Scope of Practice

Defining the boundaries and competencies for Ayurvedic practice in British Columbia

Practice Levels & Scope

Clear definitions of what each certification level can and cannot do

Registered Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant (RALC)

500 hours foundational training

✅ Permitted Practice:

  • • Basic constitutional assessment (prakriti)
  • • General lifestyle recommendations
  • • Basic dietary guidance
  • • Stress management techniques
  • • Wellness education and coaching

❌ Not Permitted:

  • • Pathological assessment or diagnosis
  • • Complex herbal prescriptions
  • • Treatment of specific health conditions
  • • Medical device usage
  • • Performing Ayurvedic spa, beauty, massage/marma, or panchakarma therapies unless specifically registered for those modalities

Registered Ayurvedic Health Counselor (RAHC)

1000 hours comprehensive training

✅ Permitted Practice:

  • • Advanced constitutional assessment
  • • Therapeutic dietary planning
  • • Basic herbal recommendations (licensed products)
  • • Lifestyle modification programs
  • • Basic pulse and tongue assessment
  • • Wellness counseling and education

❌ Not Permitted:

  • • Medical diagnosis or treatment
  • • Complex therapeutic protocols
  • • Invasive procedures
  • • Prescription of unlicensed compounds (except where permitted by law)
  • • Treatment of serious medical conditions
  • • Performing Ayurvedic spa, beauty, massage/marma, or panchakarma therapies unless specifically registered for those modalities

Registered Ayurvedic Practitioner (RAP)

2000 hours comprehensive training

✅ Permitted Practice:

  • • Complete Ayurvedic assessment
  • • Therapeutic protocol development
  • • Advanced herbal consultations
  • • Basic panchakarma preparation
  • • Yoga therapy recommendations
  • • Collaborative healthcare planning

❌ Not Permitted:

  • • Medical diagnosis or pharmaceutical prescription
  • • Emergency medical treatment
  • • Surgery or invasive procedures
  • • Treatment without informed consent
  • • Practice beyond training and competency
  • • Performing Ayurvedic spa, beauty, massage/marma, or panchakarma therapies unless specifically registered for those modalities

Registered Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioner (RAAP)

4000 hours advanced training

✅ Permitted Practice:

  • • Complex case management
  • • Advanced therapeutic protocols
  • • Specialized treatment modalities
  • • Clinical supervision of junior practitioners
  • • Research and case study development
  • • Professional mentoring and teaching

❌ Not Permitted:

  • • Medical diagnosis or treatment
  • • Prescription of regulated medications
  • • Emergency medical procedures
  • • Operating outside legal scope
  • • Guaranteeing medical outcomes

Registered Master Ayurveda Specialist - Vaidya (RMAS)

Highest level reserved for BAMS/MD/PhD holders or equivalent demonstrated mastery through education, authorship, and institutional leadership.

✅ Permitted Practice:

  • • All RAAP scope plus:
  • • Curriculum development and teaching
  • • Professional standard setting
  • • Research leadership and publication
  • • Expert consultation and testimony
  • • International practice collaboration

❌ Not Permitted:

  • • Same medical restrictions as all levels
  • • Practice beyond legal framework
  • • Representation as medical doctor
  • • Unauthorized use of protected titles
  • • Exceeding regulatory boundaries
  • • Performing Ayurvedic spa, beauty, massage/marma, or panchakarma therapies unless specifically registered for those modalities

Specialty Practice Areas

Additional certifications and their specific scope boundaries

Registered Ayurvedic Spa Therapist (RAST)

1000 hours total training (includes prerequisites)

✅ Permitted Practice:

  • • Core Ayurvedic bodywork (abhyanga, shirodhara)
  • • Oil treatments and therapeutic massage
  • • Stress relief and relaxation therapies
  • • Herbal steam and heat treatments
  • • Basic constitutional assessments for therapy selection
  • • Wellness education related to spa treatments

❌ Not Permitted:

  • • Medical diagnosis or treatment claims
  • • Invasive procedures or manipulation
  • • Treatment of serious health conditions
  • • Advanced panchakarma without additional certification
  • • Performing beauty, marma, or advanced therapies unless specifically registered for those modalities

