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Who is eligible to use the title “doctor” and its abbreviations?

Only registrants of the ������ are permitted by law to use the title “doctor,” with some notable exceptions:

• members of certain other regulated health professions
  • dentists
  • naturopaths
  • chiropractors
• people who have the appropriate academic or educational designation (e.g. PhD)

The BC Supreme Court has ruled people who are not registrants of the ������ but have medical training and other academic credentials cannot call themselves “doctor” in a way that implies they are registrants of the ������ and entitled to practise medicine.

Can an esthetician or medical office assistant administer Botox and/or dermal fillers?

No. Only health professionals who are licensed and registered, and eligible under their scope of practice, are authorized to inject Botox and/or dermal fillers. Estheticians or other non-regulated persons are not authorized to inject medicines such as Botox, regardless of any training or qualifications obtained from a medical aesthetic institute or academy.

Can a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse administer Botox and/or dermal fillers?

Yes, under certain circumstances. It is the ������’s position that a registered and licensed physician must first assess the patient and may direct a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse holding practising registration with the to perform the injection. The physician must be present in the facility at the time of the injection.