Registration Renewal & COVID-19
Q: Has the registration renewal deadline changed?
No. The deadline for renewing your registration for 2020/2021 is March 31, 2020. Registrants must also renew any Certified Practice (CP) certificates expiring on March 31, 2020 before that date.
Q: How is registration renewal different for the 2020/2021 registration year?
In light of the situation with COVID-19, on March 18, 2020, the College’s Registration Committee passed a one-time emergency resolution that enables CSHBC registrants to pay registration renewal fees for 2020/2021 in an installment plan. The Registration Committee implemented the installment plan solely to address the extraordinary situation arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the emergency resolution.
According to the resolution, for the year 2020/2021 only, registrants who have not already renewed may pay registration renewal fees in two installments:
- Renewal of active and conditional active registration: two installments of $375 each, due June 30, 2020 and August 31, 2020.
- Renewal of inactive registration: two installments of $137.50 each, due June 30, 2020 and August 31, 2020.
Through the Registrant Portal, registrants must complete the registration process and installment plan declarations. At that point, two invoices will be auto-generated: one invoice for 50% of the total registration fees due on or before June 30, 2020, and one invoice for 50% of the total registration fees due on or before August 31, 2020. Any registrant wishing to pay both invoices up front may do so.
Registrants not intending to practice in the 2020/2021 registration year are asked to contact the College prior to the March 31, 2020 registration renewal deadline.
Q: I didn’t renew my registration before the College implemented the installment plan for 2020/2021. Do I still need to renew my registration through the Registrant Portal before March 31, 2020?
Yes. The registration renewal deadline remains the same: March 31, 2020. As usual, you must login to the Registrant Portal, indicate your registration renewal classification, and complete the registration renewal declarations before midnight on March 31, 2020.
However, unlike in other years, for 2020/2021, CSHBC has implemented an installment plan that allows you to spread out the payment of your renewal fees. See the Registration Renewal page of the CSHBC website and other FAQs within this page for more information on this.
If you do not renew your registration, and your registration is cancelled, you are not legally eligible to practice in BC. Practicing or using any of the reserved titles set out under the Speech and Hearing Health Professionals Regulation, BC Reg 3300/300, without renewing your registration or after your registration has been cancelled, will be unlawful practice or unlawful use of reserved title.
CSHBC actively enforces against unlawful practice and use of title as part of its legislated public protection mandate. The College may take regulatory action against anyone who engages in unlawful practice or unlawful use of reserved title.
Please review the College Bylaws and information posted in this FAQ for more information to help you to make the best decision.
Q: If I haven’t already renewed my registration, will I automatically be enrolled in the installment plan?
Yes. However, to ensure that their registration is renewed, registrants must still complete the registration renewal process through the Registrant Portal on or before March 31, 2020. At that point, two invoices will be auto-generated: one invoice for 50% of the total registration fees due on or before June 30, 2020, and one invoice for 50% of the total registration fees due on or before August 31, 2020. Any registrant wishing to pay both invoices up front may do so.
IMPORTANT: Registrants must still complete the registration renewal process through the Registrant Portal on or before March 31, 2020.
If you have already renewed your registration, you are not eligible to switch to the installment plan. CSHBC thanks those registrants for renewing their registration in advance of the deadline.
Q: Are there grace periods for the installment plan payment deadlines?
No. Under the installment plan, there are no grace periods or reinstatement. All installments must be paid on time. If you do not meet the payment deadlines, your registration will be cancelled and you must cease practising until you have reapplied for registration, and your application has been approved.
Q: Is there a reinstatement period this year?
No. Again, under the installment plan, there are no grace periods or reinstatement. Where a registrant fails to pay the required installment by the deadline, their registration will be cancelled, and they will no longer be a registrant of the College. Registrants who have had their registration cancelled will be required to re-apply for licensure.
Q: Does the installment plan apply to retired or temporary registration?
The installment plan only applies to active, conditional active, and inactive registration classifications.
Q: I want to renew my Certified Practice Certificate(s). Is there an installment plan available for these fees?
No. The process for renewal of Certified Practice certificates remains the same and is not covered under the installment plan.
Q: I already renewed and paid for my registration before you introduced the installment plan. Can I get a refund and pay in installments?
Unfortunately, no. These are very challenging and unprecedented times. The College recognizes that decisions made in light of the COVID-19 pandemic have personal, financial, and ethical consequences, and appreciates the challenges registrants are facing. Implementation of the installment plan is a one-time measure in response to the emergency situation presented by COVID-19. It was not a decision taken lightly and has financial implications to CSHBC’s own operations. Providing refunds to the approximately 800 registrants who have already renewed their registration would be fiscally untenable for the College, extremely challenging to administer fairly, and would have an additional and significant negative impact on the College’s ability to operate and fulfil its public protection mandate going forward.
CSHBC thanks registrants who renewed their registration ahead of time.
If you have already renewed your registration, you are not eligible to switch to the installment plan. CSHBC thanks those registrants for renewing their registration in advance of the deadline.
Q: Can my registration fees be waived?
Unfortunately, no. Some registrants have asked whether CSHBC will be providing financial relief to registrants in the form of fee waivers for registration fees. While we understand that this is a time of financial hardship for registrants, CSHBC is not in a position to do this. CSHBC budgets and plans on an annual basis and sets registration fees at the level required to cover the cost of operations. CSHBC’s only source of funding for regulating its professions in the public interest is registrant fees.
Q: What if I don’t want to renew?
