Labour Mobility Applicants

The CSHBC Bylaws were updated on October 23, 2023. CSHBC is in the process of updating the College’s policies and web content in line with these changes, therefore some of the information below may not completely reflect the updated Bylaws. Please contact CSHBC at [email protected] for any questions in this regard. Thank you for your patience.

Labour Mobility Applicants – Audiology, Hearing Instrument Dispensing, and Speech-Language Pathology Professions

In accordance with Chapter 7 of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement and BC’s Labour Mobility Act, section 71 of the CSHBC Bylaws grants:

  • Full registration classification to practise in BC to Registered Audiologists (RAUDs) and Registered Speech Language Pathologists (RSLPs) with an equivalent registration status in another Canadian jurisdiction, who are in good standing with the relevant regulatory body in that jurisdiction and who meet the registration requirements set out below; and
  • Full registration classification to practise in BC to Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioners (RHIPs) with an equivalent registration status in another Canadian jurisdiction, who are in good standing with the relevant regulatory body in that jurisdiction and who meet the registration requirements set out below.

CSHBC accepts labour mobility applications from applicants from the following Canadian jurisdictions:

Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology

  • Alberta
  • Saskatchewan
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • New Brunswick
  • Nova Scotia
  • Newfoundland & Labrador

Hearing Instrument Dispensing

  • Alberta
  • Saskatchewan
  • Manitoba
  • Quebec
  • Nova Scotia
  • Newfoundland & Labrador

If you hold conditional or provisional registration in one of these provinces, please contact the College regarding potential application options. Labour mobility applicants must be currently authorized to practice, therefore those holding non-practising registration are ineligible.

Important: The professions of audiology and hearing instrument dispensing are regulated separately in BC. Under the Speech & Hearing Health Professionals Regulation, as set by the Ministry of Health, those seeking multiple licenses to practice are required to obtain separate registrations. CSHBC has no say in this matter.

There are several differences between the scopes of practice for audiology and hearing instrument dispensing in BC. The dispensing distinction is only one. Other differences in scope include: audiologists can diagnose, have different certified practice certificates available to them, can assess and manage children of all ages for a variety of hearing needs, and can delegate a broader range of clinical activities to support personnel (i.e., communication health assistants). Labour mobility applicants who wish to apply for registration as a RHIP in addition to registration as a RAUD must submit two separate applications within the Applicant Portal – one for RAUD and one for RHIP.

Note that all new registrants who have transferred to BC under labour mobility must complete CSHBC’s Jurisprudence and Client Consent online learning courses before renewing their registration in BC.

Labour mobility applicants to become RAUDs, RSLPs, or RHIPs in BC may begin practice when they have met CSHBC’s labour mobility requirements and been granted Full registration. 

To apply, have the documents listed below ready, create an account in the CSHBC Applicant Portal, and follow the step-by-step instructions in the Applicant Portal.

Arrange to have your current Canadian regulator send a Verification of Registration directly to CSHBC, confirming if you are currently a registrant in good standing, authorized to practice, and have no conditions on your license. This verification means you do not need to submit transcripts, proof of clinical hours, or proof of passing the entry-to-practice examination.

In addition to the regulator in the Canadian jurisdiction that you are coming from, you must provide a letter or certificate dated within 60 days of the date of your application from each additional regulatory body where you are or have been registered in any health profession, in any jurisdiction (if any). This must specify details of any cancellation, suspension, limitation, or conditions on your entitlement to practise, and any investigation, review, or proceeding that could lead to one of these outcomes.

Verifications of Registration may be sent to the College by email, so long as they come directly from an authorized individual at the regulatory body in question.

Upload a copy of one of the following documents in the Applicant Portal:

Applicants must provide two character references from individuals who have known you for at least two years, and who are not family members, classmates, or friends, or stand to benefit from your application, and who can attest to your values, morals, and conduct. These references must be dated within 60 days of your application to CSHBC.

Log in to the Applicant Portal and provide the required information about your references, including an email address for each. Each of your references must submit a letter of reference directly to the College at [email protected] or by mail and must contain that individual’s contact information.

Under BC’s Criminal Records Review Act, all RAUDs and RSLPs must complete a criminal record check when they first become registered with the College and every five years thereafter.

