For Canadian practices outside Quebec
Can therapy clinics ask for Google reviews? What Canadian regulators say
Can therapy clinics ask for Google reviews? It depends on which regulator governs the clinician named in the marketing. Some regulators bar soliciting reviews or testimonials in the text we read: the Ontario speech-language pathology and occupational therapy colleges, Manitoba’s speech-language pathology college, Alberta’s occupational therapy and psychology colleges and Nova Scotia’s occupational therapy regulator. Ontario’s physiotherapy college allows true, verifiable, unpaid patient testimonials with consent and does not address soliciting reviews. Several regulators are silent in the texts we found. Quebec is not covered.
This page is information, not legal advice. Each rule links to the official source we read on 2026-10-08; confirm it there before acting.
Last checked: 2026-10-08
Which regulators bar soliciting reviews or testimonials
Regulators treat a review and a testimonial differently. CASLPO defines a review as a rating managed by an independent third party, such as a Google or Yelp review, and a testimonial as a statement chosen for use in advertising. COTO takes the same position. Both colleges say independent reviews are not the registrant’s advertising, and both say advertising must not include, point to or solicit them.
Read the lists below as what each published text says, not as a ruling on a particular clinic. Where a regulator is silent, that silence is not permission, and a clinic with several professions has several regulators to check.
- Bars soliciting reviews or testimonials in the text we read: CASLPO (Ontario speech-language pathology and audiology), COTO (Ontario occupational therapy), CASLPM (Manitoba speech-language pathology and audiology), NSOTR (Nova Scotia occupational therapy), CAP (Alberta psychology) and ACOT (Alberta occupational therapy).
- Bars testimonials in advertising, with no statement on soliciting reviews found: CPBAO (Ontario psychology and behaviour analysis), SCPT (Saskatchewan physiotherapy), SCOT (Saskatchewan occupational therapy), SCP (Saskatchewan psychology) and NSRP (Nova Scotia psychology).
- Allows testimonials on stated conditions and does not address soliciting reviews: CPO (Ontario physiotherapy). Its advertising FAQ says testimonials must be true, verifiable and accurate, written by patients and not paid for or written by the physiotherapist or clinic staff, with informed consent before a name, photo or health information is used. The FAQ also says likes, stars and ratings are acceptable.
- Covers testimonials and third-party reviews without expressly banning or permitting solicitation: CHCPBC (British Columbia speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and psychology licensees). Its marketing standard applies to the use of testimonials and requires licensees to monitor third-party content such as online reviews.
- Not found on the official pages we read: a testimonial or review rule for Alberta speech-language pathology (ACSLPA) and physiotherapy (CPTA), Manitoba physiotherapy (CPM), Nova Scotia speech-language pathology (NSRASLP) and physiotherapy (NSRPT), New Brunswick occupational therapy (NBAOT) and psychology (CPNB), Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Saskatchewan’s speech-language pathology regulator (SASLPA) names an Advertising Guideline on its reference page but does not link it.
Ontario: four colleges, three different positions
Ontario has a college for each of these professions, and the colleges do not agree. The two colleges that name Google reviews treat them as outside the registrant’s advertising but bar advertising that includes, points to or solicits them. The physiotherapy college’s FAQ takes a different approach, and the psychology and behaviour analysis regulation bars testimonials from clients, former clients, friends and relatives.
