Criminal Record Checks

The Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) requires all regulated health professionals, including all CNPBC registrants, to undergo a criminal record check (CRC) by the Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP) at least every five years. The CRC requirement is intended to help protect children and vulnerable adults from physical, sexual and financial abuse. CNPBC may also use information obtained in the CRC to determine if applicants and registrants meet the registration requirement of character and general suitability for naturopathic medicine profession.

Applicants must provide authorization to undergo a CRC as part of the application process for registration.

Registrants must undergo a new CRC at least every 5 years. This includes practising and non-practising registrants. Current registrants are required to complete a new CRC by the CRRP before their CRC clearance expires.

Student registrants who have had registration cancelled upon completion of their program of study will be required to apply for a new CRC when applying for full (Practising) registration.

CRCs are conducted by the CRRP through the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Applicants and registrants must cover the cost of their own CRC, including fingerprinting services should these be required by the CRRP.

Under the Health Professions Act, failure to authorize a CRC requires an investigation by the CNPBC Inquiry Committee. The Committee will review all registrants who do not authorize a CRC and may take action prescribed under the Act, including setting limits and conditions on the practice of a registrant or suspending or cancelling their registration.

How to verify the date of a previous CRC check and when the next CRC is due

Registrants can verify the expiry date of their CRC Clearance letter by accessing the CNPBC Registrant Online Self-Service (ROSS) portal and reviewing the ‘Criminal Record’ tab.

How to Authorize a Criminal Records Check

Online application is the preferred and the fastest method to request a CRC. To use this method, your BC Services Card must be activated for accessing BC Government services online already.

Common Questions about Criminal Record Checks

Q/ How do I complete a Criminal Record Check?

To apply for a CRC online, you must have a BC Services Card set up for online services. CNPBC cannot assist in activating your BC Services Card. Visit the BC Government website for BC Service Card set up for more information.

Complete the government’s Applicant-based Online eCRC process as follows:

  1. Go to the Criminal Records Review Program’s eCRC page. It is recommended you complete this process on a computer, rather than a mobile device.
  2. Review the instructions.
  3. Enter the Access Code: 4BU98F6N6B
  4. Select “Request a New Criminal Record Check”
  5. When asked for “Position” enter “Registrant”.
  6. After payment, retain a copy of the receipt in the event follow up is needed.

The College is not directly involved with the application process and/or the actual check itself. Please contact the CRRP for assistance.

Q/ What do I do if I can’t complete the online eCRC process?

For those who cannot complete the CRC online using a BC Services Card, please refer to information further down about submitting a paper consent form.  Contact CNPBC at registration@cnpbc.bc.ca to obtain a manual consent form.

  1. Applicants will be asked to send a signed consent form to the College with TWO copies of valid and unexpired government issued photo identification.
  2. The College (the requesting organization) must sign the form after verifying your identity.
  3. After verifying your identity, the College will submit the form to the CRRP on your behalf.
  4. You will be contacted by the CRRP via email for payment of your CRC.
  5. After payment, retain a copy of the receipt in the event follow up is needed.

After submission of the form to the CRRP, CNPBC is not involved in the payment of your CRC nor the actual check itself. It is the responsibility of the applicant to follow up on the application by contacting the CRRP.

Q/ Can I share the results of a completed Criminal Record Check that I did for another organization or regulator?

Yes, you can do so by following the instructions above for the eCRC process, and for step #5 select “Share the result of a completed Criminal Record Check.”

Applicants who choose to use this option should consult with the CNPBC Registration team to determine if the shared result will meet registration requirements. Email registration@cnpbc.bc.ca

Q/ How long does the Criminal Record Check take to process?

Applicants should allow a several weeks for the CRRP to process a CRC. Generally, the processing time for the Criminal Records Check by the Ministry of Justice is relatively quick through the online eCRC process and can take up to 4-6 weeks. Processing times can be as short as 48 hours or lengthier and take up to 12 weeks.

Current registrants are required to complete a new CRC by the CRRP before their CRC clearance expires. Registrants must plan accordingly.

Q/ How often must I complete a Criminal Record Check?

Under the Criminal Records Review Act, professionals “working with children directly or having or potentially having unsupervised access to children in the ordinary course of employment or in the practice of an occupation” are required by the Ministry of Justice to undergo a criminal record check at least every five (5) years. This includes all registrants of CNPBC. Applicants must provide authorization to undergo a CRC as part of the registration application process.

Q/How are results reported to CNPBC?

Results are reported electronically from the CRRP to the College via a document called the ‘Criminal Record Clearance Letter’.

Q/Will I receive a copy of my CRC?

CRC clearance letters from the CRRP are sent directly to the College.  You will not receive a copy of this CRC.

CNPBC will submit the date of your Clearance Letter and the due date of the next CRC for each registrant in ROSS. Registrants can access ROSS to find out the date of their Clearance Letter and the due date of their next CRC.

Q/ What if I am an applicant seeking registration from another country or province/territory in Canada?

If you are an applicant seeking registration and you are from outside of Canada or from another province/territory, you must undergo a criminal record check. This means applicants who are residing outside of BC who are seeking a student, temporary, non-practising or full (practising) registration with CNPBC. A manual process is required. Please contact the College for further instructions at registration@cnpbc.bc.ca

Q/Can I submit a copy of a CRC from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) or another municipal police force?

The CRRA specifies that the only way to meet the CRC requirement is to authorize a CRC via the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. There are no exceptions.

CRCs conducted by municipal police forces and the RCMP do not satisfy the mandatory provincial requirement for people working with children and vulnerable adults or who have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults according to the provincial CRRA. CNPBC does not accept criminal record checks conducted by Third Party agencies such as My Back Check.