Download the Consent to Criminal Record Check form (PDF) (also available for download in the Applicant Portal), fill out the form, sign it, and upload the signed form in the Applicant Portal. CSHBC will then communicate the required information to the BC Government’s Criminal Records Review Program to ensure that your check is carried out.

Also upload a copy of two of the following documents in the Applicant Portal:

See Criminal Record Check for Applicants for more information.

If you completed your academic program in audiology, hearing instrument dispensing, or speech-language pathology in English, or you demonstrated English proficiency in the course of registering with the Canadian regulatory body from which you are applying under labour mobility, you will be exempted from providing further proof of your English proficiency. If you are not exempted, you must complete a TOEFL (iBT), IELTS (AC or GT), or OET (Speech-Language Pathology only) English test and meet the following minimum test scores:

Language

English

Test

TOEFL internet Based Test (iBT), or the TOEFL iBT Home EditionIELTS (Academic or General), or IELTS Online (Academic)Occupational English Test (OET) (Speech Pathology version), Paper-based Only

Required minimum scores

Speaking: 26

Listening: 26

Reading: 22

Writing: 24

Speaking: 7.5

Listening: 8

Reading: 7.5

Writing: 7.5

Speaking: B (395)

Listening: A (450)

Reading: B (395)

Writing: B (395)

Arrange to have your English language proficiency scores sent directly to CSHBC. Successful completion of one of the approved tests must be no more than two years before the date of application to CSHBC.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language proficiency requirements outlined above will be required to successfully meet the minimum standards before the application for registration can be submitted to the Registration Committee.

For more information, review the English Language Proficiency Requirements policy (PDF).

As part of your online application form, you will need to complete the following declaration:

  • I understand that pursuant to section 151 of the CSHBC Bylaws, as a registrant of CSHBC, I must at all times maintain insurance that (i) is in the amount of at least $2,000,000 per claim and in a form satisfactory to the Board, and (ii) covers me and any non-registrant to whom I delegate an aspect of practice, against liability arising from an error, omission, or negligent act that occurs in the practice of my profession. (YES/NO)

You will also need to declare whether your professional liability insurance is covered by  your employer, whether you have obtained your own professional liability insurance, or whether you do not currently have the required insurance. If you do not have the required insurance at the time of submitting your application, you may provide updated information about your insurance at a future time. Note that no application may be approved without confirmation that the required insurance is in place.  

Employers such as health authorities, school districts, and other government agencies typically have insurance in place for their employees that meets CSHBC’s requirements. You must check the details of any insurance provided by your employer and confirm that it meets these requirements. If it does not, you must obtain your own professional liability insurance. Note that CSHBC does not provide insurance advice or recommend insurers to applicants or registrants; this is outside of the scope of the College’s role as a regulatory body.

The following non-refundable fees are payable at application for registration:

  • Application for registration fee: $260
  • Criminal Record Check fee: $28

Pay by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or debit card (Visa) in the Applicant Portal.

Upon approval of your application for registration, the following fee is payable:

  • Initial registration fee: $950

Pay by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or debit card (Visa) in the Applicant Portal.

If you register part way through the registration year (April 1 – March 31), the registration fee is pro-rated quarterly for the remaining months of the calendar year.

After you have submitted your application, staff will conduct an initial review of the application. The sooner all of your required documentation is received by CSHBC, the sooner the College can process your application. If satisfactory, your application will be submitted to the Registrar for final approval. You will be notified if CSHBC requires further information for your application, or if your application will require consideration by the Registration Committee. See Non-standard Applications & Registration Committee Review for more information about the Registration Committee process.

After submitting your application, please do not call or email CSHBC to inquire about the status of your application. The College handles a large volume of applications, and processes them as quickly as possible. Responding to calls and emails inquiring about application status slows the process. If, however, you have questions prior to submitting your application that cannot be answered on the website or in the Applicant Portal, please contact CSHBC.

Please note that if you fail to meet the requirements for registration within two years of submitting your application, your application will expire and you will need to submit a new application should you wish to continue to pursue registration with CSHBC.

College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia

Address:
900 – 200 Granville St
Vancouver, BC, V6C 1S4

Phone: 604.742.6380
Toll-free: 1.888.742.6380
Email: [email protected]