Hearing Instrument Practitioners – Applicants

For Applicants

To practise as a Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner (RHIP) in BC, you must be a CHCPBC registrant who has met specific registration requirements. Applicants to become a RHIP in BC may begin practice when they have met the College’s entry-to-practice requirements and been granted registration.

There are three pathways to entry-level practice for each of the above professions regulated by the College:

Pathway 1: Canadian-Educated Applicants – for graduates of accredited or approved programs within Canada who are not currently regulated in another Canadian jurisdiction.
Pathway 2: Internationally-Educated Applicants – for graduates of audiology and speech language pathology education programs offered outside Canada who are not currently regulated in another Canadian jurisdiction.
Pathway 3: Labour Mobility Applicants – for professionals currently regulated in another Canadian jurisdiction, i.e. audiology and speech-language pathology: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland & Labrador; hearing instrument dispensing: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Newfoundland & Labrador.

To apply, create an account in the Applicant Portal, log in to the portal, and follow the prompts for choosing a pathway and submitting required information.

CHCPBC receives standard applications, where it is very clear that each of the College’s registration requirements are met, and non-standard applications, where it is less clear that one or more of the requirements is met. For information about non-standard applications, see Non-standard Applications.

Canadian-Educated Hearing Instrument Dispensing Graduates Applying For RHIP

Important: If you are a Canadian-educated audiology program graduate applying to be a RHIP, for information on your application pathway, see Canadian-Educated Audiology Graduates Applying For RHIP (Link to: Canadian-Educated Audiology Graduates Applying For RHIP).

Canadian-educated applicants to become a Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner (RHIP) in BC must first practise as a RHIP (Conditional), under the supervision of a practicum supervisor (who must be a RHIP in BC), to meet the RHIP (Conditional) practicum requirements.

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)
Must practise under the supervision of a RHIP holding Full registration. For details on the level of supervision required during and after completion of their practicum, see the RHIP (Conditional) Practicum Requirements and the Conditional Registration Requirements.
May use the reserved title “RHIP (Conditional)”

Important: Effective December 15, 2022, the College no longer accepts applications for HIP Intern status. Applicants seeking to become a RHIP in BC must first apply for and be granted RHIP (Conditional) registration. HIP Intern applications received prior to December 15, 2022, will not be required to convert to RHIP (Conditional) registration status. Current HIP Interns may complete their RHIP registration requirements (supervised practicum, written and practical examinations) as HIP Interns.

Graduates of recognized Canadian hearing instrument dispensing programs, as outlined in the College bylaws, may apply for registration as a RHIP (Conditional) by having the information and documents listed below ready, and applying through the Applicant Portal, which provides step-by-step instructions.

Official transcripts

After your credential has been awarded, arrange to have your hearing instrument dispensing program’s official transcripts sent directly from the institution to CHCPBC, either by email to gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger or by mail to CHCPBC.

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 CHCPBC.

RHIP (Conditional) practicum supervisor

Secure a supervisor for your RHIP (Conditional) practicum, and own or have access to the minimum equipment necessary for the practice of the profession. To qualify as a RHIP (Conditional) practicum supervisor, the individual must:

Be a Full RHIP registrant who is currently practising in BC, with a minimum of two (2) years’ experience as a Full registrant in BC or elsewhere. See the RHIP (Conditional) Practicum Requirements policy for more information.
Provide a training setting that allows for practical experience with the relevant client population.
Be located at the same place of business as the RHIP (Conditional) registrant, except where the RHIP (Conditional) registrant is under general supervision. See the RHIP (Conditional) Practicum Requirements policy for more information.

You must have your RHIP (Conditional) practicum supervisor approved by CSHBC. To propose your supervisor, you and your supervisor must complete the Proposed RHIP (Conditional) Practicum Supervisor form. If at any time you wish to request to change your supervisor, you must submit a new form to gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger.

Recency of practice/practice competency

Applicants must provide evidence of meeting the recency of practice requirement for registration as a RHIP – i.e., that you have graduated from a recognized hearing instrument dispensing 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 – by emailing a completed Confirmation of Practice Hours form to gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger.