| Profession (regulator) | What the published text says | Version we read |
|---|---|---|
| Speech-language pathology and audiology (CASLPO) | Standard 2: advertising must not contain patient testimonials. Standard 3: registrants must not solicit or include reviews in advertising. Reviews generated outside the registrant’s influence or control are not advertising, but soliciting includes linking to third-party sites that guide or encourage patients to leave reviews and offering incentives for reviews. The registrant is responsible for advertising produced on their behalf, for example by an employer, and for making the employer aware of the standards.caslpo.com | Approved 2 December 2022; effective 13 December 2022. |
| Occupational therapy (COTO) | O. Reg. 226/96, s. 21(2)(c): an advertisement must not contain any testimonial, comparative or superlative statements. COTO’s article says Google and Yelp reviews are managed by independent third parties and are not part of an occupational therapist’s advertising, but advertising must not include, point to or solicit reviews. An occupational therapist whose company asks them to solicit reviews should inform the employer of the advertising regulation.www.ontario.ca | Regulation consolidation from 31 August 2023; article undated.www.coto.org |
| Physiotherapy (CPO) | The Advertising and Marketing Standard text does not mention testimonials or reviews. Its FAQ says testimonials may be used if true, verifiable and accurate, written by patients and not paid for or written by the physiotherapist or clinic staff, and used with informed consent for any name, photo or health information. Links to third-party sites are allowed and likes, stars and ratings are acceptable. Soliciting reviews is not addressed. The standard requires the physiotherapist to review advertising placed by others on their behalf.collegept.org | Standard effective 1 May 2025.collegept.org |
| Psychology and behaviour analysis (CPBAO) | O. Reg. 194/23, s. 6(1)(e): an advertisement must not contain a testimonial by a client or former client or by a friend or relative of a client or former client. Section 6(2): that ban does not apply to an advertisement intended for organizations or businesses or to testimonials made by an organization or business. Section 7(1), paragraph 2, separately bars contacting potential individual clients to solicit business. The College’s position on third-party review sites was not found on the official pages we read.www.ontario.ca | Regulation in force from 1 July 2024; consolidation to 6 October 2026. |
British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan
British Columbia’s CHCPBC standard puts a monitoring duty on licensees for third-party content but does not say whether asking clients for reviews is allowed. Alberta’s psychology and occupational therapy colleges bar soliciting testimonials. Saskatchewan’s physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology texts bar any testimonial in advertising.
| Jurisdiction and profession (regulator) | What the published text says | Version we read |
|---|---|---|
| BC: speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and psychology (CHCPBC) | The Marketing, Advertising, and Promotion standard applies to business names, websites, social media, directory listings and the use of testimonials. It requires accurate, honest and verifiable content, bars superiority claims and sensational or fear-based messaging, and requires disclosure of financial interests. A licensee must monitor third-party content that references their services, such as online reviews and directory listings, and promptly ask the responsible person or organization to correct or delete information that is not consistent with the standard. The text does not expressly ban or permit asking clients for Google reviews.chcpbc.org | Standard effective 1 April 2026. |
| AB: all Health Professions Act professions | Section 102: a regulated member shall not engage in advertising that is untruthful, inaccurate or otherwise capable of misleading or misinforming the public.kings-printer.alberta.ca | Act current as of 31 July 2026. |
| AB: psychology (CAP) | Section 10.5: a psychologist shall not solicit, accept or use testimonials of current or past clients or related third parties, even when offered anonymously, and shall take reasonable steps to remove solicited and unsolicited testimonials from all forms of communication, including advertising.www.cap.ab.ca | Standards of Practice, 31 May 2023. |
| AB: occupational therapy (ACOT) | The registrant does not solicit or use endorsements or testimonials, including those from current or former clients or vendors, for advertising purposes.acot.ca | Standards of Practice effective 28 September 2024. |
| AB: speech-language pathology (ACSLPA) and physiotherapy (CPTA) | ACSLPA Standard 4.5 requires advertising and promotional communications to be truthful, accurate and verifiable. The CPTA advertising standard requires truthful, accurate and verifiable advertising and requires the physiotherapist to review and approve advertising prepared by a third party. A testimonial or review rule was not found in either text.www.acslpa.ca | ACSLPA Standard Area 4.0 PDF labelled Revised June 2022; CPTA page read 8 October 2026.www.cpta.ab.ca |
| SK: physiotherapy (SCPT Standard 1) | Advertising must not contain any testimonial or disclose the names of clients.scpt.in1touch.org | Standards of Practice, updated 2025. |
| SK: occupational therapy (SCOT) and psychology (SCP) | SCOT Regulatory Bylaw 14 and SCP Regulatory Bylaw 19 each bar advertising that contains any testimonial or discloses the names of clients.scotsk.ca | SCOT bylaws consolidated 30 September 2022; SCP bylaws as published in the Saskatchewan Gazette, file dated January 2025.skcp.ca |
| SK: speech-language pathology (SASLPA) | The reference documents page names an Advertising Guideline and a Social Media Guideline but does not link them. No rule on soliciting reviews was found on the pages we read.saslpa.ca | Page read 8 October 2026. |
Manitoba and Atlantic Canada
Manitoba’s speech-language pathology and audiology college bars soliciting reviews or testimonials outright and says its standard supersedes any provision set by an employer. Nova Scotia’s occupational therapy regulator says unsolicited Google reviews cannot be linked or shown in widgets, and its psychology binder bars testimonials. The remaining Atlantic texts we read set general truthful-advertising duties and say nothing about testimonials or reviews.
