Professional conduct
Raising a concern about a registrant
Professional accountability is what makes registration meaningful. BCACT considers concerns that a registrant has departed from the Code of Professional Ethics or the practice standards, and does so with due process for the person raising the concern and for the registrant.
What BCACT can consider
- Practice outside a registrant's assessed competence.
- Breach of confidentiality or mishandling of client information.
- Boundary violations, including dual or exploitative relationships.
- Failure to obtain or record informed consent.
- Misrepresentation of qualifications, registration category, or scope of practice.
- Inadequate record keeping.
- Failure to co-operate with a BCACT process.
What BCACT cannot consider
- Fee disputes and billing disagreements, unless linked to a conduct concern.
- Concerns about practitioners who are not BCACT registrants.
- Matters that are the subject of active court proceedings, until those conclude.
- Dissatisfaction with the outcome of therapy where practice met the standard.
The process
| Stage | What happens | Indicative timing |
|---|---|---|
| Receipt | A concern is submitted in writing. BCACT acknowledges it and confirms what information is still needed. | Within 5 business days |
| Eligibility assessment | BCACT confirms the practitioner is a registrant and that the concern relates to the Code of Professional Ethics or the practice standards. | Within 15 business days |
| Registrant response | The registrant is given the substance of the concern and a fair opportunity to respond in writing. | 21 days to respond |
| Investigation | Where the concern is eligible and disputed, relevant records and accounts are gathered and reviewed. | Typically 60–90 days |
| Determination | A panel that has had no prior involvement decides whether a standard was not met and, if so, what outcome applies. | Following investigation |
| Review | Either party may request a review of the determination on defined grounds, considered by a differently constituted panel. | 30 days from decision |
Outcomes available
- No finding, where the standard was met.
- Advice or a written caution to the registrant.
- Required remedial action, such as additional supervision, training, or a practice audit.
- Conditions or restrictions recorded against the registration.
- Suspension of registration for a defined period.
- Removal from the register.
Conditions, suspensions, and removals are recorded on the public register for the period they remain in effect.
How to submit a concern
Write to conduct@bcact.ca with the registrant's name, the dates of the practice concerned, a factual account of what happened, and any documents you wish BCACT to consider. If you would prefer to speak with someone before deciding whether to submit a concern, say so in your message and a member of the professional conduct team will contact you.
If you are in immediate distress or at risk of harm, contact emergency services or a crisis line in British Columbia first. The BCACT process is a professional standards process and is not a source of urgent support.