Registrants may choose to structure their business as a sole proprietorship, as a partnership, or as an incorporated company. Setting up and structuring a business properly involves many steps, some of which require specialized knowledge. Registrants may wish to obtain professional advice (legal and accounting) to assist them and to ensure that all conditions and requirements imposed by the Health Professions Act (the “Act”) and the CMTBC Bylaws have been satisfied. Please note that CMTBC staff members are not able to provide legal, financial, or tax advice about how to structure your business, or regarding your health profession corporation.
If a registrant chooses to incorporate, Part 4 of the Act and Part G of the Bylaws set out the procedure and requirements for obtaining a permit to operate as a health profession corporation (HPC).
Review the steps below to determine what is required for your business.
When you request approval for a business name, consider the following criteria:
If the business name is acceptable, the BC Corporate Registry will issue a name approval “Results of Name Request” document to you. The business name will be reserved for 56 days during which time you must apply to CMTBC for consent to use the business name approved by BC Registry Services.
To apply to CMTBC for consent to use a business name, complete the Application for Consent to Use Business Name form (PDF). Submit the completed form and the “Results of Name Request” document provided to you by the BC Registry Services to [email protected].
Upon receipt of your application, CMTBC will review the business name according to the criteria set out above. If consent is granted, CMTBC will notify BC Registry Services directly, with a copy to you at the email address on record. You are reminded to keep your contact information in the Personal Contact Information area of the Registrant Portal up to date at all times.
Once CMTBC has provided consent:
You may incorporate your business of providing massage therapy services to the public with the BC Corporate Registry. Register the corporation through Corporate Online (click on “File an Incorporation Application”).
Registrants must:
In determining whether to issue an HPC permit, CMTBC will assess whether the company has met the conditions/requirements set out in the Act and Part G of the Bylaws.
Conditions and requirements for an HPC permit:
To apply for a Health Profession Corporation permit, you must apply through the Registrant Portal under the menu item “Business and Corporations.” Select “Apply for HPC Permit.” You will be prompted to upload the following documents:
Your application will be processed, and you will be notified if CMTBC accepts your application for an HPC permit. If you are approved for an HPC permit, you will be able to download your permit on the Registrant Portal.
Please remember to renew your permit each year. A health profession corporation’s designated person must promptly advise the Registrar in writing of any change to the information that was contained in the permit application.
Any further questions can be emailed to [email protected].
The HPC permit must be renewed each year.
A health profession corporation that intends to continue providing massage therapy services to the public must, before its permit expires, apply to the Registrar for a renewal of the permit. If a health profession corporation fails to renew its permit before its previous permit expires, the corporation must pay the late renewal fee specified in Schedule “B”.
A health profession corporation’s designated person must promptly advise the Registrar in writing of any change to the information which was contained in the permit application or permit renewal application most recently delivered to the Registrar.
In determining whether to renew an HPC permit, CMTBC will assess whether the company continues to meet the conditions/requirements set out in the Act and Part G of the Bylaws.
See conditions and requirements for an HPC permit in Step 3.
To renew your Health Profession Corporation permit, complete the Renewal of HPC Permit Application form (PDF) and send it to [email protected].
If your HPC permit is renewed, CMTBC will set up an invoice in the designated person’s profile for the annual renewal fee of $100.00. Payment should be remitted through the designated person’s profile via credit card. CMTBC will send you a copy of your new permit to the email address on record.
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