The OFC requires the bodies that regulate the professions and trades to review their own registration processes, submit reports about them and implement the commissioner’s recommendations for improvement.

The prime responsibilities of the OFC are to:

• advise the regulatory bodies about registration and other issues
• set out guidelines for the content and form of the regulatory bodies’ reports to the office
• assess registration practices
• advise provincial government ministries about issues relating to the professions and trades in their jurisdictions
• issue compliance orders to the non-health professions and to the trades, if necessary
• report to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care about a health profession’s non-compliance, if necessary
• report to the public and to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration about its work.

In addition, the OFC:

• monitors labour mobility in Canada
• monitors the activities of certain agencies that assess qualifications
• does research

The mandate of the OFC and the responsibilities of the regulatory bodies are outlined in the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 and the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, as amended.

The OFC does not have a mandate to help internationally trained and educated individuals get their professional licenses, and does not assess credentials.