Continuing
Competence Requirements
14 Continuing competence
15 Evidence to committee
16 Reviews
Titles
and Initials
17 Protected
titles and initials
Alternative
Complaint Resolution
18 Process conductor
19 Agreement
20 Confidentiality
21 Leaving the
process
Reinstatement
of Registration and
Practice Permits
22 Applying for reinstatement
23 Decision
24 Review
25 Access to
decision
Information
26 Information under s33 of the Act
27 Providing
information
Transitional
Provisions, Repeals,
and Coming into Force
28 Transitional
29 Repeal
30 Coming into force
Definitions
1 In this
Regulation,
(a) “College” means the College of Dietitians of
Alberta;
(b) “Complaints Director” means the Complaints
Director of the College;
(c) “Council” means the Council of the College;
(d) “equivalent jurisdiction” means a
jurisdiction recognized by the Council in accordance with section 4;
(e) “Registrar” means the Registrar of the
College;
(f) “Registration Committee” means the
Registration Committee of the College;
(g) “registration examination” means a
registration examination approved by the Council;
(h) “registration year” means April 1 to the
next following March 31.
Regulated member register
2 The regulated
members register established by the Council under section 33(1)(a) of the Act
has the following categories:
(a) general register;
(b) temporary register;
(c) courtesy register.
Registration
General
register
3(1) An applicant for
registration as a regulated member on the general register must
(a) have
(i) graduated with a Baccalaureate degree in
foods and nutrition from a program approved by the Council,
(ii) successfully
completed a dietetic internship or a practicum from a program approved
by the Council, and
(iii) successfully completed the registration
examination,
or
(b) have
(i) graduated with a Masters or Doctoral degree
from a program approved by the Council,
(ii) successfully met the competency standards
required for graduate students approved by the Council, and
(iii) successfully completed the registration
examination.
(2) An applicant for
registration under subsection (1) must have completed the requirements set out
in subsection (1) within 3 years of the date the Registrar receives a complete
application.
(3) An applicant who does
not meet the requirements of subsection (2) must successfully complete the
requirements for academic and experiential upgrading as directed by the
Registrar or the Registration Committee.
Equivalent jurisdiction
4 A person
currently registered in another jurisdiction recognized by the Council under
section 28(2)(b) of the Act as having substantially equivalent registration
requirements is eligible for registration on the general register if the
person’s registration is in good standing in the other jurisdiction and the
person is not a temporary or non‑regulated member in that jurisdiction.
Equivalent competence
5(1) An applicant
who does not meet the requirements under section 3 or 4 but whose
qualifications have been determined by the Registrar or Registration Committee
to be substantially equivalent to the registration requirements set out in
section 3 is eligible for registration on the general register.
(2) For the purposes of
subsection (1), the Registrar or the Registration Committee may require the
applicant to undertake one or more of the following:
(a) prior learning assessments;
(b) language fluency assessments;
(c) learning modules;
(d) practicums;
(e) practical experience assessments;
(f) competence assessments;
(g) examinations;
(h) any other assessment or program requested by
the Registrar or Registration Committee.
(3) For the purposes of
subsection (1), the Registrar or the Registration Committee may employ testing
services, national dietetic standards organizations, assessment experts and
other persons to assist in determining qualifications.
Temporary register
6(1) An applicant
is eligible for registration as a regulated member on the temporary register if
the applicant meets the requirements of section 3 except for having evidence of
successfully completing the registration examination and if the applicant
(a) has applied to write the registration
examination, or
(b) has written the registration examination but
has not yet received the results.
(2) A registration on the
temporary register expires 8 weeks after
(a) the date the registrant wrote the
registration examination referred to in subsection (1)(b), or
(b) the date of the registration examination
referred to in subsection (1)(a).
(3) Despite subsection (2),
a registrant on the temporary register may apply for an extension to a date
that is 8 weeks after the next registration examination is scheduled to be held
if
(a) the registrant was unable to successfully
complete the registration examination referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b)
for reasons satisfactory to the Registrar or the Registration Committee, and
(b) the registrant has applied to write the next
scheduled examination.
(4) If a regulated member
on the temporary register successfully completes the registration examination
referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b), the Registrar must remove the
regulated member’s name from the temporary register and enter it on the general
register.