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 CHCPBC-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 to the College’s Registration Committee at gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger. The Committee will review your application to determine whether your knowledge, skills, and abilities meet the College’s recency of practice/practice competency requirements for registration under substantial equivalency.

Reference letters

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 CHCPBC.

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 by email to gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger or by mail to CHCPBC, and it must contain that individual’s contact information.

Proof of eligibility to work in Canada

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

Canadian passport (photo and signature page)
Canadian citizenship certificate or card (front and back)
Canadian birth certificate
Government-issued work permit or work visa, provided this permits work in your intended profession
A study or co-op visa, provided this permits work in your intended profession
Permanent Resident card (front and back)

Criminal record check

Under BC’s Criminal Records Review Act, all RHIPs 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 (also available for download in the Applicant Portal), fill out the form, sign it, and upload the completed and verified form in the Applicant Portal. The College 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:

BC Driver’s Licence or learner’s licence (must have your photo)
BCID
BC Services Card (must have your photo)
Canadian birth certificate
Passport (photo and signature page)
Canadian citizenship certificate or card (front and back)
Permanent Resident card (front and back)

English language proficiency

If you completed an acceptable academic program, as defined in the College’s Bylaws, that was delivered exclusively 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:

Required Minimum English Test Scores

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

Speaking: 26
Listening: 26
Reading: 22
Writing: 24

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

Speaking: 7.5
Listening: 8
Reading: 7.5
Writing: 7.5

Arrange to have your English language proficiency scores sent

directly to CHCPBC. Successful completion of one of the approved tests must be no more than two years before the date of application to the College.

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.

Professional liability insurance

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

I understand that pursuant to the CHCPBC Bylaws, as a registrant of CHCPBC, 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 CHCPBC’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 CHCPBC 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.

Verification of Registration from other regulators

If you are, or have been, regulated as a health professional by any other regulatory body, you must provide a letter or certificate dated within 60 days of the date of your application from each relevant regulatory body (a “Verification of Registration”). 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 gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger ot, so long as they come directly from an authorized individual at the regulatory body in question.

Application and criminal record check fees

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.

Registration fee

Upon approval of your application for registration, the following non-refundable 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 registration year.

Summary of clinical practicum hours

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 with your supervisor and email the completed form to gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger.

Entry-to-practice examinations

As a RHIP (Conditional) registrant, you must pass the ILE Written Exam and the CHCPBC 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 CHCPBC. If you have already passed the ILE Written Exam, please advise CHCPBC at the time of applying. You will need to have the IHS provide proof of this directly to CHCPBC.

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.

Second Exam: CSHBC HID Practical Exam

As a RHIP (Conditional) registrant, and upon successful completion of the Summary of RHIP (Conditional) Practicum Hours form and ILE Written Exam, you will be eligible to take the CHCPBC 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*

Date: May 25-26, 2024
Deadline: N/A

*Fall 2023 retakes only

Fall 2024

Date: To be confirmed
Deadline: To be confirmed

Registrants wishing to enroll for the upcoming examinations should contact gro.cbpchc@smaxe.

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 the Entry-to-Practice Examination Requirements policy.

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.

Timeline

After you have submitted your application, staff will conduct an initial review. 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 CHCPBC 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 CHCPBC.

Please note that if you fail to meet the requirements for registration within two (2) 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 CHCPBC.

Canadian-Educated Audiology Graduates Applying For RHIP

Important: If you are an Canadian-educated hearing instrument dispensing program graduate applying to be a RHIP, for information on your application pathway, see Canadian-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 recognized Canadian audiology programs, as outlined in the College’s Bylaws, may apply for registration as a Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner (RHIP) in addition to registration as a Registered Audiologist (RAUD), provided their Audiology program meets the requirements set out in the Bylaws.

Canadian-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 and the Conditional Registration Requirements .
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.

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 CHCPBC, either by email to gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger or by mail to CHCPBC.

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.

