Home >  Canadian Health Care Guide > Finding Care > Health Care Providers > Allied Health Professionals: Expand your health network 

Allied Health Professionals: Expand your health network

Provincial health care plans are relying more and more on Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) to increase access to health care. AHPs are practitioners with specialized education and training in health care, but who do not have a medical degree. Common examples of AHPs include chiropractors, massage therapists and psychologists. Learning more about AHPs can help you expand your health network.

How is an AHP different from a doctor?
What services can an AHP provide?
How do I find an AHP?

How is an AHP different from a doctor?

Unlike doctors, AHPs cannot diagnose you with a particular condition. However, they can help identify, treat and prevent illnesses by suggesting therapies or health products to support a treatment plan recommended by your doctor. For instance, if your doctor identifies that you have a digestive problem, seeing a dietitian may help you understand which foods promote digestive health and which ones don’t.

Like medical doctors, many AHPs are regulated, which means they are required by law to deliver competent, ethical, and professional services as well as to acquire the level of education necessitated by this regulation. The governing body (generally the professional college) of each profession defines the scope of these requirements and holds practitioners accountable for their practice.

Remember that some AHPs may be unregulated, depending on the province or territory and the scope of their practice. An unregulated practitioner could have any level of knowledge and/or training, so the treatment they provide may not be accurate or beneficial. You may also have little recourse for adverse effects following treatment from an unregulated practitioner. Always make sure that the health practitioner you see is regulated before you seek care from them. Don’t be afraid to ask for references and for a practitioner’s regulatory status.

Return to top

What services can an AHP provide?

Services offered by AHPs vary according to the specialty of that AHP. Treatments can include therapies such as chiropractic manipulation, massage therapy or mental health counselling, and/or health products such as rehabilitative exercise equipment and traditional medicines.

While many therapies offered by AHPs (such as acupuncture and chiropractics) show clinically proven health benefits, not all therapies have concrete medical evidence to support their effectiveness or widespread use. Always research your chosen treatment and the practitioner offering it.

Return to top

How do I find an AHP?

Use the chart below to find regulatory and contact information for the specific AHP you are looking for. Keep in mind that while a profession may be regulated nationally, not all provinces have regulatory bodies. The chart displays in which provinces particular professions are regulated.

ProfessionRegulated inFind a practitioner
Acupuncture AB, BC, ON, QC Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada
Audiologist and Speech Language Pathologist AB, BC, MB, NB, ON, QC, SK Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists
Chiropractor All provinces and territories Canadian Chiropractic Association
Dental Assistant AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NT, NS, NU, PE, SK, YT Canadian Dental Assistants Association
Dental Hygienist All provinces and territories National Dental Hygiene Certification Board
Dentist All provinces and territories See the article entitled "Finding a Dentist" to locate a dentist near you.
Dietitian All provinces and territories Dietitians of Canada
Massage Therapist BC, NL, ON College of Massage Therapists of Ontario
Midwife AB, BC, MB, NT, NS, ON, QC, SK Canadian Midwifery Regulators Consortium
Naturopath and Naturopathic Doctor/Physician AB, BC, MB, NS, ON, SK Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors
Occupational Therapist AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK

Note: An occupational therapist from the Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut may write a national qualifying exam to be eligible to register with another provincial college.		 Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
Optician All provinces and territories Opticians Council of Canada
Optometrist All provinces and territories Canadian Association of Optometrists
Physiotherapist AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT Canadian Physiotherapy Association
Podiatrist AB, BC, MB, NB, ON, QC, SK Canadian Podiatric Medical Association (see the 'How can I find a podiatrist near where I live?' section)
Psychologist All provinces and territories Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology
Respiratory Therapist AB, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, QC, SK Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists
Social Worker AB, BC, MB, NB NL, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (see 'List of regulatory bodies')
Traditional Chinese Medicine AB, BC, QC Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada
Return to top

Key Websites:

Related Articles:

Return to top
References
Need Help?
For personal assistance, contact a Health Information Specialist.
1-800-875-1264Monday to Friday — 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Strong. Reliable. Trustworthy. Forward-thinking.