDF)
- Duty to Report (PDF)
- Indigenous Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility & Anti-Racism (PDF)
- Inter-Professional Collaborative Practice (PDF)
- Marketing (PDF)
- Professional Accountability & Responsibility (PDF)
- Registrant Code of Ethics (PDF)
- Registrant Code of Ethics (Annotated) (PDF)
- Unique & Shared Scope of Practice (PDF)
Contact practice support
For practice questions or questions about the Ethics and Practice Standards, email CHCPBC at: practicesupport@chcpbc.org
(include your profession in the subject line).
Visit the Practice Support page
for more information.
Visit the Practice Resources page for
resources that assist and support licensees with awareness and application of regulatory requirements, ethics and practice standards, bylaws, and provincial legislation and regulations.