Do I need a permit from my governing body before operating a professional corporation in Ontario?

Yes. Incorporating under the Business Corporations Act is only the first step. Before the corporation can actually carry on the regulated profession, most governing bodies require it to obtain a certificate of authorization (sometimes called by another name depending on the profession) confirming that the corporation meets the profession's requirements — typically that its shares are held correctly and that a licensed member in good standing is responsible for the corporation's practice.

Operating through an unauthorized professional corporation, even one that's validly incorporated, can put both the corporation and the individual professional's licence at risk with the regulator. The permit process is separate from, and comes after, the corporate filing, so professionals sometimes mistakenly assume that incorporating is the whole job. In practice, the two steps are usually handled close together: incorporate the professional corporation, then apply to the governing body for its authorization before opening for business under the corporate name. If you're planning this transition, confirm your governing body's current application requirements and build the timeline around getting both approvals in place before you start invoicing through the corporation.