Paths of legal recognition of genetic counselors in Canada: A framework for action

Genetic counseling is not a legally recognized profession in the majority of Canadian provinces and territories. Research indicates that genetic counselors (GCs) are becoming increasingly autonomous, expanding their presence beyond genetics clinics within academic institutions. In certain clinical settings, they serve as the sole healthcare practitioners with expertise in genetics. Alongside this increasing professional autonomy, research also highlights that the unregulated practice of genetic counseling poses risks of harm to the health and well-being of the public. This underscores the need for legal recognition to protect and mitigate these risks. Achieving legal recognition can be a lengthy and complex process, often requiring the fulfillment of stringent legal criteria and significant resources. While previous initiatives in Canada have faced challenges, interest in legal recognition for GCs remains strong. To support GCs in their ongoing and future efforts to achieve legal recognition, this article synthesizes the findings of a series of Working Group discussions on legal recognition. Based on these discussions, we propose a set of Points to Consider and a roadmap that GCs can use in their pursuits of legal recognition. Although the pathway to legal recognition will vary by jurisdiction, this article highlights key factors that GCs should consider when applying for legal recognition to help facilitate both current and future initiatives. While this article focuses on the legal recognition process in Canada, our roadmap may also be useful for GCs in other jurisdictions where legal recognition may be sought.