Internationally-Educated Audiology Graduates Applying For RHIP

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.

Internationally-Educated Audiology Graduates Applying For RHIP

Introduction

Important: If you are an internationally-educated hearing instrument dispensing program graduate applying to be a RHIP, for information on your application pathway, see Internationally-Educated Hearing Instrument Dispensing Graduates Applying For RHIP.

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.

Graduates of international audiology programs, that meet the requirements of Schedule E of the CSHBC Bylaws, may apply for registration as a Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner (RHIP) in addition to registration as a Registered Audiologist (RAUD).

Internationally-educated audiology graduates to become a RHIP in BC must first practise as a RHIP (Conditional), under the supervision of a Full registrant (who must be a RHIP in BC).

RHIP (Conditional) registrants:

May hold their Conditional registration status for up to two (2) years, during which they may attempt the entry-to-practice examinations up to three (3) times.
Must practise under the supervision of a RHIP holding Full registration. For details on the level of supervision required during and after completion of a clinical practicum, if required, see the RHIP (Conditional) Practicum Requirements (PDF) and the Conditional Registration Requirements (PDF).
May use the reserved title “RHIP (Conditional)”

To complete your RHIP registration application for entry-level practice have the information and documents listed below ready, and apply through the Applicant Portal, which provides step-by-step instructions.

1. Official transcripts

If you have not done this already as part of your application for RAUD registration, after your credential has been awarded, arrange to have your hearing instrument dispensing program’s official transcripts sent directly from the institution to CSHBC, either by email to [email protected] or by mail to CSHBC.

Important: your official transcripts must indicate “Awarded” or “Conferred”. Unofficial or administrative transcripts that do not indicate “Awarded” or “Conferred” cannot be accepted. If your diploma has not yet been awarded, arrange to have a Letter of Completion, signed by the Dean, sent directly from the institution to CSHBC.

2. Credential assessment

If you have not done this already as part of your application for RAUD registration, arrange to have World Educational Services (WES) assess your post-secondary program transcripts. A basic assessment is acceptable.

3. Academic course outline or syllabus

Upload your post secondary program course outline or syllabus, with the conversion rate from credits to hours, including a record of clinical hours, in the Applicant Portal.

4. Academic coursework & clinical practicum requirements

Academic coursework requirements

Upload your completed Academic Coursework Requirements (Hearing Instrument Dispensing Program) form (PDF) to the Applicant Portal.

Your Academic Coursework Requirements form, course information, and syllabi will be reviewed against the academic coursework requirements defined in Schedule E of the CSHBC Bylaws.

Clinical practicum hours

Upload your completed Summary of Clinical Practicum Hours (Hearing Instrument Dispensing Program) form (PDF) to document proof of clinical hours (minimum of 150 contact hours).

The form requires sign-off from the Director of the program in which the clinical hours were completed.

Arrange for your academic institution to email the completed and signed form directly to [email protected] or by mail to CSHBC.

Your Summary of Clinical Practicum Hours form, and any additional relevant information provided with respect to your program, will be reviewed against the clinical practicum requirements defined in Schedule E of the CSHBC Bylaws.

5. Recency of practice/practice competency requirement

Applicants must provide evidence in the form of a completed Confirmation of Practice Hours form (PDF) that you meet the “recency of practice” requirement for registration as a RHIP (i.e., that you have graduated from your recognized audiology program within the last three (3) years, or that you have practised hearing instrument dispensing for a minimum of 750 hours in a regulated jurisdiction.

Substantially equivalent recency of practice/practice competency

If, in the three (3) years immediately preceding the date you submit your application for registration, you have not graduated from a CSHBC-recognized academic program or practised a minimum of 750 regulated hours in a regulated jurisdiction, but otherwise meet the requirements of registration, you will need to email a completed Application for Registration: Substantially Equivalent Practice Competency form (PDF) to the CSHBC Registration Committee at [email protected]. The Committee will review your application to determine whether your knowledge, skills, and abilities meet CSHBC’s recency of practice/practice competency requirements for registration under substantial equivalency.

6. English language proficiency

If you completed an acceptable academic program, as defined at Schedule E of the CSHBC Bylaws, that was delivered in English (including all academic learning and clinical practice), you will be exempted from completing English language proficiency testing. If you are not exempted, you must complete a TOEFL (iBT) or IELTS (AC or GT) English test and meet the following minimum test scores:

Language

English

Test

TOEFL internet Based Test (iBT), or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition

IELTS (Academic or General), or IELTS Online (Academic)

Required minimum scores

Speaking: 26

Listening: 26

Reading: 22

Writing: 24

Speaking: 7.5

Listening: 8

Reading: 7.5

Writing: 7.5

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 (PDF).

