Speech and Hearing Health Professionals

Audiology 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.

• Report on Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
• Supplementary Report on Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
• Report on Hearing Aid Dealing and Consulting

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It was also announced that, effective April 1, 2010, the Hearing Aid Act is repealed.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:

• four speech-language pathologists;
• two audiologists;
• two hearing instrument practitioners; and
• four public representatives.

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 interim registrar of the College may be contacted at:

College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia
PO Box #46807 - Station D
2405 Pine Street
Vancouver, BC V6J 5M4
Email: CSHHPBC@Gmail.Com

News from the College:

• College Newsletter #1

Notice of the proposed bylaws for the College will be published here in 2009.

• More information about the reform of British Columbia's health professions regulatory framework
• Read the proposed restricted activities list (to be added to the Health Professions General Regulation)

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