Restricted
Activities
14 Member authorization
15 Restriction
16 Student authorization
17 Authorizing
other persons
Titles
18 Use of titles
Alternative
Complaint Resolution
19 Process conductor
20 Agreement
21 Confidentiality
22 Leaving the
process
Reinstatement
23 Application
24 Hearing date
25 Reinstatement Review Committee
26 Hearing
27 Deliberations
28 Decision
29 Access to
decision
Information
30 Requested information
31 Access to regulated members information
32 Correcting
information
Coming
into Force
33 Coming into force
Definitions
1 In this
Regulation,
(a) “College” means Alberta College of Speech‑Language
Pathologists and Audiologists;
(b) “Council” means the council of the College;
(c) “Hearing Tribunal” means a hearing tribunal
of the College;
(d) “Registrar” means the registrar of the
College;
(e) “Registration Committee” means a
registration committee of the College;
(f) “Reinstatement Review Committee” means the
Reinstatement Review Committee of the College.
Register categories
2 The regulated members
register established by the Council under section 33(1)(a) of the Act has the
following categories:
(a) speech‑language pathologist general
register;
(b) speech‑language pathologist courtesy
register;
(c) audiologist general register;
(d) audiologist courtesy register.
Registration
Speech-language
pathologist general registration
3 An applicant for
registration as a regulated member in the speech‑language pathologist
general register must have obtained a minimum of a masters degree from a speech‑language
pathology program that is approved by the Council.
Audiologist general registration
4 An applicant for
registration as a regulated member in the audiologist general register must
have obtained a minimum of a masters degree from an audiology program that is
approved by the Council.
Current qualifications
5 An applicant for
registration under section 3 or section 4
(a) must have completed the education program
described in that section within 3 years prior to the date that the Registrar
receives a complete application,
(b) must
(i) have successfully completed refresher
education courses approved by the Council within 3 years of the date the
complete application is received by the Registrar, or
(ii) have practised as an audiologist or speech‑language
pathologist for at least 1250 hours in the 5 years immediately preceding the
application,
or
(c) must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
Registrar or the Registration Committee that the applicant is currently
competent to practice as an audiologist or speech‑language pathologist.
Equivalent jurisdiction
6 An applicant for
registration who is currently registered in good standing in another
jurisdiction recognized by the Council as having qualifications substantially
equivalent to the registration requirements set out in sections 3 and 5 or in
sections 4 and 5 may be registered in the appropriate register.
Substantially equivalent qualifications
7(1) An applicant
who is not eligible to be registered under section 3, 4 or 6 and whose
qualifications have been determined by the Registration Committee to be
substantially equivalent to the competency requirements under section 3 or 4
may be registered in the appropriate register.
(2) For the purpose of
determining substantial equivalency of the qualifications of an applicant under
subsection (1), the Registration Committee may require the applicant to undergo
any examinations, testing, assessment, training or educational programs the
Registration Committee considers necessary.
Courtesy registration
8 A person who
requires registration in Alberta as a registered member for up to one year for
a purpose approved by the Registrar is eligible to be registered on the
appropriate courtesy register if the person
(a) is registered as a speech‑language
pathologist or audiologist in good standing in another jurisdiction, or
(b) satisfies the Registrar of having the
necessary competencies to carry out the purpose for which registration is
requested.
Good character, reputation
9 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) written references from colleagues and,
where applicable, from another jurisdiction in which the applicant is currently
registered;
(b) 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 speech‑language
pathologists or audiologists or of another profession;
(c) a statement as to whether the applicant has
ever been convicted of a criminal offence;
(d) any other evidence as requested.
Liability insurance
10 All applicants
for registration as regulated members must provide evidence of having the type
and amount of professional liability insurance required by the Council.
English language requirements
11(1) All applicants
for registration as regulated members must be sufficiently proficient in the
English language to be able to provide professional services in English.
(2) An applicant may be required by the Registrar to demonstrate
proficiency in the English language in accordance with the standards approved
by the Council.