| Jurisdiction and profession (regulator) | What the published text says | Version we read |
|---|---|---|
| MB: all members of Regulated Health Professions Act colleges | Section 76: no member or health profession corporation shall engage in advertising that is untruthful, inaccurate or otherwise capable of misleading or misinforming the public.web2.gov.mb.ca | Consolidated Act read 8 October 2026. |
| MB: speech-language pathology and audiology (CASLPM) | The Advertising Standard says registrants will not solicit reviews or testimonials, including those arising from social media commentary or linked resources containing testimonials, and will take reasonable steps to remove testimonial-style comments on platforms that allow unsolicited comments. The FAQ says reviews from clients, relatives or friends cannot be used in advertising, that written reviews from others are prohibited in advertising, and that registrants should not solicit testimonials. The standard says it supersedes any provision set by an employer.caslpm.ca | Standard approved 2 May 2026; companion FAQ undated.caslpm.ca |
| MB: physiotherapy (CPM) | The Advertising and Marketing practice direction requires explicit informed consent before client pictures, videos or images are used in advertising. Testimonials are not named in the text we read.manitobaphysio.com | Practice direction updated 12 June 2025. |
| NS: occupational therapy (NSOTR) | Standard 1.1(d): advertising may not be in the nature of a testimonial or comparative statement. The FAQ says client quotes are testimonials, that unsolicited Google reviews cannot be linked to or displayed in widgets, and that registrants cannot actively solicit reviews. Occupational therapists are responsible for telling their employer about the standards.nsotr.ca | Standards for Advertising, issued 3 December 2025. |
| NS: psychology (NSRP) | The standards binder says claims made by psychologists may not employ testimonials, selective survey results or misleading or false information.www.ns-rp.ca | Undated standards binder; whether it has been updated for the 2025 transfer to the Regulated Health Professions Act is not confirmed. |
| NS: speech-language pathology (NSRASLP) and physiotherapy (NSRPT) | NSRASLP Standard 6.0 requires transparent, genuine, accurate and verifiable promotional material, bars superiority claims, and requires discounted bundles to say whether unbundling is available and to state the refund policy. The NSRPT advertising standard bars discounts that vary from the fee schedule and restricts free services. A testimonial rule was not found in either text.nsphysio.com | NSRPT approved 20 November 2024, effective 15 June 2025; NSRASLP standards undated.nsraslp.ca |
| NB: occupational therapy (NBAOT) and psychology (CPNB) | The NBAOT Code of Ethics calls for clear, accurate and verifiable information in any advertising. The CPNB Code of Conduct addresses advertisements for assessment procedures only. A testimonial or review rule was not found in either code.nbaot.org | CPNB Code of Conduct, May 2025; NBAOT code undated.cpnb.ca |
| PEI: all members and health profession corporations | Section 92 of the Regulated Health Professions Act: no member or health profession corporation shall engage in advertising that is untruthful, inaccurate or otherwise capable of misleading or misinforming the public. Section 89(1.1) bars, except as the Act permits, the terms regulated, registered, certified and licensed, or their equivalents, in the name of a health profession that is not regulated or in the professional title of a person who is not a college member. Whether credential names that include those words are affected is not addressed in the text, so ask the regulator. A testimonial or review rule was not found.www.princeedwardisland.ca | Act current to 29 May 2026. |
| NL: speech-language pathology and audiology (CASLP-NL); regulators generally | CASLP-NL Standard 5.2.4 requires business advertising, including contracted advertising, to comply with fair and ethical business advertising standards. The Health Professions Act (s. 17(1)(f)(iii)) and the Physiotherapy Act (s. 8(1)(g)(iii)) let regulators make rules on methods of advertising. Testimonial and review rules were not specified in the texts we read.nlchp.ca | CASLP-NL Standards of Practice uploaded March 2026.www.assembly.nl.ca |
