How is reserved practice reconciled with areas of practice overlap (such as with foresters, environmental professionals)?

Section 55 of the Professional Governance Act provides a pathway for reconciling any overlaps in reserved practices between two or more regulatory bodies under the PGA. By specifying the same area of practice in the professional regulation for each regulatory body granted that particular area of reserved practice, registrants of each specified regulatory body are permitted to practice in that area of reserved practice.

For example, the professional regulation for Engineers and Geoscientists BC identifies reserved practice in the area of “forest engineering” while the professional regulation for the Association of BC Forest Professionals identifies reserved practice in the area of “forest transportation systems”. This structure provides that registrants of both regulatory bodies may practice in the area of forest roads and crossings.

Any overlapping areas of practice identified in regulation may be further supported by practice guidelines jointly developed by multiple regulators. For example, the Professional Practice Guidelines – Legislated Riparian Area Assessments in British Columbia were prepared jointly by the College and other regulators to support professionals doing work under the then-current Riparian Areas Regulation.