Protecting the Public Interest

The College of Applied Biologists and its mandate

The College of Applied Biologists was created by The College of Applied Biology Act in 2003. It was the only legislation of its kind in North America, and was the first time applied biologists have been granted full professional status through self-governing legislation. In 2021, the College and its registrants came under the Professional Governance Act.

The College has the following responsibilities under the Act:

1. to superintend the regulated practice [of applied biology];
2. to preserve and protect reserved titles or reserved practices, as applicable, in the public interest;
3. to guard against the unlawful use of reserved titles or the unlawful practice of reserved practices;
4. to govern the registrants of the regulatory body according to [the] Act, the regulations and the bylaws
5. to establish the conditions or requirements for registration of a person as a registrant of the [College];
6. to establish, monitor and enforce standards of practice to enhance the quality of practice so that registrants avoid
   1. professional misconduct,
   2. conduct unbecoming a registrant, and
   3. incompetent performance of duties undertaken while engaged in the regulated practice;
7. to establish and maintain a continuing competency program to promote high practice standards amongst registrants
8. to establish, monitor and enforce standards of professional ethics amongst registrants;
9. to establish and employ registration, investigation and discipline procedures that are transparent, objective, impartial and fair;
10. to administer the affairs of the [College] and exercise its powers and perform its duties under [the] Act or other enactments;
11. in the course of exercising the powers and performing the duties of the regulatory body under [the] Act or other enactments, to promote and enhance the following:
    1. collaborative relations with other regulatory bodies, post-secondary education institutions and the government;
    2. interprofessional collaborative practice between its registrants and persons practising another profession;
    3. the ability of its registrants to respond and adapt to changes in practice environments, advances in technology and other emerging issues; (l)any other responsibility that the Lieutenant Governor in Council may prescribe.

Professional Governance Act, (2018)

The College of Applied Biologists recognizes and respects that Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and professional applied biology are complementary practices in managing and protecting natural resources. As such, the reserved practice for applied biology does not include Indigenous traditional practices in resource management.

How the College fulfills its mandate to protect the public interest

The College will undertake to fulfil the public interest purpose as set out above in the following ways:

1. Operating a credentialling program with a fair, impartial and rigourous Credentialing Standard, ensuring that any applicant has the ability to practice competently
2. Operating Audit, Practice Review, and Continuing Professional Development programs to ensure that registrants maintain and enhance their professional competencies and competence
3. Maintaining a clear, transparent and fair Complaints and Discipline process that ensures accountability from registrants
4. Ensuring that information pertaining to bylaws, policies and standards, such as complaints and discipline, are accessible to the public

As a regulator, the College does not engage in issue-oriented advocacy, nor does it advocate for registrants. It maintains an apolitical stance, meeting the public interest requirement of the Act through holding its registrants accountable for their actions.

For more information on the College contact the College office at 250-383-3306 or cab@cab-bc.org.