Academic coursework & clinical practicum requirements

Academic coursework requirements

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

Your Academic Coursework Requirements form, course information, and syllabi will be reviewed against the academic coursework requirements defined in the College’s Bylaws.

Clinical practicum hours

Upload your completed Summary of Clinical Practicum Hours (Hearing Instrument Dispensing Program) form 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 gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger or by mail to CHCPBC.

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 the College’s Bylaws.

Recency of practice/practice competency requirement

Applicants must provide evidence in the form of a completed Confirmation of Practice Hours form 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 CHCPBC-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 to the Registration Committee atgro.cbpchc@noitartsiger . The Committee will review your application to determine whether your knowledge, skills, and abilities meet CHCPBC’s recency of practice/practice competency requirements for registration under substantial equivalency.

English language proficiency

If you completed an acceptable academic program, as defined in the College’s 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:

Required Minimum English Test Scores

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

Speaking: 26
Listening: 26
Reading: 22
Writing: 24

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

Speaking: 7.5
Listening: 8
Reading: 7.5
Writing: 7.5

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

For more information, review the English Language Proficiency Requirements.

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
Verification of registration with other regulators (VOR must be dated within 60 days of application)

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 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 gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger.

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 CHCPBC. If you have already passed the ILE Written Exam, please advise the College at the time of applying. You will need to have the IHS provide proof of this directly to CHCPBC.

For further information regarding CHCPBC’s current examination requirements, please review Entry-to-Practice Examination Requirements .

Second Exam: CSHBC HID Practical Exam

As a RHIP (Conditional) registrant, and upon successful completion of the Summary of RHIP (Conditional) Practicum Hours form and ILE Written Exam, you will be eligible to take the 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

Fall 2024

Date: To be confirmed
Deadline: To be confirmed

Registrants wishing to enroll for the upcoming examinations should contact gro.cbpchc@smaxe.

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

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

After you have been determined eligible to take the 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 HID Practical Exam, including what to expect on exam day, watch a video that the College produced in 2023.

Professional liability insurance

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

Employers such as health authorities, school districts, and other government agencies typically have insurance in place for their employees that meets the College’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 CHCPBC 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.

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.

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

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.

Timeline

After you have submitted your application, staff will conduct an initial review. The sooner all your required documentation is received by CHCPBC, 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.

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 CHCPBC.

Internationally-Educated Audiology Graduates Applying For RHIP

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.

Graduates of international audiology programs, that meet the requirements of the College’s 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 and the Conditional Registration Requirements .
May use the reserved title “RHIP (Conditional)”

Official transcripts

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.

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.

Academic coursework & clinical practicum requirements

Academic coursework requirements

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

Your Academic Coursework Requirements form, course information, and syllabi will be reviewed against the academic coursework requirements defined in the College’s Bylaws.

Clinical practicum hours

Upload your completed Summary of Clinical Practicum Hours (Hearing Instrument Dispensing Program) form 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 gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger or by mail to CHCPBC.

Recency of practice/practice competency requirement

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 CHCPBC-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 to the Registration Committee atgro.cbpchc@noitartsiger . The Committee will review your application to determine whether your knowledge, skills, and abilities meet CHCPBC’s recency of practice/practice competency requirements for registration under substantial equivalency.

English language proficiency

Required Minimum English Test Scores

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

Speaking: 26
Listening: 26
Reading: 22
Writing: 24

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

Speaking: 7.5
Listening: 8
Reading: 7.5
Writing: 7.5

For more information, review the English Language Proficiency Requirements .

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
Verification of registration with other regulators (VOR must be dated within 60 days of application)

RHIP (Conditional) practicum supervisor

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 gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger.

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 CHCPBC. If you have already passed the ILE Written Exam, please advise the College at the time of applying. You will need to have the IHS provide proof of this directly to CHCPBC.

For further information regarding CHCPBC’s current examination requirements, please review Entry-to-Practice Examination Requirements .

