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Repeal of Public Health Order Requiring all Health Profession Regulatory Colleges to Record Vaccination Status of Registrants

Please note that a previous Order of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) “to prevent or reduce the risk of the transmission of infection with SARS-CoV-2 by health professionals” has been terminated effective July 14, 2023, as outlined in a July 14 Notice of the Provincial Health Officer.

In accordance with the termination of this order, health profession regulatory colleges are no longer required to record the vaccination status of registrants after July 14, 2023.

This repeal does not affect the requirements of health care employers and post-secondary institutions to collect the vaccination status information of their employees and students.

Separate public health orders remain in place requiring COVID-19 vaccination for health professionals working in residential care and acute care and community care settings.

Volunteer Position on Inquiry Committee

We’re seeking a registrant to join the College’s Inquiry Committee (IC).

The IC hears complaints filed against licensed occupational therapists under the Health Professions Act. Its activities serve the College’s public protection mandate by helping to ensure that occupational therapists in BC practice safely, ethically, and competently.

If you are interested, you must be a full registrant in good standing and understand the College’s public protection mandate. Learn more about this volunteer role, including necessary qualifications, time commitments, honoraria and more, in our Careers & Partnerships section.

 

 

 

Notice of Bylaw Amendment, College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia

The College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) is proposing an amendment to its bylaws (Part 1, section 7) in response to July 7, 2023, changes to the Health Professions Designation and Amalgamation Regulation, which will amalgamate COTBC with several other health professions regulatory colleges into a single college on June 28, 2024. A copy of that Order in Council can be found at Order in Council 421/2023 (gov.bc.ca).

The proposed bylaw amendment is subject to the notice requirement described in section 19(6.2) of the Health Professions Act. Accordingly, notice of the amendment is hereby provided to the public, the Ministry of Health, and other interested stakeholders.

The proposed amendment extends the term of office of the elected COTBC Board member for one year. This will provide for those elected board members whose terms would have expired on January 31, 2023, to continue to serve on the COTBC Board for the limited time remaining until amalgamation, when the terms of all COTBC board members will expire under section 25.05 of the Health Professions Act. Keeping these elected members on the COTBC Board in the lead up to amalgamation will allow for ongoing experience and informed governance in the final meetings of the Board. The proposed amendments are like those previously enacted by other health professions colleges as they prepared for amalgamation under the HPA.

The amendment includes the following change:

Part 1, Section 7 is repealed and replaced by the following:

Terms of office

7. (1) The term of office for an elected board member is three (3) years, beginning on February 1 of each year.

(2) An elected board member may serve a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms.

(3) A board member may resign at any time by delivering a notice in writing to the registrar and the resignation is effective upon receipt by the registrar.

(4) Despite subsection (1), the term of office for every elected board member who holds office on the date this subsection comes into force is extended by one year.

COTBC is requesting a shortened notice period from the Minister of Health. Therefore, COTBC is asking that any comments concerning the proposed amendments be sent to COTBC and the Ministry of Health no later than 4:30 pm on August 21, 2023.

View Proposed Amendments Bylaws (PDF)

View Resolution of the Board (PDF)

Comments can be sent to:

COTBC

Email: info@cotbc.org

Fax: 250-386-6824

Mail:

Carin Plischke, Registrar
College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia
402 – 3795 Carey Road, Victoria, BC V8Z 6T8

Ministry of Health

Email: PROREGADMIN@gov.bc.ca

Mail:

Director of Regulatory Initiatives Professional
Regulation Oversight Branch; Ministry of Health
515 Blanchard Street, Victoria, BC V8W 9P4

Proposed Amendments to the Health Professions Designation and Amalgamation Regulation

The Ministry of Health is proposing amendments to the Health Professions Designation and Amalgamation Regulation. The proposed regulatory amendments would, effective June 28, 2024, establish the following colleges:

  • The College of Dietitians of BC, College of Occupational Therapists of BC, College of Opticians of BC, College of Optometrists of BC, College of Physical Therapists of BC, College of Psychologists of BC and College of Speech and Hearing Professionals of BC be amalgamated into one college.
  • The College of Chiropractors of BC, College of Massage Therapists of BC, College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC and the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncturists of BC be amalgamated into one college.

The notice period required by the Health Professions Act before the proposed regulation amendments can be enacted will begin on May 23, 2023. The proposed regulation changes are posted on the Ministry of Health website.

The Ministry asks that any comments on these proposed regulation amendments be submitted by May 30, 2023, as soon as possible.

Please submit comments by e-mail to: PROREGADMIN@gov.bc.ca

Career Opportunity: Manager, Quality Assurance Program (QAP) and Practice Advisor

We’re recruiting a dynamic individual to join our engaged team. In this role, you’ll manage and implement the Quality Assurance Program in a fun and progressive work environment. This is an ideal opportunity for someone passionate about the future of health regulation in BC!

This role is responsible for ensuring the College meets its mandate as outlined in the BC Health Professions Act for registering Occupational Therapists in BC and delivering the Quality Assurance Program that supports and monitors the competence of BC Occupational Therapists as part of protecting the public.

If you want to learn more about this exciting opportunity, including responsibilities, required qualifications and how to apply, download the Manager, Quality Assurance Program (QAP) and Practice Advisor Position Summary (PDF).

Ministry of Health Sets Timeline for College Amalgamations

COTBC recently received a letter from the BC Ministry of Health confirming the amalgamation of 11 health profession regulatory colleges to create:

  • One regulator for dietitians, occupational therapists, opticians, optometrists, physical therapists, psychologists, and speech and hearing health professionals; and
  • One regulator for chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopathic physicians, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists.

The Ministry of Health intends to complete the amalgamation by the end of June 2024. The Ministry has also committed to providing financial support for the resources required to implement the amalgamations.

College amalgamations are part of the Ministry of Health’s multi-year initiative to modernize BC’s health profession regulatory framework, informed by the Cayton Report and the 2020 recommendations of the Steering Committee on Modernization of Health Professional Regulation. Amalgamations have already taken place to create the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, the BC College of Nurses and Midwives, and the BC College of Oral Health Professionals.

The amalgamating colleges are developing a plan and process for moving this work forward, including engaging a project team. We anticipate having more information to share about our progress by early fall. Updates will be shared on our website as they are available.