History of the regulation of hearing instrument practitioners in B.C.
The professions of audiology and speech-language pathology officially became regulated in the province of British Columbia with the coming into force of the Speech and Hearing Health Professionals Regulation in December of 2008. At that time, the new Regulation also repealed and replaced the Board of Hearing Aid Dealers and Consultants, a quasi-regulatory authority, and its governing legislation, the Hearing Aid Act, with the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professions of British Columbia, bringing three professions under one regulatory umbrella of the Health Professions Act.
Hearing instrument practitioners were regulated by the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of BC until June 28, 2024, when the College amalgamated with the College of Dietitians of BC, College of Opticians of BC, College of Optometrists of BC, College of Psychologists of BC, College of Occupational Therapists of BC, and College of Physical Therapists of BC to form the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC.
- On March 31, 2023, there were 566 hearing instrument practitioners registered in B.C.