The minimum standards required for listing are developed by EACH professional group, not by SportMedBC. Professions that are eligible to list members include those who have a specific sport medicine designation/qualification or those where a majority of their members work with athletes.

While SportMedBC does not endorse the individual practitioners listed, we work with the various professional associations on an ongoing basis to ensure that the individuals listed possess the required qualifications and that they are represented accurately.

Professions that have an official sport medicine designation, or that have a majority of their members working with athletes are eligible to list qualified practitioners. Only those practitioners who meet the minimum qualifications and standards as set out by their respective professional organizations may be listed in the SportMed Directory of Practitioners.

Minimum Standards for Practitioners

The following are minimum qualifications/standards for practitioners to be listed in the various professional categories:

Acupuncturist

Acupuncturists listed are registered and licensed to practice in BC and are Accredited Members of the BC Sports Acupuncture Association.  They have an interest and extra training in sport medicine, and have a minimum of three years experience in working with athletes of all levels. They are all members in good standing with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia (CTCMA) which oversees the registration of acupuncturists in the province. In addition, they are also members of the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture of British Columbia (ATCMA).

Athletic Therapist

All individuals listed are Certified members in good standing with the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association.

Biomechanist

This section identifies individuals who have completed graduate studies (M.Sc. and/or Ph.D.) in Human Biomechanics. These individuals are current members and in good standing with the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB), International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS) or Canadian Society of Biomechanics (CSB) and are actively involved in assisting coaches, sports medicine practitioners and athletes with biomechanical analyses of exercise. 

Sport Chiropractor

In addition to being members in good standing with the B.C. College of Chiropractors and the B.C. Chiropractic Association, all individuals in the Sport Chiropractor category are either fellows of the College of Chiropractic Sport Sciences (Canada) and the Council on Chiropractic Sports Sciences (B.C.) (F.C.C.S.S.(C) ) or are enrolled in the fellowship program.

Chiropractor

All individuals listed are members in good standing with the College of Chiropractors of BC and the B.C. Chiropractic Association. 

Dietitian

In B.C., the title "Registered Dietitian", "Professional Dietitian", and "Dietitian" are protected by law – through provincial legislation – so that only qualified practitioners who have met education qualifications can use that title (RD, PD).

Exercise Physiologist

This section identifies individuals who have conducted graduate (MSc or PhD) studies in exercise science, human kinetics, and/or kinesiology specializing exercise physiology. These individuals are members in good standing with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP- CEP) and are actively involved in assisting coaches and athletes with physical preparation programs. 

Massage Therapist

Registered Massage Therapists (RMT) in British Columbia are licensed to practice and are registered under the Health Professions Act by the College of Massage Therapists (CMTBC). RMTs listed with SportMedBC are members of their provincial association – the Registered Massage Therapists’ Association of BC (RMTBC) – and have met the minimum criteria of “Therapy Provider” with their Professional Practice Group in Sport (PPG-Sport) and/or are members of the Canadian Sport Massage Therapy Association (CSMTA) having, as a minimum, CSMTA Level 1. Certification candidates with CSMTA are classified as Level II practitioners and Level III denotes a fully Certified Sport Massage Therapist. 

Mental Performance Consultant

This section lists the professional members of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA), individuals who are currently delivering mental training services in British Columbia.

Optometrist

This list includes optometrists (O.D.-Doctor of Optometry) with an interest in sport who are experienced and are equipped to conduct a general oculo-visual examination of the athlete. Some of those listed are able to offer Sport Vision Assessment.

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Physicians listed in this section are specialists in orthopaedics who have an interest in working with athletes.

Pedorthist

The Pedorthic Association of Canada regulates the certification of pedorthic practitioners:

Certified Pedorthist Canada, C. Ped ( C ), or 

Certified Pedorthist, C. Ped: clinical pedorthist 

Certified Pedorthist Master Craftsman, C. Ped M.C., or 

Certified Orthopaedic Footwear Specialist, COFS: custom shoe maker.

Physician

All physicians listed are members of the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM) and have obtained their Diploma in Sport Medicine. CASEM is a national organization of physicians committed to excellence in the practice of medicine as it applies to all aspects of physical activity.

Sport Physiotherapist

This section identifies physiotherapists who are Sport Physiotherapy Canada (SPC)-certified as either a Certificate or Diploma Holder. Certification Candidates may also be listed as they work towards their SPC Certificate.

Physiotherapist

This section identifies physiotherapists who are registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia and/or the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia, and have expressed an interest in sport and working with athletes.

Podiatrist

This section lists podiatrists (D.P.M.-Doctor of Podiatric Medicine), identified by the BC Podiatric Medical Association who have an interest in sports and treat athletes on a regular basis.

Psychologist

This section supplies a list of psychologists who are registered with the College of Psychologists of B.C. and have expressed an interest in sport and working with athletes.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

This section provides a list of Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (C.S.C.S.) who are members in good standing of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).