Incorporating a chiropractic practice in BC
Key takeaways
- BC chiropractors are now regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC), not the former College of Chiropractors of BC.
- A corporation must hold a Health Profession Corporation permit from CCHPBC before it can provide services.
- All voting shares must be held by chiropractor licensees. Non-voting shares can be held by licensees, family, or an eligible holding company.
- All directors and officers must be licensees of CCHPBC.
The new regulator: CCHPBC
As of 2026, BC chiropractors are regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC. This is a newer regulatory body that replaced the former College of Chiropractors of BC. Any reference to the old college in existing materials may be outdated.
The corporation must hold a Health Profession Corporation permit from CCHPBC before it can provide chiropractic services. Practising through a corporation without a permit is a breach of the Health Professions Act.
The share rules
The share rules for a chiropractic professional corporation are structured around control and ownership:
- All voting shares must be held by chiropractor licensees. The licensee must keep the right to vote the shares.
- Non-voting shares can be held by a broader group: licensees, family members of a voting shareholder, an eligible holding company, or an approved trustee.
- All directors and officers must be licensees of CCHPBC.
This means a chiropractor controls the corporation through voting shares, while family members can participate in equity through non-voting shares.
Business name approval
If your corporate name uses the words “chiropractor” or “chiropractic,” the College’s consent is needed before BC Registry approves the name. That means the name approval process involves two steps: College consent, then BC Registry filing.
Plan for this. The College’s name-consent process can add time to the incorporation timeline.
Transitional rules for existing permits
Permits issued under the former College of Chiropractors of BC rules remain valid until March 31, 2027. If your practice already has a permit under the old system, you have until that date to transition to the new CCHPBC permit structure.
If you are setting up a new corporation now, you apply directly to CCHPBC under the new rules.
How incorporation affects tax
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Active income rate | about 11% to $500,000 |
| GST on services | Exempt, no GST charged, no ITCs |
| TOSI on family dividends | Limited, excluded shares not available for professional corp |
| LCGE on sale | $1,275,000 (2026) on qualifying share sale |
Why this matters: the College’s share rules determine who can be a shareholder. The tax rules determine what happens when income flows to those shareholders. Both sets of rules need to work together for a clean corporate structure.
Frequently asked questions
Can my spouse be a director of the chiropractic corporation?
No. All directors and officers must be chiropractor licensees of CCHPBC. Your spouse cannot be a director unless they are also a chiropractor.
Can my spouse hold non-voting shares?
Yes. Non-voting shares can be held by family members of a voting shareholder, so your spouse can participate in the equity of the corporation.
How long does the permit process take?
The timeline depends on CCHPBC’s current processing times. Factor in the name approval, College consent, and BC Registry filing, budget at least a few weeks.
What if I already have a permit under the old College of Chiropractors of BC?
Permits issued under the former rules stay valid until March 31, 2027. Plan to transition to the new CCHPBC permit before that date.
Is the name consent required if I use a numbered company?
If the numbered company does not use the words “chiropractor” or “chiropractic” in its operating name, College consent may not be needed for the numbered name. But if you carry on business under a name that uses those terms, consent is required.
Talk to us about incorporating your practice at ghumans.ca/chiropractors.
General information only. Talk to us about your situation.