Practice
Permit
Renewal
requirements
12 Regulated members
applying for renewal of their practice permit must comply with the requirements
respecting good character and liability insurance set out in sections 9 and 10
and must
(a) within the 5‑year period immediately
preceding the application for renewal, have practised as a speech‑language
pathologist or audiologist for 1250 hours,
(b) within the 3‑year period immediately
preceding the application for renewal, have successfully completed refresher
education courses in the relevant profession as approved by the Council,
(c) within the 3‑year period immediately
preceding the application for renewal, have completed the education
requirements specified in section 3 or 4, or
(d) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
Registrar or Registration Committee that they are currently competent to
practice as an audiologist or speech‑language pathologist.
Conditions
13 The Registrar or
Registration Committee may impose conditions on a practice permit which may
include but are not limited to
(a) practising under the supervision of a
regulated member;
(b) limiting practice to specified professional
services or areas of practice;
(c) refraining from practising specified
restricted activities.
Restricted
Activities
Member
authorization
14(1) In the
provision of speech‑language pathology services members registered on the
speech‑language pathologist general register or speech‑language
pathologist courtesy register may perform the following restricted activities:
(a) insert into the ear canal air under
pressure;
(b) insert or remove instruments or devices
beyond the point in the nasal passages where they normally narrow;
(c) insert or remove instruments, devices or
fingers beyond the pharynx;
(d) insert or remove instruments or devices into
an artificial opening into the body;
(e) administer oral diagnostic imaging contrast
agents.
(2) In the provision of
audiology services members registered on the audiologist general register or
the audiologist courtesy register may perform the following restricted
activities:
(a) insert or remove instruments or devices
beyond the cartilaginous portion of the ear canal;
(b) insert into the ear canal
(i) liquid, air or gas under pressure;
(ii) a substance that subsequently solidifies.
Restriction
15 Despite section
14, regulated members must restrict themselves when performing restricted
activities to those activities that they are competent to perform and to those
that are appropriate to the member’s area of practice and the procedure being
performed.
Student authorization
16(1) A student
who is enrolled in a speech‑language pathology program or an audiology
program approved by the Council may perform the restricted activities set out
in section 14 under the supervision of a regulated member.
(2) The supervising
regulated member must
(a) be authorized to perform the restricted
activity being supervised,
(b) have a minimum of one year of experience in
performing the restricted activity, and
(c) be on site while the student performs the
restricted activity and be available to assist or if in the opinion of the
supervising regulated member the student does not require such supervision the
supervising regulated member must be available for consultation while the
student performs the restricted activity and must review the restricted
activity performed by the student.
Authorizing other persons
17(1) A person not
otherwise authorized to perform a restricted activity may perform a restricted
activity set out in section 14 under the supervision of a regulated member
registered on the speech‑language pathologist general register or the
audiologist general register who is authorized to perform the restricted
activity being performed.
(2) The supervising
regulated member must
(a) be authorized to perform the restricted
activity being supervised,
(b) have a minimum of one year of experience in
performing the restricted activity, and
(c) be physically present and available to assist
the person during the performance of the restricted activity or if in the
opinion of the supervising regulated member the person does not require such
supervision, the supervising regulated member must be available for
consultation while the person performs the restricted activity.
(3) If a regulated member
on the audiologist general register is supervising a person who is providing
the restricted activity set out in 14(2)(b) in relation to the provision of
tympanometry or ear mold impressions, that regulated audiologist must provide
the degree of supervision that in the regulated member’s opinion is
commensurate with the supervised person’s competence.
Titles
Use
of titles
18(1) Regulated members
may use the titles set out in section 2 of Schedule 28 to the Act according to
the following terms and conditions:
(a) members registered on the speech‑language
pathologist general register and members registered on the speech‑language
pathologist courtesy register may use the titles speech‑language pathologist,
speech therapist, speech pathologist, and the initials SLP and R.SLP;
(b) members registered on the audiologist
general register and members registered on the audiologist courtesy register
may use the title audiologist and the abbreviations Aud and R.Aud.
(2) A speech‑language
pathologist may use the title pathologist only in combination with the titles
speech and speech‑language.
(3) A regulated member who
holds a doctorate degree in speech‑language pathology or audiology from a
program approved by the Council may use the title doctor or the abbreviation
Dr. alone or in combination with other words in connection with providing a
health service.
(4) All regulated members
may use the title registered or regulated and the title regulated health professional.