Second Exam: CSHBC HID Practical Exam

As a RHIP (Conditional) registrant, and upon successful completion of the Summary of RHIP (Conditional) Practicum Hours form and ILE Written Exam, you will be eligible to take the 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

Fall 2024

Date: To be confirmed
Deadline: To be confirmed

Registrants wishing to enroll for the upcoming examinations should contact gro.cbpchc@smaxe.

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

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

Professional liability insurance

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

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.

Registration fee

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

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.

Timeline

Labour Mobility Applicants

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

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.

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

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.

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

Labour mobility applicants to become RHIPs in BC may begin practice when they have met the College’s labour mobility requirements and been granted Full registration.

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

Verification of Registration from all other regulators

Arrange to have your current Canadian regulator send a Verification of Registration directly to CHCPBC, 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.

Proof of eligibility to work in Canada

Canadian passport (photo and signature page)
Canadian citizenship certificate or card(front and back)
Canadian birth certificate
Government-issued work permit or work visa, provided this permits work in your intended profession
A study or co-op visa, provided this permits work in your intended profession
Permanent Resident card (front and back)

Reference letters

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 gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger or by mail and must contain that individual’s contact information.

Criminal Record Check

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 (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:

BC Driver’s Licence or learner’s licence (must have your photo)
BCID
BC Services Card (must have your photo)
Canadian birth certificate
Passport (photo and signature page)
Canadian citizenship certificate or card (front and back)
Permanent Resident card (front and back)

English Language Proficiency

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:

Required Minimum English Test Scores

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

Speaking: 26
Listening: 26
Reading: 22
Writing: 24

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

Speaking: 7.5
Listening: 8
Reading: 7.5
Writing: 7.5

Occupational English Test (OET) (Speech Pathology version), Paper-based Only

Speaking: B (395)
Listening: A (450)
Reading: B (395)
Writing: B (395)

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

Professional Liability Insurance

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

I understand that pursuant to the CHCPBC Bylaws, as a registrant of CHCPBC, 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 CHCPBC’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 CHCPBC 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.

Application and Criminal Record Check Fees

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.

Registration Fee

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.

Timelines

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 CHCPBC, 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 CHCPBC 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 CHCPBC 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 CHCPBC.

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 CHCPBC.

Temporary Applicants

The College’s Bylaws include a renewable Temporary registration classification.

Important: Under the College Bylaws, the Registration Committee imposes limits and conditions on all temporary registrants. The Temporary registration classification is restricted to education and training purposes only and is not intended for general practice.

Temporary registration is granted for up to 90 days. To renew Temporary registration, contactgro.cbpchc@noitartsiger well in advance of the registration’s expiry date.

Temporary registrants aren’t eligible to apply for Certified Practice Certificates.

See the Temporary Registration policy.

Application steps for Temporary registration

Canadian – Those regulated in Canadian jurisdictions must submit an online application form via the Applicant Portal and select the applicable temporary registration.
International – Those regulated in international jurisdictions should contact CHCPBC by email atgro.cbpchc@noitartsiger for a step-by-step process for submitting temporary registration applications.

Canadian applicants for Temporary registration:

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

Criminal Record Check Fee

The following non-refundable fee is payable at application for registration:

Criminal Record Check fee: $28

All applicants must provide authorization to undergo a Criminal Record Check (CRC) as part of the temporary registration process. Applicants must cover the cost of their own CRC. CHCPBC is statutorily required to collect this fee on behalf of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and does not retain any of these funds.

If an applicant’s current jurisdiction originates outside British Columbia or Canada, the applicant must also provide a Criminal Record Check from that jurisdiction.

Registration fee

Upon approval of your application for registration, the following fee is payable: Initial registration fee: $100. Pay by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or debit card (Visa) in the Applicant Portal.

Other registration

Applicants must be registrants in good standing in their profession in another jurisdiction (Canadian or International), in a manner acceptable to the CSHBC Board of Directors. Acceptable jurisdictions are ones where the profession is regulated in line with the following criteria:

There is law or governmental statute establishing the regulation of the profession in that jurisdiction.
There is a dedicated body or department that regulates the profession.
The body or department sets and enforces requirements for entry to the profession.
The body or department sets standards of practice for its registrants.
The body or department has a mechanism for enforcing standards.