Federal guidance, credential titles and the territories
Federal law adds a layer for any advertiser, whatever the profession. The Competition Bureau’s guidance concerns fake and incentivized reviews and undisclosed connections. A credential body’s notice can also matter to marketing: the BACB notice on Ontario explains which titles and credentials Ontario’s Act restricts. For Yukon and Nunavut, see the territories page.
| Source | What the published text says | Version we read |
|---|---|---|
| Competition Bureau: Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest, volume 1 | The Bureau describes astroturfing as commercial representations that masquerade as the authentic experiences and opinions of impartial consumers, such as fake consumer reviews and testimonials. Its examples include companies encouraging employees to post positive reviews and giving customers incentives to leave positive reviews. It says problems arise with apparent third-party testimonials when there is an undisclosed material connection, such as an employee, even if the review is honest. The legal basis is the Competition Act’s misleading-advertising provisions (sections 52 and 74.01). The pages we read do not say that asking real clients for honest reviews is prohibited.competition-bureau.canada.ca | Page modified 22 July 2024; the digest content dates from 2015. |
| Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB): Upcoming Changes to BACB Certification in Ontario | The BACB, a certification board, says Ontario’s Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act, 2021 is not based on BACB standards, certifications or certification tiers. The Act restricts the title behaviour analyst to College members and bars anyone else from holding out as qualified to practise as one. The notice says only College members may refer to an earned BCBA or BCBA-D credential in a way that would lead the public to believe they are a qualified behaviour analyst in Ontario. Check marketing that names a credential against this text.www.bacb.com | Notice updated September 2023. |
| Northwest Territories: psychology | The territory’s psychology regulations reserve the titles Psychologist, Registered Psychologist and R.Psych. for registered persons (s. 16(1)). A testimonial rule was not found on the official pages we read.www.justice.gov.nt.ca | Regulations read 8 October 2026. |
What the rules do not say
Several texts leave real questions open. These are neutral summaries of what we found, not answers.
- Absence of a rule in the text we read is not permission. Alberta’s Health Professions Act and the Regulated Health Professions Acts of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island set a general duty that advertising be truthful, accurate and not misleading, and say nothing about reviews.
- Whether marketing written or run by a clinic owner who is not a registrant counts as a registrant’s advertising is an interpretive question these texts do not settle. CASLPO and CPO say the registrant remains responsible for advertising placed on their behalf. CASLPM says its standard supersedes any provision set by an employer. COTO and NSOTR tell their registrants to inform employers of the standards.
- A review a client posts on their own initiative is treated differently from a testimonial the clinic selects and publishes. CASLPO and COTO say independent reviews are not the registrant’s advertising. NSOTR says unsolicited Google reviews still cannot be linked or shown in widgets. CASLPM says to remove unsolicited testimonial-style comments where possible.
- A clinic that names several clinicians in one piece of marketing has several regulators’ texts to satisfy. This page does not choose between them; each clinician’s own regulator decides what applies to that clinician.
Questions to ask each regulator before asking clients for reviews
These questions come from the points where the texts above differ. Put them to the regulator of each clinician named in the marketing, and to counsel where the answer matters.
