Do I Need a NUANS Report for an Ontario Professional Corporation?

If you are incorporating a professional corporation in Ontario, yes — you will generally need an Ontario NUANS® report for the proposed corporate name.

Ontario professional corporations cannot use a numbered corporate name. They must have a name that meets Ontario’s corporate naming rules as well as any additional naming requirements set by the profession’s regulator.

Why does an Ontario professional corporation need a NUANS report?

Ontario requires articles containing a proposed corporate name to be supported by an Ontario NUANS® search report dated no more than 90 days before the articles are submitted.

A professional corporation must use a named corporation rather than a numbered corporation, so the NUANS name-search requirement is particularly relevant when setting one up.

The NUANS report searches for existing corporate and business names and trademarks that are identical or similar to the proposed name.

What should the name of a professional corporation include?

Under Ontario’s Business Corporations Act, the name of a professional corporation must include the words “Professional Corporation” or “société professionnelle.”

The corporation must also comply with any additional naming rules established by the regulatory body governing that profession.

This is important because different professions can have more specific requirements.

For example, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario requires the name of a medicine professional corporation to include the physician’s surname and the words “Medicine Professional Corporation.”

Before ordering a NUANS report, make sure the exact proposed name follows the naming rules of your profession.

Can an Ontario professional corporation use a numbered name?

No.

Unlike an ordinary Ontario business corporation, a professional corporation cannot use a numbered corporate name.

This means that choosing a compliant corporate name is an important part of the professional incorporation process.

Which NUANS report should I order?

For an Ontario professional corporation, you normally need an Ontario NUANS® reservation report for the exact proposed corporate name.

A reservation report is different from a NUANS inquiry report.

A reservation report reserves the proposed name in the NUANS system for 90 days and is intended for incorporation or registration purposes. An inquiry report is for research only and does not reserve the name.

When entering the proposed name, make sure it matches the name you intend to use in the incorporation filing, including the required professional designation.

How long is an Ontario NUANS report valid?

For an Ontario corporate-name filing, the NUANS report submitted with the articles must be no more than 90 days old.

NUANS reservation reports also reserve the proposed corporate name in the NUANS system for a 90-day period.

If the filing is not completed within that period, a new report may be required.

Does the NUANS report approve the professional corporation name?

The NUANS® report is the official name-search and reservation report used as part of the corporate-name filing process.

It identifies potentially similar corporate names and trademarks and provides the required search information. The applicable registry ultimately handles the final name approval or registration as part of the filing.

Your professional regulator may also have separate requirements before you can practise through the corporation.

Do I still need approval from my professional regulator?

In many regulated professions, incorporation is only one part of the process.

Depending on your profession, you may also need a certificate of authorization or other approval from your regulatory body before practising through the professional corporation.

The regulator may impose additional rules relating to the corporate name, shareholders, directors or professional activities.

Always confirm the requirements of your own professional regulator before finalizing the corporate name.

When should I order the NUANS report?

A practical order is:

1. Confirm the naming requirements with your professional regulator.
2. Decide on the exact professional corporation name.
3. Order the Ontario NUANS® reservation report for that name.
4. Review the report and complete the Ontario incorporation filing within the applicable 90-day period.
5. Complete any additional authorization required by your professional regulator.

Ordering the report after confirming the exact compliant name helps avoid having to obtain another report because the regulator requires the name to be changed.

How quickly can I get an Ontario NUANS report?

GetNuans provides Ontario NUANS® reports online through registered NUANS® member access.

Most reports are delivered within about a minute, although occasional upstream or system delays can take longer.

The completed PDF is sent by email. If the email is missed or filtered, completed reports can also be retrieved through GetNuans Track Order for up to 90 days.

Is GetNuans a government website?

No. GetNuans is a registered NUANS® member providing official NUANS® reports through authorized member access to the NUANS® system.

GetNuans is an independent private service, not a government registry.

The NUANS system itself is the Government of Canada’s business-name and trademark search system.

Quick answers

Do professional corporations in Ontario need a NUANS report?
Generally, yes. Ontario professional corporations cannot use numbered names, and an Ontario NUANS report is required to support articles containing a proposed corporate name.

Can I create a numbered Ontario professional corporation instead?
No. Ontario’s Business Corporations Act specifically provides that a professional corporation cannot have a number name.

Does the name need to contain “Professional Corporation”?
Yes. Ontario law requires “Professional Corporation” or “société professionnelle,” and your profession may impose additional naming requirements.

How recent must the NUANS report be?
The Ontario NUANS report supporting the filing must be dated no more than 90 days before the articles are submitted.

Is a NUANS inquiry report enough?
Not for incorporation. An inquiry report is intended for research and does not reserve the proposed name. Use the appropriate Ontario reservation report for the corporate filing.

Does getting a NUANS report mean the name is approved?
The report provides the official name-search and reservation information used in the filing process. Final acceptance of the corporate name is handled by the applicable registry, and professional-regulator requirements may also apply.

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Need an Ontario NUANS® report?

GetNuans provides official Ontario NUANS® reports through registered NUANS® member access, with most reports delivered within about a minute.

Order an Ontario NUANS® Report