Registrants not intending to practice on the 2020/2021 registration year are asked to contact the College prior to the March 31, 2020 registration renewal deadline.
General Registration Renewal Information
Q: I’m renewing my registration online, but I’m having problems logging in.
Make sure you are at the CSHBC website, then click “Registrant Portal” at the top of the page.
When using the Registrant Portal for the first time, registrants need to active their registrant account from the Registrant Portal login page. If you have already activated your registrant account, enter your email address (the primary email address that you used to activate your account) and password, then click “Sign In”. If you’ve forgotten your password, you can always click “Forgot Password” and a new temporary password will be sent to your email address (please check your junk/spam folder if you don’t receive it in your inbox).
If you have not activated your registrant account from the Registrant Portal login page, click “Activate now” to activate your account, then complete the same steps as above.
Q: I’m going on maternity leave/medical leave or I’m going to be away for an extended period of time. What are my registration renewal options?
The professions regulated by the College are based on competency to practice, not on the basis of part-time or casual employment. Therefore, if you expect to practice, even for one hour during the 2020-2021 registration year (i.e., April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021), you must renew as Active, with a renewal fee of $750.
You also have the option to renew under the non-practicing classification of Inactive, with a renewal fee of $275, to maintain your registration with the College. However, if you return to practice within the 2020/2021 registration year, and require a return to Active classification status, you will be required to pay the Active registration fee of $750 in addition to the Inactive renewal fee of $275 you already paid ($1,025 in total). Therefore, if there is a strong possibility that you will practice prior to March 31, 2021, then you may wish to consider renewing as Active before March 31, 2020.
If you will not be practising between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, you may renew in the Inactive classification for the entire registration year, then renew as Active for the following registration year.
Please note that Active, Conditional Active, and Inactive registrants must obtain Continuing Competency Credits (CCCs). There are no exceptions.
Q: Why am I required to provide detailed information of my professional liability insurance to CSHBC (such as insurer, start/end date, and the coverage amount)? Is this a new College requirement?
No. Section 151 of the College Bylaws has always required that registrants at all times maintain professional liability insurance in the amount of at least $2,000,000 per claim in a form satisfactory to the Board.
Under sections 82 and 85, new applicants have always been required to submit documented proof of required professional liability insurance coverage at initial registration, and renewing registrants have always been required to declare that they continue to maintain the required professional liability insurance at registration renewal. The new Registrant Portal, however, now enables registrants to enter their professional liability insurance coverage information within their registrant profile. While registrants are not required to upload a copy of their coverage information (in PDF), it is strongly recommended that registrants retain a copy of their professional liability insurance coverage in the event that they are audited by the College.
Q: What if my employer is paying for my registration renewal?
All registrants are responsible for renewing their license to practice, and paying their registration fees, online. Any reimbursement arrangement is between the registrant and their employer.
Q: I need to obtain my tax/credit card receipt.
Invoices and Receipts are available from the Main Menu of the Registrant Portal. Login and click “Invoices and Receipts” from the Main Menu on the left side of the registrant dashboard. Click “Review” for each invoice to view the detail of an individual receipt.
Q: Can I check to see if I have renewed my registration?
Yes. There are several ways to check your registration renewal status. If any of the following indicate a “2021-03-31” registration expiry date, your current status is renewed for the new registration year (April 1, 2020-March 31, 2021):
- Your Reserved Titles and Status, viewable from your Registrant Dashboard page
- Your Public Register information, accessed via the Main Men of the Registrant Portal
- Your Certificate of Registration and Wallet Card (PDF)
Q: I just renewed my registration – when will I receive my Certificate of Registration decal and wallet card?
The College no longer issues hard copy decals for Certificates of Registration or wallet cards. Your new Certificate of Registration, which includes a decal, and wallet card will be available for download upon renewal from the Main Menu of the Registrant Portal under the “Certificate and Wallet Card” page.
Q: How do I change my contact information?
Please note that, pursuant to the College Bylaws, it is the responsibility of all registrants to ensure that their registrant profile information is current. Only registrants can update their profile information, by logging into the Registrant Portal and clicking on “Personal Information” from the Main Menu of the Registrant Portal.
Q: Can I also renew my Certificate Practice certificate (formerly Advanced Certificate) online?
Yes. You may also renew any expiring Certified Practice (CP) certificate through the CSHBC Registrant Portal. Before renewing, please ensure the following CP certificate renewal requirements have been met:
- You have reported and applied a minimum of 4 Continuing Competency Credits (CCCs) toward that certificate during the certificate lifecycle.
- Only CCC categories from A through J can be applied to a CP certificate.
When reporting your CP-related CCCs, make sure you choose the relevant CP certificate from the Continuing Competency Credits page.
Q: I have more than one Certified Practice Certificate – what renewal fees will I be assessed?
The maximum renewal fee for Certified Practice (CP) certificates is $50, even if you hold more than two CP certificates.
Q: What is my Registration Number?
Your registration number is available from the Registrant Dashboard accessed from the Registrant Portal.
Q: How often am I required to apply for a Criminal Records Check (CRC)?
BC’s Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General require CRCs at initial registration and every five years thereafter. At registration renewal, if your CRC is due to expire in the new registration year, you will be required to provide consent and pay the $28 CRC review fee. The College is statutorily required to collect this fee on behalf of the Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General and does not retain any of these funds.
Q: I’ve been registered with the College for less than a year — do I need to renew by March 31 as well?
Yes. The College’s registration year begins April 1 and ends March 31 for all registrants. Your initial registration fee was pro-rated and will also expire on March 31.