However, if some but not all criteria are met, the Registration Committee may still assess the application for Temporary registration. These assessments are completed on a case by case basis.

Applicants show their good standing in the relevant jurisdiction by providing a Verification of Registration. This is a letter or certificate dated within 60 days of the date of the application, which specifies the details of any cancellation, suspension, limitation, or conditions on 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.

Proof of eligibility to work in Canada

To provide proof of eligibility to work in Canada, applicants must upload a copy of one of the following documents in the Applicant Portal when applying:

Canadian passport (photo and signature page)
Canadian citizenship certificate or card (front and back)
Canadian birth certificate
Government-issued work permit or work visa, provided this permits work in your intended profession
A study or co-op visa, provided this permits work in your intended profession
Permanent Resident card (front and back)

English language proficiency

In line with the English Language Proficiency Requirements policy, certain applicants are exempted from completing English Language testing. However, 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:

Required Minimum English Test Scores

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

Speaking: 26
Listening: 26
Reading: 22
Writing: 24

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

Speaking: 7.5
Listening: 8
Reading: 7.5
Writing: 7.5

Occupational English Test (OET) (Speech Pathology version), Paper-based Only

Speaking: B (395)
Listening: A (450)
Reading: B (395)
Writing: B (395)

Professional liability insurance

As part of their online application form, applicants for Temporary registration must complete the following declaration:

Applicants will also need to declare whether their professional liability insurance is covered by their employer, whether they have obtained their own professional liability insurance, or whether they do not currently have the required insurance. If applicants do not have the required insurance at the time of submitting their application, they may provide updated information about their 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 CHCPBC’s requirements. Applicants must check the details of any insurance provided by their employer and confirm that it meets these requirements. If it does not, they must obtain their own professional liability insurance. Note that CHCPBC 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.

Applications may be standard or non-standard.

Standard applications are very clear that each of the registration requirements set out in the College’s Bylaws and policy are met. Non-standard applications are where it is less clear that one or more of the registration requirements is met. For more information on standard or non-standard applications, see Non-Standard Applications & Registration Committee Review.

Applicant Eligibility

To be eligible for Temporary registration, applicants must be authorized to practise their profession as the equivalent of a Full CHCPBC registrant in their other jurisdiction (see the “Other Registration” section, above).

Once applicants become a Temporary registrant, they must comply with all CHCPBC standards of practice, with their practice subject to any limits and conditions the Registration Committee imposes.

Entry-to-Practice Examinations

Applicants to become a Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioners (RHIPs) in BC must meet entry-to-practice requirements before being granted Full registration. Among the requirements is passing entry-to-practice examinations.

As specified in the College Bylaws, all required entry-to-practice examinations must be approved by the College’s Registration Committee. Exams approved by the Committee and available for applicants to take include the following:

Appoved Examinations for Hearing Instrument Dispensing

ILE Written Exam and HID Practical Exam

For information on the entry-to-practice exams required for RHIP, including details on registration, enrollment and sitting dates, and other aspects, it is important that applicants read the Hearing Instrument Dispensing Examinations web pages.

All applicants for registration with the College who are Canadian-educated or International-educated must take entry-to-practice exams, except for:

Labour mobility applicants
Applicants for Temporary and Temporary (Teaching) registration
Non-practising registrants applying for Full registration

Hearing Instrument Dispensing Examinations

Entry-to-practice examinations currently approved by CHCPBC as part of the pathway to become a Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner (RHIP) are:

ILE Written Exam and
CSHBC HID Practical Exam

Applicants to become a RHIP must pass both exams, including audiology graduates applying to become dually registered RAUD, RHIPs.

ILE Written Exam

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

Otherwise, once approved as a Conditional RHIP, you are eligible to sit for the ILE Written Exam. You must register for your first attempt within six months of completing your Conditional RHIP practicum (660 hours of supervised clinical practice). Conditional registrants who have satisfied the practicum requirement prior to obtaining Conditional registration should register for their first ILE Written Exam attempt within six months of being granted Conditional registration.