Alternative
Complaint Resolution
Process
conductor
19 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
20 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
21 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
22 The complainant
and the investigated person may withdraw from the alternative complaint
resolution process at any time.
Reinstatement
Application
23(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 a decision to reject an
application under subsection (1).
Hearing date
24(1) The
Reinstatement Review Committee must hold a reinstatement hearing regarding the
application for reinstatement within 90 days of receipt of the application by
the Registrar under section 23.
(2) The Registrar must
provide to the person making the application, at least 30 days before the date
of the reinstatement hearing, written notice of the time and place of the
hearing.
Reinstatement Review Committee
25 On receipt of an
application under section 23, the Registrar must notify the Hearings Director
and the Hearings Director must appoint 3 regulated members who are not members
of the Registration Committee or of the Council as members of a Reinstatement
Review Committee.
Hearing
26(1) The
reinstatement hearing is open to the public unless the Reinstatement Review
Committee determines on its own motion or on application by any person that the
reinstatement hearing or part of it should be in private because
(a) of probable prejudice to a civil action or a
prosecution of an offence,
(b) of concern for the safety of the person or
the public,
(c) the non‑disclosure of a person’s
confidential, personal, property acquisition or financial information outweighs
the desirability of having the reinstatement hearing open to the public, or
(d) of other reasons satisfactory to the
Reinstatement Review Committee.
(2) The applicant must
present evidence of the actions taken since the cancellation.
(3) The Registrar or a
person that the Registrar designates may appear at the reinstatement hearing on
behalf of the College to present evidence, including a copy of the decision and
of the record of the hearing at which the applicant’s registration and practice
permit were cancelled, and to make submissions respecting the application.
(4) If a person is
designated under subsection (3), the Registrar must inform the applicant of the
person’s name at least 30 days before the date of the reinstatement hearing.
(5) The following may be
represented by legal counsel at the reinstatement hearing:
(a) the Reinstatement Review Committee hearing
the application;
(b) the applicant;
(c) the Registrar or a person designated under
subsection (3).
(6) Evidence may be given
before the Reinstatement Review Committee in any manner that it considers
appropriate and it is not bound by the rules of law respecting evidence
applicable to judicial hearings.
Deliberations
27 In determining
whether or not an application should be approved, the Reinstatement Review
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 speech‑language
pathology or audiology, as the case may be, and does not pose a risk to public
safety.
Decision
28(1) The
Reinstatement Review Committee must, within 60 days after the conclusion of a
reinstatement hearing, issue a written decision containing 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 if the person is
eligible for registration as a regulated member in a register referred to in
section 2;
(c) an order directing the Registrar to impose
specified terms and conditions on the person’s practice permit;
(d) an order directing the person making the
application to pay any or all of the College’s expenses incurred in respect of
the application, as calculated in accordance with the by‑laws.
(2) The Reinstatement
Review Committee must provide reasons for any of its orders in its written
decision and its decision is final.
Access to decision
29(1) The
Reinstatement Review Committee may order that its decision be publicized in a
manner it considers appropriate.
(2) The College must make
the decision of the Reinstatement Review Committee available for 5 years to the
public on request.
Information
Requested
information
30(1) A regulated
member must provide the following information, in addition to that required
under section 33(3) of the Act, at the request of the Registrar and when there
are any changes to the information:
(a) all the regulated member’s places of
employment, the employers’ addresses and phone numbers;
(b) registration numbers if registered with any
professional organizations specified by the Council;
(c) the regulated member’s date of birth,
mailing address and home and work phone numbers;
(d) the names of all the regional health
authorities where the regulated member provides professional services;
(e) any education programs related to the
regulated member’s practice that a member has taken in addition to the required
programs;
(f) any other regulated professions with which the
member is registered and entitled to practice;
(g) the number of hours the member has worked in
the applicable profession in the previous 5 years.
(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.
Access to regulated members information
31 The period of
time during which the College is required to provide information under section
119(4) of the Act is 5 years.
Correcting information
32 The Registrar may
correct or remove any information in the register if the Registrar determines it
is incorrect or inaccurate.
Coming
into Force
Coming
into force
33 This Regulation
comes into force on the coming into force of Schedule 28 to the Health
Professions Act.