For Ayurvedic Education and Practice in British Columbia
The Ayurveda Association of British Columbia (AABC) issues this statement to clarify professional title usage in Ayurvedic practice within British Columbia and to protect the public from confusion regarding credentials, licensure, and scope of practice.
Ayurveda is currently not a regulated health profession in British Columbia or Canada. No government-recognized professional license exists for Ayurvedic practitioners.
In this environment, title integrity, credential verification, and scope clarity are essential for public trust and professional credibility.
Ayurvedic education in British Columbia follows structured pathways recognized by North American and regional authorities. Educational completion credentials commonly recognized within BC-aligned Ayurvedic training pathways include:
These represent educational completion credentials.
They do not automatically confer professional authority or public-facing title eligibility.
Professional title eligibility requires credential verification through AABC.
Only the “Registered” versions of these titles indicate that a practitioner has met AABC standards.
The AABC verifies professional eligibility for corresponding title usage through its credential-verification framework.
International degrees—BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery), MD-Ayurveda, and PhD-Ayurveda—represent substantial clinical training in jurisdictions where Ayurveda is regulated.
In Canada, these remain academic credentials, not professional medical licenses.
This traditional designation is appropriate for individuals with this level of education. It reflects scholarly recognition without implying provincial licensure.
This level of training is verified through the Registered Master Ayurvedic Specialist (RMAS) category. This recognition does not authorize medical practice in British Columbia. Prior to regulation and licensure and for future registration renewals RMAS registrants may be required to complete bridging courses and/or bridging exams for orientation in the BC and Canadian health field scopes of practice and relevant legal infrastructure.
Between 2020-2024 the US based National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) offered a membership category titled “Ayurvedic Doctor.”
This designation:
During the same period, some US based educational institutions issued “Ayurveda Doctor” certificates intended to support eligibility for that membership category.
Subsequently:
collectively advised discontinuing use of the “Ayurveda/Ayurvedic Doctor” title.
Both the associations and the schools that issued those certificates have since advised certificate holders to adopt the title: Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioner
In British Columbia, the title “Doctor” or “Dr.” in a healthcare context is legally associated with regulated professions or recognized academic doctorates.
Regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC):
Regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC):
Use of titles such as:
constitutes misleading representation of professional authority and deceptive marketing in connection with health services.
Such representations may trigger:
For these reasons, practitioners are strongly advised not to use the title “Doctor” in Ayurvedic professional practice contexts in British Columbia.
Common self-assigned titles currently used in North American Ayurveda marketing include:
Although individuals using these titles may have received online, workplace or workshop training certificates indicating such titles, these are not standardized academic or regulated academic certifications. Unless independently verified through recognized professional credential-verification processes, these titles:
These representations may be subject to complaints or enforcement under:
When used in clinical, spa or wellness advertising and bios, these titles constitute deceptive marketing if they imply qualifications that have not been independently verified. The AABC advises the use of transparent, verifiable titles that accurately reflect scope of practice based on academically established standards. This protects the public. This protects the practice.
If a practitioner is found to be using the title “Doctor” or other titles misrepresenting their credentials, the following channels are available for public protection:
Enforces the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act. This is the primary channel for reporting practitioners who use deceptive titles to imply regulated status or authority they do not have.
Investigates false or misleading representations in commercial advertising under the federal Competition Act.
The public is encouraged to verify a practitioner’s standing directly through the AABC registry to ensure they meet current BC standards.
The Ayurvedic profession in British Columbia is actively developing standards supporting future regulation.
Registered Ayurvedic Practitioner
(consultant scope)
Registered Panchakarma Therapist
(applied manual therapeutic scope)
Registered Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioner
(full practice scope intended for future licensed title: Doctor of Ayurveda)
Consistent professional title usage and credential verification are essential steps toward that goal.
Misuse of titles — particularly physician-level titles — undermines public trust and delays professional recognition.