What HPARB Decides
HPARB is an independent adjudicative agency. It reviews decisions of the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committees of the self-regulating health professions, conducts reviews and hearings of college registration decisions, and holds hearings about physicians’ hospital privileges under the Public Hospitals Act.
For complaint decisions, either the complainant or the professional who is the subject of the complaint may request a review, except of a decision to refer allegations to discipline or to refer the member for incapacity proceedings (Health Professions Procedural Code, s. 29(2)). The Veterinarians Act gives HPARB a similar review role for its Complaints Committee (s. 25).
How to Request a Review
Deadline
For health college complaint decisions, a request must be made within 30 days after receiving the notice of the right to request a review that comes with the decision (Code, s. 29(3)). The Board cannot extend that time by more than 60 days (s. 29(4)). For veterinary complaints, the request is due within 30 days of receiving the written decision (Veterinarians Act, s. 25(2)).
HPARB adopted new Consolidated Rules of Practice and Procedure effective May 4, 2026, and recommends sending requests and submissions by email.
What a Review Looks Like
A review is not a new investigation. Under the Veterinarians Act, the Board considers the adequacy of the investigation, the reasonableness of the decision, or both; it gives the requesting party a chance to comment and the other party a chance to respond, and it may question the parties and a college representative (s. 25(11)–(12)). Reviews are generally open to the public (s. 25.1). HPARB conducts most proceedings electronically.
Checklist: Preparing for an HPARB Review
Documents to gather
- The committee’s decision and reasons, and the notice of review rights
- Your original submissions to the committee
- The investigation record, once disclosed by the Board
Details to check
- The date you received the decision and notice, which starts the 30-day clock
- Whether the decision is reviewable (referrals to discipline are not)
- Whether the matter was a complaint or a registrar’s report
Rules and resources
- Health Professions Procedural Code, ss. 28.1–29
- Veterinarians Act, ss. 25–25.1
- HPARB Consolidated Rules of Practice and Procedure (May 4, 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can HPARB review a decision about a registrar’s report?
Code s. 29 gives review rights to the complainant and the member who is the subject of a complaint. Decisions arising from registrar’s reports are generally not reviewable by HPARB; CRPO, for example, says so on its website.
Can I ask HPARB to review a referral to discipline?
No. Referrals to discipline and to incapacity proceedings are excluded (Code, s. 29(2)). You answer the allegations at the hearing.
Sources
Statutory references are to the provisions listed below, as consolidated on e-Laws when this page was prepared.
- Health Professions Procedural Code (RHPA, Sched. 2), ss. 28.1–29 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
- Veterinarians Act, ss. 25–25.1 — Checked on e-Laws November 10, 2026.
- Health Professions Appeal and Review Board — Checked November 10, 2026.