As of April 1st, only those who are registered with the College can use the title “Homeopath”. What sets registered homeopaths apart is that under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, they are accountable to the College of Homeopaths of Ontario to provide safe, competent and ethical practice. An exhaustive set of professional practice standards has been developed to form the backdrop against which practice will be maintained.  This Act will also serve to accreditate Homeopathic schools and will denote which homeopathic courses are recognized.  

What Proclamation Means:
 

On April 1, 2015, the Homeopathy Act, 2007 will be proclaimed and the transitional Council will become the College of Homeopaths, vested with the full power of the legislation, including the authority to register homeopaths, administer a quality assurance program, and receive and investigate complaints and reports. Also on that date, a public register of registrants will be added to the College’s website, allowing for public access to information about practitioners’ registration status. 

Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991

The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA), which came into force on December 31, 1993, and was amended in June 2007, provides a common legislative framework under which all regulated health professions in Ontario must function. Currently 28 health professions (27 fully regulated, 1 transitional) are regulated under the RHPA. The underlying objectives of the RHPA are:

• To protect the public from harm and from unqualified, incompetent or unfit providers;

• To promote safe, high quality care;

• To make regulated health professions accountable to the public;

• To provide patients/clients access to health-care professionals of their choice;

• To achieve equality and consistency by requiring all regulated health professions adhere to the same purposes, procedures and public interest principles;

• To treat individual patients/clients and health professionals in an equitable manner. Homeopathy Act, 2007

Every regulated health profession in Ontario has, in addition to the RHPA, a profession-specific Act which establishes a regulatory college responsible for governing the profession to ensure the public is protected. The Homeopathy Act, 2007 establishes the College of Homeopaths of Ontario.

The Homeopathy Act, 2007 sets out:

• The scope of practice of homeopathy is defined as “…the assessment of body system disorders and treatment using homeopathic techniques to promote, maintain or restore health”;

• Title protection, authorizing only members of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario the use of the title “homeopath,” a variation or abbreviation or an equivalent in another language;

• The composition of the College Council. 

In Ontario, the law sets out the responsibilities, powers and procedures for the College of Homeopaths of Ontario to regulate the profession of homeopathy in the interest of public protection. The College works for the public to ensure that homeopaths are qualified to offer safe, competent and ethical care.

In Ontario, only members of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario are regulated and authorized to use the title “Homeopath” or “HOM.” Individuals who are not members of the College are prohibited from using this professional designation or from holding themselves out as qualified to practise as a homeopath. You can verify that your homeopath is a qualified and registered member by consulting the Public Register.