(5) A person who is
registered on the temporary register may practice only while supervised, in a
manner satisfactory to the Registrar or the Registration Committee, by a
regulated member on the general register.
Courtesy register
7(1) A person who
is registered as a dietitian or nutritionist in good standing in another
jurisdiction who requires registration in Alberta on a temporary basis for a
specified purpose approved by the Registrar and who satisfies the Registrar of
the person’s competence to provide the services related to the specified
purposes is eligible for registration on the courtesy register.
(2) The term of the
registration of a person registered in the courtesy register is for 6 months or
less, as specified by the Registrar.
(3) A person who is
registered on the courtesy register must remain registered in the jurisdiction
in which the person was registered at the time of the person’s application for
registration on the courtesy register.
Character, reputation and information
8(1) All
applicants for registration as regulated members must provide evidence of
having good character and reputation by submitting any of the following, on the
request of the Registrar:
(a) a statement by the applicant as to whether
the applicant is currently undergoing an unprofessional conduct process or has
previously been disciplined by another regulatory body responsible for the
regulation of dietitians or nutritionists or of another profession;
(b) a statement as to whether the applicant has ever
been convicted of a criminal offence;
(c) any other evidence as requested.
(2) All applicants for
registration as regulated members must provide the relevant information
referred to in section 26(1).
Restricted
Activities
Restricted
activities qualifications
9 A regulated
member who demonstrates competence in the provision of one or more restricted
activities listed in section 10, in accordance with dietetic standards of
practice and criteria for demonstrating competence as established by the Council,
may be authorized by the Registrar to provide one or more of those restricted
activities.
Restricted activities
10(1) Subject to
section 9, a regulated member may perform the following restricted activities
as set out in Schedule 7.1 to the Government Organization Act:
(a) to insert or remove instruments, devices,
fingers or hands beyond the point in the
nasal passages where they normally narrow or beyond the pharynx for the
purposes of inserting or removing nasoenteric tubes, if in the provision of nutrition
support the regulated member is providing enteral nutrition;
(b) to insert instruments, devices, fingers or
hands into or remove them from an artificial opening in the body if, in the
provision of nutrition support, the regulated member provides enteral nutrition
to patients and inserts or removes gastrostomy or jejunostomy tubes;
(c) to prescribe a Schedule 1 drug within the
meaning of the Pharmaceutical Profession Act for the purposes of
providing nutrition support;
(d) to prescribe parenteral nutrition if the
regulated member is providing nutrition support and the member is authorized to
prescribe a Schedule 1 drug within the meaning of the Pharmaceutical
Profession Act;
(e) to prescribe and administer oral diagnostic
imaging contrast agents if in the provision of medical nutrition therapy a
regulated member performs a video fluoroscopic swallowing study or assists with
the study;
(f) to perform psychosocial intervention if a
regulated member is providing psychonutrition therapy in the treatment of
disordered eating patterns;
(g) to distribute without payment, for the
purposes of nutritional support or medical nutrition therapy, drugs regulated
by a schedule to the Pharmaceutical Profession Act and pursuant to a
prescription, if required by the Pharmaceutical Profession Act.
(2) A regulated
member who prescribes or distributes any drugs pursuant to subsection (1) may
only do so in accordance with criteria established by the Council.
AR
79/2002 s10;147/2004
Restriction
10.1 Despite sections 9 and 10,
regulated members must restrict themselves in performing restricted activities
to those activities that they are competent to perform and that are appropriate
to the member’s area of practice and the procedure being performed.
AR 147/2004 s3
Supervision of restricted activities
11(1) A student
enrolled in a program approved by the Council or a regulated member undergoing
training to perform the restricted activity in accordance with criteria
established by the Council may perform the restricted activities set out in
section 10 under the direct supervision of a regulated member registered on the
general register.
(2) The supervising
regulated member must be
(a) on‑site with the student or regulated
member while the student or regulated member is performing the restricted
activity,
(b) available for consultation and to assist the
student or regulated member in performing the restricted activity as required,
and
(c) authorized by this Regulation to provide the
restricted activity.