Registered Ayurvedic Beauty Therapist (RABT)

1000 hours total training (includes prerequisites)

✅ Permitted Practice:

  • • Ayurvedic cosmetology and skin care
  • • Natural beauty treatments and facials
  • • Herbal skin and hair therapies
  • • Constitutional beauty recommendations
  • • Anti-aging and rejuvenation treatments
  • • Beauty lifestyle counseling

❌ Not Permitted:

  • • Medical aesthetic procedures
  • • Treatment of skin diseases or conditions
  • • Invasive beauty procedures
  • • Prescription of medical-grade products
  • • Performing spa, massage/marma, or panchakarma therapies unless specifically registered for those modalities

Registered Ayurvedic Herbalist (RAH)

1000 hours total training (includes prerequisites)

✅ Permitted Practice:

  • • Herbal consultation and education
  • • Licensed natural health product recommendations
  • • Herb-drug interaction awareness and counseling
  • • Quality assessment of herbal products
  • • Traditional herbal preparation guidance
  • • Herbal energetics and constitution matching

❌ Not Permitted:

  • • Generally cannot compound unlicensed preparations (consult legal counsel)
  • • Must refer for serious herb-drug interactions
  • • Cannot prescribe controlled substances
  • • Medical diagnosis or treatment claims
  • • Performing Ayurvedic spa, beauty, massage/marma, or panchakarma therapies unless specifically registered for those modalities

Registered Ayurvedic Nutritionist (RAN)

1000 hours total training (includes prerequisites)

✅ Permitted Practice:

  • • Therapeutic dietary planning and assessment
  • • Food energetics education and consultation
  • • Cooking and meal preparation guidance
  • • Nutritional counseling and support
  • • Constitutional diet recommendations
  • • Seasonal and lifestyle dietary adjustments

❌ Not Permitted:

  • • Medical nutrition therapy for diseases
  • • Treatment of eating disorders
  • • Prescription of therapeutic supplements
  • • Must collaborate with registered dietitians for complex medical cases
  • • Performing Ayurvedic spa, beauty, massage/marma, or panchakarma therapies unless specifically registered for those modalities

Registered Ayurvedic Panchakarma Technician (RAPT)

2000 hours total training (includes prerequisites)

✅ Permitted Practice:

  • • Panchakarma preparation and administration
  • • Detoxification support protocols
  • • Specialized massage and oil therapies
  • • Post-treatment care guidance
  • • Advanced cleansing procedures
  • • Therapeutic bodywork protocols

❌ Not Permitted:

  • • Requires practitioner supervision for complex cases
  • • Cannot perform invasive procedures
  • • Medical diagnosis or treatment claims
  • • Treatment without proper consultation
  • • Performing beauty therapies unless specifically registered for those modalities

Registered Ayurvedic Marma Therapist (RAMT)

1500 hours total training (includes prerequisites)

✅ Permitted Practice:

  • • Marma point assessment and therapy
  • • Energy healing and balancing
  • • Therapeutic touch and pressure point work
  • • Trauma-informed bodywork approaches
  • • Vital energy flow restoration
  • • Advanced bodywork techniques

❌ Not Permitted:

  • • Cannot claim to treat specific medical conditions
  • • Must obtain informed consent for all bodywork
  • • Cannot perform invasive procedures
  • • Medical diagnosis or treatment claims
  • • Performing spa, beauty, or panchakarma therapies unless specifically registered for those modalities

Legal & Professional Boundaries

Clear guidelines for all practitioners regardless of certification level

Prohibited Activities

  • • Medical diagnosis or treatment
  • • Prescription of pharmaceuticals
  • • Use of protected medical titles
  • • Emergency medical procedures
  • • Guaranteeing cures or medical outcomes

Required Disclosures

  • • Qualifications and certifications
  • • Scope of practice limitations
  • • Not a substitute for medical care
  • • Recommendation to consult physicians
  • • Risk factors and contraindications

Best Practices

  • • Maintain detailed client records
  • • Regular professional development
  • • Professional liability insurance
  • • Collaborative healthcare relationships
  • • Clear communication and consent