Regulatory authorities are responsible, through law, for defining what can and cannot be done as part of a regulated occupation. Their roles may include, among other purposes, ensuring public safety, consumer protection, and/or maintaining the occupation’s integrity. Each province or territory is responsible for adopting the occupational standards they believe best serve the public interest.

Regulatory authorities may determine occupational standards for entry to practice and post-certification requirements. This means they determine the knowledge, skills and abilities a certified worker needs for a specific occupation.

The responsibilities of a regulatory authority are set in legislation. For many occupations, the authority to regulate has been delegated from the provincial/territorial government to a non-governmental entity, such as a self-regulating college, association, or other similar organization. Some occupations are directly regulated by either federal or provincial/territorial governments.

National or provincial/territorial professional associations have different roles, which are to represent their members and lobby on their behalf.