Practice
Permit
Conditions
12 The Registrar or
Registration Committee may impose conditions on a regulated member when issuing
a practice permit, including but not limited to the following:
(a) completion of the continuing competence
requirements within a specified time;
(b) completion of any examinations, testing,
assessment, practicum, work experience or counselling that is required by the
Registrar or Registration Committee;
(c) a prohibition from engaging in sole
practice;
(d) a requirement that the regulated member
limit the member’s practice to specified practice areas or practice settings
approved by the Registrar or the Registration Committee and refrain from
practising in specified practice areas or practice settings;
(e) a requirement to only practise under the
supervision of a regulated member;
(f) a requirement to report to the Registrar or
Registration Committee on specified matters on specified dates;
(g) a provision stating the time and the
purposes for which the practice permit is valid;
(h) a provision prohibiting the regulated member
from supervising students of the profession or regulated members of the
College.
Renewal of practice permit
13 A regulated
member who applies for renewal of a practice permit must, in addition to
complying with section 40(1) of the Act, supply, on request by the Registrar or
Registration Committee, information related to whether the regulated member has
been convicted of a criminal offence since registration and other information
related to whether the member continues to be of good character and reputation.
Continuing
Competence Requirements
Continuing
competence
14(1) As part of
the continuing competence program regulated members must complete the following
in a form satisfactory to the Registrar or Registration Committee:
(a) self-assessment;
(b) a competence plan that states the continuing
competence goals for the registration year and the continuing competence
activities to be undertaken during the year to achieve the continuing
competence plan goals;
(c) documentation of the competence activities
described in subsection (2) carried out during the registration year;
(d) a competence plan evaluation.
(2) On and after April 1
immediately following the coming into force of Schedule 23 of the Act,
regulated members on the general register must, in each registration year,
(a) complete the requirements of subsection (1),
(b) complete the continuing competence
activities stated in the competence plan,
(c) complete any workshops or study modules
related to the regulated member’s practice, required by the Council, and
(d) for regulated members authorized under
section 9 to provide restricted activities, complete any continuing competence
activities required by the Council.
Evidence to committee
15(1) A regulated
member must, on the request of the Registrar or Registration Committee, submit
anything referred to in section 14(1) to the Registrar or Registration
Committee.
(2) A regulated member must
provide evidence, on request of the Registrar or Registration Committee,
respecting any continuing competence activities undertaken by the member to the
Registrar or Registration Committee.
Reviews
16(1) The
Registrar or Registration Committee must periodically select regulated members
in accordance with the criteria established by the Council for a review and
evaluation of all or part of the member’s continuing competence program.
(2) A regulated member who
is selected for a review under subsection (1) must do the following:
(a) submit documents as requested;
(b) answer questions from the Registrar or
Registration Committee with respect to the regulated member’s continuing
competence program;
(c) undertake any additional actions related to
the member’s continuing competence program as directed by the Registrar or
Registration Committee.
Titles
and Initials
Protected
titles and initials
17(1) A regulated
member on the general register or on the courtesy register may use the
following protected titles and initials:
(a) registered dietitian;
(b) dietitian;
(c) registered nutritionist;
(d) R.D.
(2) A regulated member on
the temporary register may use the protected title dietitian.
(3) If the practice permit
or registration of a regulated member has been suspended, the member shall not
use any of the protected titles or initials of the profession during the
suspension.
Alternative
Complaint Resolution
Process
conductor
18 When a
complainant and an investigated person have agreed to enter into an alternative
complaint resolution process, the Complaints Director must appoint an
individual to conduct the alternative complaint resolution process.
Agreement
19 The person
conducting the alternative complaint resolution process must in consultation
with the complainant and the investigated person establish the procedures for
and objectives of the alternative complaint resolution process, which must be
set out in writing and signed by the complainant, the investigated person and
the representative of the College.
Confidentiality
20 The complainant
and the investigated person must, subject to section 59 of the Act, agree to
treat all information shared during the process as confidential.
Leaving the process
21 The complainant
and the investigated person may withdraw from the alternative complaint
resolution process at any time.
Reinstatement
of Registration and
Practice Permits
Applying
for reinstatement
22(1) A person
whose registration and practice permit have been cancelled under Part 4 of the
Act may apply in writing to the Registrar to have the registration and practice
permit reinstated.