- Does the regulator treat a link or button that sends clients to a review site as soliciting reviews? CASLPO’s standard lists linking to third-party sites that guide patients to leave reviews as an example.
- May the clinic show star ratings or embed a review widget? NSOTR says registrants cannot have widgets that display reviews, while the CPO FAQ says likes, stars and ratings are acceptable.
- Does the regulator treat comments left on the clinic’s own social media pages as testimonials that must be removed? CASLPM says to remove unsolicited testimonial-style comments where possible.
- Who is responsible when an owner who is not a registrant runs the clinic’s marketing? CASLPO and CPO say the registrant remains responsible for advertising placed on their behalf.
- Does an incentive, such as a discount or a prize draw, change the answer? CASLPO lists offering incentives for reviews as soliciting, and the Competition Bureau’s digest describes incentives for positive reviews as part of astroturfing.
Official sources for these rules
Each link below opens the official page we read on 8 October 2026. Government and regulator sites change their addresses, so use the table links first and the regulator’s own site if a page has moved.
Official sources
- [RV-1] CASLPO Advertising Standards. Ontario speech-language pathology and audiology: Standards 2 and 3 on testimonials and reviews.
- [RV-2] O. Reg. 226/96, Part V Advertising. Ontario occupational therapy: s. 21(2)(c) bars testimonials, comparative and superlative statements.
- [RV-3] COTO: Advertising with Testimonials and Google Reviews. The College’s question-and-answer on Google reviews and employers.
- [RV-4] CPO Advertising and Marketing Standard. Ontario physiotherapy standard, effective 1 May 2025.
- [RV-5] CPO Advertising and Marketing FAQ. The FAQ on testimonials, third-party links, likes, stars and ratings.
- [RV-6] O. Reg. 194/23, Part II Advertising. Ontario psychology and behaviour analysis: s. 6 testimonial ban and s. 7 solicitation misconduct.
- [RV-7] CHCPBC Marketing, Advertising, and Promotion standard. British Columbia: testimonials in scope, third-party content monitoring.
- [RV-8] Alberta Health Professions Act, s. 102. General duty against untruthful, inaccurate or misleading advertising.
- [RV-9] CAP Standards of Practice, s. 10.5. Alberta psychology: no soliciting, accepting or using testimonials.
- [RV-10] ACOT Standards of Practice. Alberta occupational therapy: no soliciting or using endorsements or testimonials for advertising.
- [RV-11] ACSLPA Standard Area 4.0 Practice Management. Alberta speech-language pathology: Standard 4.5 on advertising.
- [RV-12] CPTA Advertising and Marketing standard. Alberta physiotherapy: truthful, accurate and verifiable advertising.
- [RV-13] SCPT Standards of Practice for Physical Therapists in Saskatchewan. Standard 1 on advertising and marketing.
- [RV-14] SCOT Regulatory Bylaws. Saskatchewan occupational therapy: bylaw 14 on advertising.
- [RV-15] SCP Regulatory Bylaws. Saskatchewan psychology: bylaw 19 on advertising.
- [RV-16] SASLPA reference documents. Saskatchewan speech-language pathology: names an Advertising Guideline without linking it.
- [RV-17] Manitoba Regulated Health Professions Act. Section 76 prohibits false advertising.
- [RV-18] CASLPM Advertising Standard of Practice. Manitoba speech-language pathology and audiology: not soliciting reviews or testimonials.
- [RV-19] CASLPM Advertising FAQ. Companion FAQ on testimonials, unsolicited reviews and employers.
- [RV-20] CPM Advertising and Marketing practice direction. Manitoba physiotherapy: consent for images and video.
- [RV-21] NSOTR Standards for Advertising, December 2025. Nova Scotia occupational therapy: Standard 1 and the FAQ on Google reviews.
- [RV-22] NSRP standards binder. Nova Scotia psychology: advertising claims and testimonials.
