Professional governance relates to the oversight of a profession and its designated professionals by a governing body. This includes professional self-regulation which is an agreement between an occupational group or profession and the government to regulate the activities of its registrants.  

Professional governance legislation establishes a profession’s governing body with the authority to manage itself within a regulatory framework and set requirements for persons to enter the profession, standards of practice, a pathway for complaints, and investigation and discipline procedures. In this case.   

Self-Regulation 

Self-regulation is a privilege granted to a profession through legislation to protect the public interest. This system is used by government to reduce the risks of incompetent and unethical practice. It allows government some control over the practice of the profession while enabling professionals to use their expertise to set and enforce appropriate requirements. 

Professional Regulators and Professional Associations 

It is important to acknowledge, as there is sometimes confusion, that professional regulators are distinct from professional associations. Professional regulators, such as regulatory bodies under the Professional Governance Act (PGA), have a duty to regulate their professions in the public interest, which may not necessarily reflect the interests of their registered professionals. Registered professionals regulated by a professional regulator have an ethical and legal duty to put the interests of the public ahead of their own.