Speech and Hearing Health ProfessionalsAudiology and speech-language pathology are currently unregulated in British Columbia. Hearing aid dispensing is currently regulated by the Board of Hearing Aid Dealers and Consultants under the Hearing Aid Act. In January 2001, the Health Professions Council recommended that audiology and speech-language pathology be designated under the Health Professions Act. The Council also issued a report on hearing aid dispensing at the same time.
The repeal of the Hearing Aid Act is provided for in the Health Planning Statutes Amendment Act, 2002. As required by the Health Professions Act, the Ministry gave initial notice of the proposed Speech and Hearing Health Professionals Regulation on May 3, 2007. Notice of a revised draft of the proposed Regulation was given by the Ministry on July 4, 2007. The Ministry gave notice of the final draft of the proposed Regulation on October 24, 2008. On December 11, 2008, the government announced that, effective December 15, 2008, the professions of audiology, speech-language pathology and hearing instrument dispensing are designated under the Health Professions Act, and the new College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia is established. The Minister has enacted the Speech and Hearing Health Professionals Regulation. It was also announced that, effective April 1, 2010, the Hearing Aid Act is repealed. The new College is expected to start accepting applications for registration by late 2009 and will be fully responsible for regulating the three professions as of April 1, 2010. The Board of Hearing Aid Dealers and Consultants will continue to operate until April 1, 2010. The composition of the first board of the College is:
All board members are currently appointed by the Minister. The first election of professional members to the board will be held by October 1, 2010. The registrar of the College may be contacted at:
On October 16, 2009, the College gave notice of proposed bylaws for the College. Amendments to the Speech and Hearing Health Professionals Regulation and to most College bylaws are subject to a mandatory three-month notice period, unless the Minister specifies a shorter period. The College is responsible for giving notice of proposed bylaw amendments, including posting them on the College website, and all bylaw amendments must be filed with the Minister to be effective. Filed bylaws come into force 60 days after the date of filing, unless the Minister either disallows the change or specifies an earlier date, or the College withdraws the change. The full text of the current bylaws and information about any proposed bylaw amendments may be obtained by contacting the College. Comments on proposed bylaw amendments should be submitted to both the College and the Ministry.
Official copies of the Health Professions Act and the Speech and Hearing Health Professionals Regulation may be obtained by contacting Crown Publications at:
Copies of approved Orders in Council and Ministerial Orders may be obtained by contacting the Order in Council Office at: PO Box 9226 STN PROV GOVT
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