What is the College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO)?

Updated

The College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO) is the regulator of chiropractic in Ontario, and it operates in the public interest. That means its job is to oversee the profession — setting and enforcing standards for chiropractors — rather than to promote chiropractic services or represent chiropractors' business interests. If you are trying to understand who is responsible for chiropractor conduct in Ontario, or you want to check whether a chiropractor is registered, CCO is the body to look at.

What CCO is — and what it is not

CCO describes itself directly on its site: "We regulate chiropractic in Ontario in the public interest."

That single line carries most of what you need to know about its role:

  • It is a regulator. Its focus is protecting the public by overseeing how chiropractic is practised in Ontario.
  • It is not an association. A professional association typically advocates for its members. CCO's stated orientation is the public interest, which is a different function.
  • It is not a clinic or a provider of chiropractic treatment. You do not go to CCO for care. You go to CCO when you have a question about regulation, standards, or a chiropractor's conduct.

What CCO does

Based on the activities and materials published on its site, CCO's work falls into a few practical areas:

Setting and maintaining standards

CCO is responsible for the requirements chiropractors in Ontario must meet. Its site references regulatory programming, including a Legislation & Ethics Exam and a Virtual Regulatory Excellence Workshop, which point to an ongoing role in defining and testing the standards of practice.

Handling complaints and conduct

As a regulator, CCO is the body that deals with concerns about a chiropractor's conduct or practice. This is the practical reason a member of the public would contact CCO rather than an association.

Publishing news, reports, and governance information

CCO publishes material that shows its regulatory activity, including:

  • Its 2025 Annual Report
  • A President's Message
  • News items such as the FCC Reconciliation Pathway Report and a webinar on intimate partner violence presented by the Health Professions Regulators of Ontario (HPRO)

It also holds public governance meetings — for example, an upcoming Council Meeting.

Finding a chiropractor

CCO's site includes a Find a Chiropractor function. This is the practical tool for the public: it lets you look up chiropractors rather than rely on advertising or word of mouth. If your goal is to confirm that someone is registered in Ontario, this is the entry point to use.

When CCO is the right place to look

Your situation Is CCO the right place?
You want to check if a chiropractor is registered in Ontario Yes — use "Find a Chiropractor"
You have a concern about a chiropractor's conduct Yes — CCO is the regulator
You want to understand the standards chiropractors must meet Yes
You want to book a chiropractic appointment No — contact a clinic directly
You want advocacy for chiropractors' professional interests No — that is an association's role, not a regulator's

Key takeaway

CCO is Ontario's chiropractic regulator, acting in the public interest. Its mandate is oversight — standards, conduct, complaints, and public reporting — not promotion of the profession. For the public, the most immediately useful part of the site is the ability to find and verify a chiropractor, and to know where to raise a concern if one arises.