Where a college has a concern that falls short of requiring a full interim suspension, it may instead impose interim conditions on your practice — such as supervision, restrictions on certain activities, or a requirement to complete specific training — while an investigation or hearing is pending. In some cases, a professional may agree to a voluntary undertaking along similar lines. These measures are generally less severe than suspension but still carry real professional consequences.
- Interim conditions restrict, rather than fully suspend, your ability to practise while a matter is ongoing.
- A voluntary undertaking is an agreement you enter into with your college, as opposed to conditions imposed on you unilaterally.
- Interim conditions can include supervision requirements, practice restrictions, or mandatory additional training.
- Agreeing to an undertaking is a significant decision and should not be made without understanding its full implications.
- Interim measures are, by definition, temporary — but how they are handled can affect the ultimate outcome of your matter.
- A lawyer can often negotiate interim conditions that address a college's concerns while preserving as much of your ability to work as possible.
The Short Answer
A full interim suspension is not the only option available to a college concerned about a professional's practice while a matter is investigated or awaiting a hearing. Interim conditions — restrictions on scope of practice, mandatory supervision, or required additional training — offer a middle ground that addresses safety concerns while allowing the professional to continue working in some capacity.
Interim Conditions vs. Full Suspension
The key distinction is straightforward: conditions restrict how you practise, while suspension stops you from practising at all. See our companion guide on interim suspension before a hearing for the full-suspension side of this comparison. Which path a college pursues generally depends on the severity of its concerns and whether it believes restrictions short of suspension adequately protect the public in the meantime.
Common Types of Interim Conditions
- Supervision requirements — practising only under the direct oversight of another registered professional.
- Scope restrictions — limiting the specific activities, procedures, or client populations you may work with.
- Mandatory education or assessment — completing specific courses or a competency assessment.
- Reporting requirements — regularly updating the college on your practice or compliance with other conditions.
What Is a Voluntary Undertaking?
An undertaking is an agreement you enter into with your college, as opposed to conditions imposed on you through a formal order. Colleges often propose undertakings as a faster, less adversarial alternative to a contested interim hearing. Agreeing to an undertaking can resolve a college's immediate concern efficiently, but it is still a binding commitment with real consequences if not honoured — treat the decision to agree with the same seriousness as a formal order.
An undertaking is not simply a formality to get past an immediate concern — its terms can remain in effect for a significant period and can affect your public registration status. Review every term with a lawyer before agreeing.
Negotiating Terms That Work
A lawyer experienced with a specific college's practices can often negotiate interim terms that address the college's stated concern while preserving as much of your practice as possible — for example, proposing supervision in place of a broader scope restriction. This negotiation generally happens early, often before any formal hearing on interim measures is needed.
Complying With Interim Conditions
Once conditions or an undertaking are in place, strict compliance matters enormously. A failure to comply — even one that seems minor or accidental — is generally treated as a serious, independent issue, separate from and potentially more damaging than whatever concern led to the conditions in the first place.
Getting Legal Advice Before You Agree
Whether a college has proposed conditions, is seeking a formal interim order, or has asked you to sign an undertaking, get legal advice before agreeing to anything. What looks like the fastest way to resolve an immediate concern is not always the arrangement that best protects your longer-term interests.
Facing proposed interim conditions or an undertaking? Call 416-274-2222 before you agree to anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Interim conditions restrict how you practise — through supervision, limited scope, or similar measures — while allowing you to continue working in some capacity. A full interim suspension stops you from practising entirely until it is lifted.
Generally, yes, though refusing may lead the college to pursue a formal interim suspension order instead through a hearing. A lawyer can help you weigh the practical difference between the two paths.
They generally remain in place until the underlying investigation or hearing concludes, which can take anywhere from weeks to many months depending on the complexity of the matter.
In many cases, yes — colleges commonly note current conditions or restrictions on a member's public registration status, so this is worth factoring into any decision about whether to agree to specific terms.
Often, yes. A lawyer can frequently negotiate terms that address the college's underlying concern in a way that is less disruptive to your practice than what was initially proposed.
Failing to comply with interim conditions is generally treated as a serious, independent matter — potentially more serious than the original concern that led to the conditions being imposed.