7. Remaining requirements to become a RHIP (Conditional)

The following requirements overlap with the requirements for becoming a RAUD; however, if you have not already applied to become a RAUD, you will need to provide the following:

Two reference letters (reference letters must be dated within 60 days of application)
Proof of eligibility to work in Canada (currently valid)
Criminal Record Check and Criminal Record Check Fee (CRC must be dated within 60 days of application, see Criminal Record Check for Applicants for more information)
Verification of registration with other regulators (VOR must be dated within 60 days of application)

8. RHIP (Conditional) practicum supervisor

RHIP (Conditional) registrants who are also recent graduates of a graduate or doctoral degree in audiology are automatically considered for an exemption from the required RHIP (Conditional) clinical practicum (660 hours). Exemptions are granted on a case-by-case basis, depending on the level of relevant clinical learning and/or work experience evident in your application.

RHIP (Conditional) registrants exempted from the RHIP (Conditional) clinical practicum requirement must practise under the supervision of a Full registrant (who must be a RHIP in BC) until successful completion of the ILE Written Exam and the CSHBC HID Practical Exam.

Summary of clinical practicum hours – for RHIP (Conditional) registrants who are not granted a practicum exemption

Once you are registered as a RHIP (Conditional) and have had your RHIP (Conditional) practicum supervisor approved by the College, you may begin your supervised clinical practicum hours. Complete your Summary of RHIP (Conditional) Practicum Hours form (PDF) with your supervisor and email the completed form to [email protected].

9. Entry-to-practice examination requirements

As a RHIP (Conditional) registrant, you must pass the ILE Written Exam and the CSHBC HID Practical Examination.

First Exam: ILE Written Exam

The International Licensing Examination (ILE), a written examination administered by the International Hearing Society (IHS), is the first of two examinations required for registration as a RHIP with CSHBC. If you have already passed the ILE Written Exam, please advise CSHBC at the time of applying. You will need to have the IHS provide proof of this directly to CSHBC.

Otherwise, once granted RHIP (Conditional) registration, you may sit for the ILE Written Exam. CSHBC provides your details to IHS and they will contact you directly to provide instructions about your examination booking, including payment for the examination. ILE Written Exam results are sent directly to the College after at least 10 business days, and the College will provide you with notice of your results shortly thereafter. For more information about the ILE Written Exam, visit the IHS website.

For further information regarding CSHBC’s current examination requirements, please review Entry-to-Practice Examination Requirements (PDF).

Second Exam: CSHBC HID Practical Exam

As a RHIP (Conditional) registrant, and upon successful completion of the Summary of RHIP (Conditional) Practicum Hours form (PDF) and ILE Written Exam, you will be eligible to take the CSHBC Hearing Instrument Dispensing (HID) Practical Exam. The HID Practical Exam is held twice annually, in the Fall and in the Spring. The examination dates for 2024 are as follows:

Session	Dates	Deadlines
Spring 2024*	May 25-26, 2024	N/A
Fall 2024	To be confirmed	To be confirmed

*Fall 2023 retakes only

Registrants wishing to enroll for the upcoming examinations should contact [email protected].

During the enrollment process, candidates will be provided with an examination guide setting out what to expect on their examination day.

Each candidate takes the Exam during a pre-scheduled time slot on one of the Exam dates. Exam sittings require one day only. Following enrollment, candidates will be allocated an examination day and time. Examination scheduling is done at the discretion of the College. Personal preferences for examination dates may not be accommodated.

Additional retake sessions may also be scheduled for candidates who are unsuccessful at one of the above sittings, and who have not exhausted their permitted number of examination attempts in line with the Entry-to-Practice Examination Requirements policy.

For further information regarding CSHBC’s current examination requirements, please review Entry-to-Practice Examination Requirements (PDF).

After you have been determined eligible to take the CSHBC HID Practical Examination, the College will contact you directly to provide instructions about your examination booking. At that time, you will also be required to pay the HID Practical Examination fee, which is currently $1,450 but subject to change for future examination sessions.

Video: CSHBC HID Practical Exam

For more information about applying to become a RHIP and the CSHBC HID Practical Exam, including what to expect on exam day, watch a video that the College produced in 2023:

10. Professional liability insurance

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.

11. Application fee

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

Application for registration fee: $520
Criminal Record Check fee: $28

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

12. Registration fee

If you have already paid an initial registration fee for RAUD registration, you will be required to pay a reduced, second registration fee for your RHIP registration; otherwise, you will be required to pay a first registration fee. Upon approval of your application for registration, the following fee is payable:

First registration fee for Full registration or Conditional registration: $950
or
Second registration fee for Full registration or Conditional registration: $150

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 registration year. All fees are non-refundable.

13. Timeline

After you have submitted your application, staff will conduct an initial review. The sooner all your required documentation is received by CSHBC, the sooner the College can process your application. Once your application is complete, it may need to be considered by a Registration Committee panel. Panels typically meet bi-monthly or quarterly. During the application process, you will be advised if your application requires Registration Committee review, when the next meeting is scheduled to take place, and the deadline for providing any additional, relevant information that you wish the Committee to consider in support of your application. 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]