CHCPBC provides your details to IHS — 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 CHCPBC will provide you with notice of your results shortly thereafter. For more information about the ILE Written Exam, visit the IHS website.

Testing candidates can request “domain-level performance results” from a previous exam attempt. This includes the percentage score the test-taker achieved in each of the five examination domains (topic areas). The information can assist unsuccessful testing candidates in preparing for another exam attempt. Candidates may request this information directly from IHS by filling out an online request form.

HID Practical Exam

Upon successful completion of the Summary of RHIP and proof of passing the ILE Written Exam, Conditional RHIPs are eligible to take the Hearing Instrument Dispensing (HID) Practical Examination. The Practical Examination has recently undergone revision.

The upcoming examination dates are as follows:

Session Dates & Deadlines

Spring 2024*

Date: May 25-26, 2024
Deadline: N/A

*Fall 2023 retakes only

Fall 2024

Date: To be confirmed
Deadline: To be confirmed

Applicants wishing to enroll for the upcoming examinations should contact gro.cbpchc@smaxe.

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

Each applicant takes the examination during a pre-scheduled time slot on one of the examination 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.

In 2023 and onwards, the examination will be held twice annually, in the Fall and in the Spring.

Audiology graduates applying to become RHIPs must pass the ILE Written Exam and HID Practical Exam.

Video: HID Practical Exam

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

Information for all exams

Conditional registration

If you do not have proof of passing one of the above-mentioned examinations, you must apply for the Conditional registration classification and practice under general supervision until you have passed an approved examination. Applicants for Conditional registration classification must secure a practice supervisor, who must be a Full CHCPBC registrant of the same profession in good standing. You will be asked to provide your supervisor’s registrant details as part of the online application process in the Applicant Portal.

Conditional registrants who cannot demonstrate they have already passed one of the required exams should register for their first attempt within six months of being granted Conditional registration.

Examination attempts

Applicants are permitted three exam attempts for both the IHS Written Exam and HID Practical Exam. An applicant must complete all attempts within two years from the date of the applicant’s initial application.

For more information

For further information regarding current CHCPBC examination requirements, examination day accommodations, improper conduct during an examination and examination discrepancies, examination attempts and failures, and other aspects of entry-to-practice examinations, it is important that applicants review the Entry-to-Practice Examination Requirements Policy.

Non-Standard Applications & Registration Committee Review

The College thoroughly reviews every application for registration, including applications for full registration and applications for certification, to determine if applicants meet the College’s registration and certification requirements.

Applications fall under two broad categories:

Standard applications: where it is very clear that registration or certification requirements as set out in CHCPBC Bylaws and policy are met.
Non-standard applications: where it is less clear that one or more of the registration or certification requirements are met.

The Registration Committee delegates authority to the CHCPBC Registrar to review and approve standard applications. However, non-standard applications must be reviewed by the Registration Committee. These applications generally take longer to be processed given it takes time to gather additional information and have the Registration Committee consider the matter.

Frequently asked questions

Registration Policies, Guidelines, & Forms for Applicants

Registration Policies

The Registration Committee and Board have approved the following registration policies that relate to applicants and Conditional registrants:

Forms for Applicants

Forms required by applicants during the application process are listed below. Important: For information about how these forms are used, please see the relevant pages in the Applicants section.

Hearing Instrument Dispensing applicants

Proposed RHIP (Conditional) Practicum Supervisor)
Summary of RHIP (Conditional) Practicum Hours
Academic Coursework Requirements – Hearing Instrument Dispensing Program (internationally educated applicants and Canadian-educated AUD applicants only)
Summary of Clinical Practicum Hours – Hearing Instrument Dispensing Program (internationally educated applicants and Canadian-educated AUD applicants only)

Consent to a Criminal Record Check

Canadian-educated and Internationally-educated applicants who graduated from an audiology, hearing instrument dispensing, or speech-language pathology program more than three years ago

Confirmation of Practice Hours