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FAQs

Transitional Council FAQs

What does the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006 (TCM Act) do?

The TCM Act establishes the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO) that will be responsible for governing the profession to ensure the public is protected and the public interest is served.

During the transition period, the Act empowers:

  1. The Lieutenant Governor in Council to appoint the Transitional Council and the Registrar;
  2. The Transitional Council and Registrar to do anything that is necessary to establish the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners of Ontario (CTCMPAO), to implement the TCM Act, 2006, its regulations and the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991(RHPA).

 

It also sets out:

- The scope of practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM);

- The controlled acts that TCM practitioners and acupuncturists are authorized to perform;

- Title protection authorizing only members of the CTCMPAO to use the titles “traditional Chinese medicine practitioner” or “acupuncturist”, a variation or abbreviation or an equivalent in another language;

- The composition of the College Council after transition; and

- The Council’s authority to make regulations, including the regulation on “Doctor” title.

What is the role of the transitional Council?

The transitional Council is responsible for drafting regulations, policies, standards and setting up operational structures to establish the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario. It also exercises the powers of a council of a health regulatory college. It carries out the statutory objectives of a college to serve and protect the public interest as set out in the TCM Act, 2006, the RHPA, 1991 and the Health Professions Procedural Code.

During this transitional period, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care may review the transitional Council’s activities, require it to make, amend or revoke a regulation and do anything that is necessary or advisable to carry out the intent of the TCM Act and the RHPA.

Who sits on the transitional Council?

The transitional Council is comprised of individuals appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council with experience in health professional regulation, health sector or public administration. Persons with a demonstrated experience to serve in public interest may be appointed.

The number of members to be appointed to the Transitional Council is at the discretion of government. Each member is expected to serve in his/her individual capacity rather than as a representative of a professional advocacy group to which he/she may belong.  Members may be appointed for a one or two year term. They may be reappointed.

Is the Transitional Council the same as the Council of the College?

The transitional Council is time limited. It exists before section 6 of the TCM Act comes into force. It exists until it has developed a framework to permit the College to register members and to fully undertake its regulatory functions. At that time the transitional Council will cease to exist.

The Council of the College shall comprise 6-9 professional members elected in accordance with the by-laws and 5-8 public members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

What is the role of the transitional Registrar?

The transitional Registrar is the Chief Executive Officer appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. He/She reports to the transitional Council and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and support the transitional Council in developing and implementing policies, by-laws and regulations governing the practice of TCM. The transitional Registrar is also responsible for the day-to-day operations of the College and has statutory duties under the RHPA, 1991.  

What is the College?

A College regulates the practice of the health profession that it is to govern according to its profession specific Act and regulations, the Health Professions Procedural Code, the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, its regulations and by-laws.

Distinct from a professional or advocacy association that protects the interest of its own members, the mandate of a College is to serve and protect the public interest.

The CTCMPAO is the College that regulates the practice of traditional Chinese medicine in the public interest. It is the ONLY organization legally authorized by the Ontario government to evaluate applicants and determine who is qualified to practise traditional Chinese medicine in Ontario.

Any organization that falsely holds itself out as a body that regulates individuals in TCM practice would be liable to a fine of not more than $50,000 for a first offence and not more than $200,000 for a second or subsequent offence.  This includes organizations claiming to evaluate and/or certify individuals’ for the purpose of practising TCM in Ontario. 

 

Registration

When do I need to register as a member of the College (CTCMPAO)?

You must register with CTCMPAO when the Registration Regulation under the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006 is approved by government and comes into force. At that time, you cannot practice traditional Chinese medicine, or hold yourself out as qualified to practise traditional Chinese medicine unless you are registered as a member of CTCMPAO.

This website will post updated information on progress.  Practitioners are encouraged to pay close attention to the CTCMPAO announcements on this website to prepare for eventual registration. You may also wish to contact the College from time to time by phone, email or mail.

I have heard that some organizations are holding examinations, claiming that passing their examinations would lead to registration with the College. Is this true?

No, this claim is false as CTCMPAO has not yet set the requirements for registration with the College.

The CTCMPAO is the ONLY organization legally authorized by the Ontario government to evaluate candidates to determine who is qualified to practise traditional Chinese medicine and be issued a certificate to practice in Ontario.

Now that Bill 50 has received Royal Assent, can I claim to be a regulated health professional?

No. You can make that claim only when you are registered with CTCMPAO as a member.

I was a practising traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor in China before moving my practice to Canada; can I still use the “doctor” title in Ontario?

At this time, practitioners of TCM cannot use the “doctor” title, a variation or abbreviation or an equivalent in another language when providing or offering to provide health care in Ontario.

