HPOA: What's changing?

On April 1, 2026, the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) will take effect, replacing the current Health Professions Act (HPA). At the same time, a new, combined nursing and midwifery regulation will come into effect, complemented by supporting regulations.

Read more about the HPOA & our FAQs
Read more about new regulations

What do I need to know?

Let’s start with what is NOT changing. For nurses and midwives, it’s important to note that there are no significant changes to existing standards of practice. Your day-to-day practice will not change.

There are changes that registrants should be aware of.

Key changes

Changes to language: “registrants” will now be called “licensees”; midwife “specialized practice” will become “certified practice”. Please see the table below for a complete list.
Board appointments: we will no longer have elected board members. College boards will be appointed by the Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office (HPOROO) office.
Governance changes: several of our statutory committees are being dissolved; others have new or expanded duties. See table below.
New Health Professions Discipline Tribunal: oversees the discipline process for regulated health professions in B.C.
Support program for complainants: The HPOA requires colleges to offer support to individuals who have made allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, or discrimination by a licensed health professional licensed. More information will be available in spring 2026.

Table of changes

Current state	Future state (April 1, 2026)	Notes
Health Professions Act HPA	Health Professions and Occupations Act HPOA	Some sections of the HPOA are already in force; the rest will come into effect April 1, 2026. Review the HPOA
Registrant Registration Multi-jurisdictional registration (MJR)	Licensee Licensure Multi-jurisdictional licensure (MJL)	We will be updating our documents, website, and forms for April 1, 2026.
Nurses (Registered) and Nurse Practitioner Regulation Nurses (Licensed) Regulation Nurses (Registered Psychiatric) Regulation Midwives Regulation	Nurses and Midwives Regulation Regulated Health Practitioners Regulation Health Professions and Occupations Regulation	Read more: HPOA Regulations
Specialized, specialized practice (RM) The HPOA does not provide for “specialized” practice	Certified nurse, certified midwife	We are harmonizing and aligning midwife specialized practice with RN Certified Practice
Non-practising nurse Non-practising midwife The HPOA does not provide for a non-practising class of registrant	Former licensee Former nurse, retired nurse Former midwife, retired midwife	Non-practising registration class ending April 1, 2026
Registration renewal	Annual declaration	Not in effect for 2026 renewal.
Governance
Registration Committee	License Committee	Same duties
Inquiry Committee	Investigation Committee	Similar duties
Professional Practice and Standards Committee	Professional Standards Advisory Committee	Same duties
Quality Assurance Committee	n/a Program will be administered by the Registrar & CEO	Dissolved
Discipline Committee	n/a	Dissolved Functions taken over by HPOROO, Discipline Tribunal
NP Exam Committee	n/a	Dissolved OSCE has been discontinued National exam being instituted, visit NP Framework Regulation Framework for more information
Education Program Review Committee	No change to name	Expanded responsibilities. Will now recognize education programs, not board
Annual General Meeting (AGM)	Discontinued	No AGMs required under the new Act.