- [RV-23] NSRASLP Professional Standards. Nova Scotia speech-language pathology: Standard 6.0 Public Promotion.
- [RV-24] NSRPT Advertising and Marketing standard. Nova Scotia physiotherapy, effective 15 June 2025.
- [RV-25] NBAOT Code of Ethics. New Brunswick occupational therapy: clear, accurate and verifiable advertising.
- [RV-26] CPNB Code of Conduct, May 2025. New Brunswick psychology: advertisements for assessment procedures.
- [RV-27] Prince Edward Island Regulated Health Professions Act. Section 92 on advertising and section 89 on use of title and the word registered.
- [RV-28] CASLP-NL Standard of Practice. Newfoundland and Labrador speech-language pathology and audiology: Standard 5.2.4.
- [RV-29] Newfoundland and Labrador Health Professions Act. Section 17(1)(f)(iii) on by-laws respecting methods of advertising.
- [RV-30] Newfoundland and Labrador Physiotherapy Act. Section 8(1)(g)(iii) on a code of ethics covering methods of advertising.
- [RV-31] Northwest Territories health and social services professions regulations. Psychology title protection, s. 16(1).
- [RV-32] Competition Bureau Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest, volume 1. Astroturfing, fake reviews, incentives and undisclosed material connections.
- [RV-33] BACB: Upcoming Changes to BACB Certification in Ontario. Credential use and the restricted title behaviour analyst in Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
Can therapy clinics ask for Google reviews?
It depends on the clinician’s regulator. CASLPO, COTO, CASLPM, NSOTR, CAP and ACOT bar soliciting reviews or testimonials in the texts we read. Ontario’s CPO FAQ allows true, unpaid patient testimonials with consent and does not address soliciting reviews. Several regulators published nothing we could find. Check each regulator named in the clinic’s marketing.
Can physiotherapists ask for Google reviews in Ontario?
The CPO FAQ and standard we read do not address soliciting reviews. The FAQ says testimonials may be used if true, verifiable, accurate and written by patients, that links to third-party sites are allowed, and that likes, stars and ratings are acceptable. A clinic that also employs speech-language pathologists or occupational therapists should check those colleges’ texts, which bar soliciting reviews.
Are Google reviews testimonials?
CASLPO and COTO say no: a review is managed by an independent third party, while a testimonial is chosen for use in advertising. They still bar advertising that includes, points to or solicits reviews. NSOTR goes further and says unsolicited Google reviews cannot be linked to or shown in widgets.
Can a clinic show Google review stars or a review widget on its website?
The regulators differ. NSOTR says registrants cannot have widgets that display reviews, and CASLPO says advertising must not include or point to reviews. The CPO FAQ says likes, stars and ratings are acceptable. Ask the regulator of each clinician named on the page before adding a widget.
Does it matter who owns or runs the clinic’s marketing?
The texts do not settle whether marketing run by an owner who is not a registrant counts as a registrant’s advertising. CASLPO and CPO say the registrant remains responsible for advertising placed on their behalf, and CASLPM says its standard supersedes any provision set by an employer. Ask each regulator or counsel.
Does the Competition Bureau allow businesses to ask clients for reviews?
The Bureau’s digest we read addresses fake reviews, incentives for positive reviews, employees posting reviews and undisclosed material connections under the Competition Act’s misleading-advertising provisions. The pages we read do not say that asking real clients for honest reviews is prohibited. A professional regulator’s rules may still apply on top.
Do these rules cover behaviour analysts?
In Ontario, CPBAO’s regulation bars advertising that contains a testimonial by a client, former client, friend or relative. The BACB notice explains which titles and credentials Ontario restricts. Elsewhere, we did not find a behaviour-analyst regulator’s advertising rule on the official pages we read.
Is this page legal advice?
No. It summarizes official pages we read on 8 October 2026 and links each rule to its source. Rules change, and not found means not found on the official pages we read, not that no rule exists. Confirm the current text with the regulator or counsel before acting.