Moving to Another Province? You May Still Be Able to Continue Your Online Practice
More and more natural health practitioners are choosing to work online. Some AQTN members have also asked an important question:
“If I move to another province, can I continue seeing clients online?”
The answer depends on the profession, the province, and the professional titles being used. However, for many practitioners, continuing an online practice may still be possible. Discounted professional liability insurance is available to AQTN members in all provinces and territories through a licensed brokerage firm.
Your Business Address Is Important
Practitioners who provide online consultations should maintain a legitimate Canadian business address for administrative purposes, including:
- Professional receipts and invoices
- Business correspondence
- Mail reception and forwarding
- Professional insurance records
- Government or business registrations
A practitioner does not necessarily need to rent a full physical office. Virtual-office and business-address providers may offer an authorized street address, mail reception, mail forwarding, and optional document scanning.
Some basic services are available for approximately $10 per month, making them a practical option for an online practice.
Living in One Province and Maintaining a Business Address in Another
It is increasingly common for self-employed professionals to:
- Live in one province
- Maintain a business or correspondence address in another province
- Provide online services to clients across Canada
For example, a practitioner may relocate to British Columbia from Quebec while maintaining a legitimate business address in Quebec for correspondence and professional receipts.
The address should be authorized for business use. It should not simply be a borrowed or fictitious address that does not represent a genuine business arrangement.
The Address on a Receipt Is Not Necessarily the Practitioner’s Physical Location
A professional receipt generally displays the practitioner’s business information. This includes:
- The practitioner’s full name
- A business or correspondence address
- A telephone number
- The practitioner’s AQTN membership number
- The date
- Signature
CHLIA reference : https://www.clhia.ca/fr-CA/industry/Resources-for-HealthCare-Providers/Service-and-Supply-Provider-Receipt-Best-Practices-for-Group-Benefit-Reimbursement
The business address shown on the receipt does not necessarily indicate where the practitioner was physically located during an online consultation.
Provincial Rules and Protected Titles Still Apply
Maintaining a Quebec or New Brunswick business address does not remove the practitioner’s responsibility to comply with the laws of the province where they live and provide services.
This is especially important when a profession or professional title is regulated in a particular province.
For example, naturopathy is regulated in British Columbia. A person who is not authorized by the appropriate regulatory body should not assume that an AQTN membership or an out-of-province business address permits them to use a protected title in British Columbia.
Practitioners should verify:
- Whether their professional title is protected
- Whether their services fall within a regulated scope of practice
- Whether their liability insurance covers online and interprovincial services
- Whether special rules apply based on the client’s location
Affordable Virtual Business Address Options
Several companies offer virtual business addresses and mail-handling services. Depending on the provider, services may include:
- A Canadian street address
- Mail reception
- Mail forwarding anywhere in Canada
- Mail scanning
- Package reception
- Optional access to meeting rooms
Before registering, practitioners should ask the provider the following question in writing:
May a self-employed health or wellness practitioner use this address as the business address printed on professional receipts and invoices?
It is also important to confirm the complete monthly cost, mail-forwarding charges, minimum contract period, and whether the address may be used for business registration.
AQTN Is Here to Help
As online practice continues to grow, AQTN will continue researching practical and affordable resources that can help members operate professionally across Canada.
Members who relocate should plan ahead, update their contact information, confirm their insurance coverage, and verify the rules that apply in their new province.
A legitimate Canadian business address can be an important administrative tool, but it does not replace compliance with provincial laws, regulations, and protected-title requirements.
Important: This article provides general administrative information and does not constitute legal, tax, regulatory, or insurance advice. Requirements may vary according to the practitioner’s profession, location, services, and clients.
