Incorporating a Professional Corporation in BC? Check With Your Regulator First

If you're a regulated professional in British Columbia, for example a doctor, lawyer, accountant, engineer, geologist or physiotherapist, incorporating your practice isn’t quite the same as setting up an ordinary company.  While every BC company is formed under the Business Corporations Act, professional corporations carry an extra layer of rules set by the profession’s governing body.  Missing those steps can delay your setup or, worse, leave you practising without proper authorization.

Why Professional Corporations Are Different

A standard incorporation is largely a one-stop process through BC Registries.  A professional corporation adds a second track: compliance with your regulator’s legislation and bylaws.  Crucially, the requirements vary significantly from one profession to another – so what applies to a medical corporation won’t apply to others.

A clear example is who can own and control the company.  Medical corporations are tightly restricted: under the Health Professions and Occupations Act, directors, officers, and shareholders must generally be licensees of the College.  By contrast, engineers and geoscientists are governed by the Professional Governance Act and Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC), whose framework does not impose the same director and shareholder restrictions – it’s built instead around a “Permit to Practice” model.

The Extra Steps to Watch For

Depending on your profession, incorporating may involve several additional requirements:

• Name approval/consent.  Regulators often control what a professional corporation can be called.  For a medical corporation, the name typically must be approved by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and usually must include a physician-shareholder’s name and words identifying it as a medical corporation. For engineers and geoscientists, if you want restricted words like “geoscience” or “geological” in your company name, you must get written consent from EGBC before BC Registries will approve it.

• Firm registration or permit.  Many regulators require the firm itself, not just the individual, to register.  For engineering and geoscience firms, including sole practitioners and single-person corporations, a Permit to Practice is mandatory.

• Designated responsible individuals.  You may need to name a person accountable for the professional work, for example, EGBC requires a “Responsible Registrant” for the firm.

• Ongoing obligations.  Expect continuing duties such as practice management plans, sealing/authentication of documents, and periodic compliance audits.

• Profession-specific articles.  Your corporate articles should reference the correct governing legislation and compliance obligation and should not simply be copied from another profession’s precedent.

Your Regulator’s Rules Are Often Public

The good news: much of what you need is publicly available.  Regulators such as EGBC and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC publish their current bylaws online, and many offer guidance or standard forms for firms and professional corporations.  Before you incorporate, it’s worth confirming directly with your governing body whether they have a template, required provisions, or a firm-registration process – rather than assuming a standard incorporation is enough.

Key Takeaways 

• Professional corporations require extra steps beyond a standard BC incorporation.

• Rules differ by profession – ownership restrictions that apply to doctors may not apply to engineers or geoscientists.

• Watch for name consent, firm registration/permits, designated responsible individuals, and ongoing compliance.

• Your regulator’s bylaws and guidance are often published online – check them early.

Getting It Right the First Time 

Setting up a professional corporation correctly protects both your practice and your ability to serve clients.  Contact Alex Robertson at (604) 736-9791 or ar@dwslaw.ca to help structure your professional corporation and confirm the requirements with your governing body.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to serve as, or should be construed as legal advice, and is only to provide general information. For advice about your specific situation, please contact us. The information for this article was compiled on July 6, 2026.