(2) An application under
subsection (1) may not be made earlier than
(a) 5 years after the cancellation, or
(b) one year after the refusal of an application
under clause (a).
(3) An applicant under
subsection (1) must provide evidence to the Registration Committee of
qualifications for registration.
(4) The Registration
Committee may require the applicant to undertake one or more of the activities
referred to in section 5(2).
Decision
23(1) An
application under section 22 must be reviewed by the Registration Committee in
accordance with the application for registration process set out in sections 28
to 30 of the Act.
(2) On reviewing an
application in accordance with subsection (1), the Registration Committee must
(a) consider
(i) the record of the hearing at which the
applicant’s registration and practice permit were cancelled, and
(ii) the evidence presented at the hearing,
and
(b) be satisfied that
(i) the applicant meets the current requirements
for registration,
(ii) any conditions imposed at the time the
applicant’s permit and registration were cancelled have been met, and
(iii) the applicant is fit to practice dietetics
and does not pose a risk to public safety.
(3) The Registration
Committee, on reviewing an application may make one or more of the following
orders:
(a) an order denying the application;
(b) an order directing the Registrar to
reinstate the person’s registration and practice permit;
(c) an order directing the Registrar to impose
specified terms and conditions on the person’s practice permit.
Review
24 An applicant
whose application is denied or on whose practice permit terms and conditions
have been imposed under section 23(3), may apply to the Council for a review of
the decision of the Registration Committee in accordance with the process set
out in sections 31 and 32 of the Act.
Access to decision
25(1) The
Registration Committee may order that its decision under section 23(3) be
publicized in a manner it considers appropriate.
(2) The College must make
the decision of the Registration Committee under section 23(3) available for 5
years to the public on request.
Information
Information
under s33 of the Act
26(1) A regulated
member must provide the following information at the request of the Registrar
in addition to that required under section 33(3) of the Act and advise the
Registrar of any change to the information:
(a) demographic and educational and training
information including:
(i) the member’s gender;
(ii) the member’s full name and, if applicable,
previous surname;
(iii) the member’s preferred form of address;
(iv) the member’s date of birth;
(v) the member’s home address, phone number,
fax number and e-mail address;
(vi) the member’s academic and practical training
qualifications and where and when they were obtained;
(b) practice information including:
(i) the employer’s name;
(ii) the employer’s mailing address, phone
number, fax number and e‑mail address and the name of the regional health
authority where the employment is located;
(iii) the type of facility in which the member
practises;
(iv) the member’s job title and position
description;
(v) the number of hours worked in the previous
registration year;
(vi) the member’s employment dates;
(vii) the member’s areas of practice and any
specialties;
(viii) languages in which the member provides
professional services;
(ix) whether the member is registered to practise
dietetics in other jurisdictions;
(x) whether the member is registered with
another college of a regulated health profession and whether the member is
providing professional services regulated by that college.
(2) Subject to section
34(1) of the Act, the College may release the information collected under
subsection (1) only
(a) with the consent of the regulated member
whose information it is, or
(b) in a summarized or statistical form so that
it is not possible to relate the information to any particular identifiable
person.
Providing information
27 The College must
provide information with respect to the following:
(a) a practice permit for the period of time
during which the permit is in effect;
(b) the suspension or cancellation of a
regulated member’s practice permit or the imposition of conditions on a
regulated member’s practice permit for a period of 5 years after the
suspension, cancellation or imposition of conditions;
(c) the record of a hearing and the decision by
a hearing tribunal for a period of 5 years after the hearing is completed;
(d) whether a hearing is scheduled to be held or
has been held under Part 4 of the Act with respect to a named regulated member,
until the hearing is completed.
Transitional
Provisions, Repeals,
and Coming into Force
Transitional
28 On the coming
into force of this Regulation,
(a) a registered dietitian described in section
6 of Schedule 23 to the Act is deemed to be registered on the general register,
and
(b) a registered dietitian (candidate) described
in section 6 of Schedule 23 to the Act is deemed to be registered on the
temporary register.
Repeal
29 The General
Regulation (AR 349/85) is repealed.
Coming into force
30 This Regulation
comes into force on the coming into force of Schedule 23 to the Health
Professions Act.