Currently, under section 33 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA), no one is allowed to use the title “doctor”, its variation or abbreviation or an equivalent in another language when providing or offering to provide health care in Ontario, unless he/she is a member of:

the College of Chiropractors of Ontario;
the College of Optometrists of Ontario;
the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario;
the College of Psychologists of Ontario; or
the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.

A person who breaches section 33 may be prosecuted in the Provincial Offences Act Court. If the person is convicted, he/she is liable to a fine of not more than $25,000 for a first offence and not more than $50,000 for a second or subsequent offence.

However, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006, amended section 33 of the RHPA to allow certain members of the CTCMPAO to use the “doctor” title.   In this regard, the Council of the CTCMPAO shall draft regulations to prescribed standards and qualifications of members who may use the “doctor” title.  Until the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006 is proclaimed into force and the regulations are made, the title “doctor” cannot be used.

*To see the full text of section 33 of the RHPA, please visit:

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_91r18_e.htm

What will happen if I do not register with CTCMPAO?

After proclamation of the Registration Regulation by the government, it will be illegal for you to communicate a traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis, to perform acupuncture or practise TCM unless you are registered as a member of CTCMPAO with the appropriate certificate.   Anyone found guilty could face a fine of not more than $25,000 for a first offence and up to $50,000 for subsequent offenses. One could also be imprisoned for one year, or be fined and imprisoned.  These offense provisions are set out in the RHPA and are common to all regulated health professions.

Further, any person holding themselves out to be qualified to practice TCM or using the title “traditional Chinese medicine practitioner” or “acupuncturist”, a variation or abbreviation or an equivalent in another language while not being a member of CTCMPAO, or claim to be a “Doctor” of TCM while not certified by CTCMPAO, could face a fine of up to $25,000 for a first offense and up to $50,000 for subsequent offenses.

How do I register with CTCMPAO?

The transitional Council will announce the application procedures, fees, documentation and other requirements for registration as soon as the Registration Regulation is approved by government. If you wish to receive information promptly please visit this website and provide your contact information to the transitional Council by mail, fax or email.

Will CTCMPAO be grandparenting current practitioners?

In its draft Registration Regulation, the transitional Council is proposing a “Grandparented” class for registration and a process to register current practitioners. Feedback of practitioners, the public and stakeholders are being invited. Please visit the consultation section on this site to give us your comments. The government will make the final decision on approving the regulation and public safety will be their number one priority.

Does the “grandparenting” process require practitioners to sit formal registration examinations and language tests?

The current draft process does not require current practitioners to demonstrate their competencies through formal registration examinations. Plans are not in place to require applicants to sit formal language tests.

Please visit the consultation section on this site for details of the proposed process.

Will every CTCMPAO member be required to practise in English or French?
Reasonable fluency in English or French is important since it is necessary for communication with patients, other health care professionals, hospitals, community health institutions and to understand the laws governing the health care system in Ontario and Canada. Practitioenrs applying for Grandparented registration but are lacking in language fluency may submit for approval a written plan on how to communicate with patients, other health care professionals, the health care system and others that use English or French on a daily basis.

Does membership in an association mean automatic registration with CTCMPAO?

No, membership to an association will not mean automatic registration with CTCMPAO.  Anyone applying for registration must meet the College’s registration requirements.

When registration becomes mandatory, how will CTCMPAO deal with students who are in the middle of their educational programs?

The draft Registration Regulation proposes a registration class for students. Please visit the consultation section on this site to access the draft Registration Regulation.

 I would like to enrol in a TCM program; how can I be sure that the program is recognized and my rights will be protected?

CTCMPAO is currently in a transition phase, which will last another two to three years.   During this time, the transitional Council of CTCMPAO will be developing regulations and policies, including setting entry-to-practice requirements and standards of practice, in order to register TCM practitioners.  Once the transitional Council completes this initial work, CTCMPAO will be able to evaluate the educational qualifications of individual applicants.  Until then it is not possible to say which programs will be recognized.  

In the meantime, it will be useful to reference our "entry-level competencies" to determine if the education program covers all the competencies listed.

Regarding the status and administration of a school, you may wish to contact the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) for advice, or visit its website at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/priv_programs.html for information on private career colleges.  The MTCU oversees post-secondary education in Ontario and can be contacted at the following address:

Public Inquiries Unit
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
2nd Floor, 880 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M7A 1N3
Tel: (416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514
Fax: (416) 325-6348

Student Support Branch
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
10th Floor Mowat Block
900 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M7A 1L2
Tel: 416-314-0500 or 1-866-330-23395
Fax: 416-314-0499

As an acupuncturist, will the Ontario Health Insurance Plan cover my services at a TCM clinic?

The regulation of a profession does not confer a duty on the government to pay for its services. Only a few of the 23 regulated health professions are funded by OHIP on a fee for service basis. Private insurance carriers may choose to cover these treatments and employers may provide benefits through extended health care plans. However, neither the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care nor the College is involved in these decisions.