Certified Practices
Certified practices are restricted activities that healthcare professionals are permitted to carry out only once they’ve been certified. Restricted activities are granted in regulation by government because they are considered risky activities. Performance of a restricted activity is only permitted by an authorized healthcare professional or a person appropriately delegated the activity.
There are three levels of authorization to practice restricted activities in BC:
| Full | The activity is considered entry-to-practice and can be performed without any limits or conditions. | If permitted in bylaw, the activity can be delegated. |
| Limited | A profession-specific purpose is listed in the regulation to better clarify the context and scope of the activity that can be performed. | If permitted in bylaw, the activity can be delegated. |
| Certified | The activity is generally considered to be beyond entry-level and can only be performed by a healthcare professional who completes additional requirements. | Performing the activity requires a Full licence and cannot be delegated. |
For Certified restricted activities, as determined in the regulations, CHCPBC must establish and oversee certification programs to ensure licensees practise safely and competently.
The professions that currently have certified practices in regulation are audiology, dietetics, hearing instrument dispensing, occupational therapy, opticianry, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology. The Restricted Activities and Certifications practice standard lists the restricted activities and certified practices authorized for these professions.
Certification programs
A certification program outlines the minimum experience, education, practical training requirements, and other qualifications to achieve competence in practising a Certified restricted activity autonomously and safely.
Program requirements are evidence-informed, competency-based, and proportionate to the risks associated with the certified practice.
A certification program builds on entry-level competence with advanced knowledge, skills, and clinical judgment, in addition to infection prevention and control, and emergency or adverse event responses that are specific to the certified practice.
Supervision
Some certification programs may require a supervised practical component. “Supervise” is defined in the Ethics and Practice Standards as “to oversee the practice of another individual to ensure that health services are delivered safely, ethically, and in accordance with professional standards while retaining responsibility for the actions of the individual being supervised and the delivery of those health services. The supervision may occur in the context of a formal delegation or assignment.”
To be eligible to supervise a CHCPBC licensee completing a certification program, an individual must:
- Be licensed with CHCPBC in Full and in good standing* with the same certified practice the licensee is applying for
or
Be a health professional licensed in good standing* and authorized to practise the restricted activity under the Health Professions and Occupations Act’s regulations or equivalent in another jurisdiction. - Have experience practising the Certified restricted activity.
- Be informed on certification program requirements and the responsibility associated with supervision.
- Be informed on the CHCPBC Ethics and Practice Standards and any workplace policies applicable to the certified practice.
- Consent to supervise the licensee’s performance of the Certified restricted activity and report successful completion of the certification program to CHCPBC.
* No conditions, limitations, or disciplinary action
At the supervisor’s discretion, supervised simulated or virtual practice may be considered equivalent to in-person observation for some practical learning experiences, provided that:
- Informed consent is obtained.
- The experience is designed to be equivalent to in-person care when involving any live patient or patient model, or when used to demonstrate and evaluate competence and safety.
Where the supervisor is not a licensee of CHCPBC, the licensee completing the certification program should inform the supervisor of the certification program requirements, as well as any applicable CHCPBC Bylaws and Ethics and Practice Standards.
Certifications will not be granted in instances where a supervisor does not meet the criteria for certification program supervision or where a certification program is completed without appropriate supervision. Any such instance will be referred for investigation and could lead to a complaint.
Mentorship
Some certification programs may require a mentorship component. Mentorship differs from supervision in that it is based on a supportive relationship between an experienced healthcare professional and a less experienced one. It is collaborative and includes reciprocal learning and long-term professional development. A mentor is not responsible or accountable for a licensee’s clinical actions.
To be eligible to mentor a CHCPBC licensee completing a certification program, an individual must:
- Be licensed with CHCPBC in Full and in good standing* with the same certified practice the licensee is applying for
or
Be a health professional licensed in good standing* and authorized to practise the restricted activity under the Health Professions and Occupations Act’s regulations or equivalent in another jurisdiction. - Have experience practising the Certified restricted activity.
- Be informed on certification program requirements and the responsibility associated with supervision.
- Be informed on the CHCPBC Ethics and Practice Standards and any workplace policies applicable to the certified practice.
* No conditions, limitations, or disciplinary action
A licensee who is newly licensed to practise a Certified restricted activity is strongly encouraged to seek mentorship with a healthcare professional who is experienced with the certified practice or to connect with a community of practice for support during their first year of performing the activity.
Select a profession below to view profession-specific information about certification programs and application processes. Professions not listed do not currently have any certification programs.
Audiology
The Health and Care Professionals Regulation authorizes certified audiologists to insert the following into the external ear canal:
- An instrument, device or finger, for the purpose of cerumen management
- Air that is under pressure, for the purpose of cerumen management
- Water that is under pressure, for the purpose of assessing the function of the vestibular system or cerumen management
The following certified practices are available to audiologists:
- Vestibular Assessment & Management
- Cochlear Implant Assessment & Management
- Cerumen Assessment & Management
More details on these certification programs will be available soon.
Dietetics
CHCPBC no longer requires dietitians to register their performance of Full or Limited restricted activities.
The Health and Care Professionals Regulation authorizes certified dietitians to:
- Insert an instrument, device, hand, or finger beyond the point in the nasal passages where they normally narrow, beyond the pharynx, and into an artificial opening into the body for the purpose of administering a therapeutic diet by enteral instillation
CHCPBC is collaborating with health authorities and other subject matter experts to develop certification programs for the following services:
- Insertion and removal of nasal and oral enteric tubes
- Replacement and removal of balloon-retained enterostomy tubes
Dietitians will receive more information once the CHCPBC Board approves these two new certification programs.
Hearing instrument dispensing
The Health and Care Professionals Regulation authorizes certified hearing instrument practitioners to:
- Insert the following into the external ear canal for the purpose of cerumen management:
- An instrument, device, or finger
- Air that is under pressure
- Water that is under pressure
- Prescribe, fit, or dispense a wearable hearing instrument for a patient aged less than 19 years
The following certifications are available to hearing instrument practitioners:
- Cerumen Assessment & Management
- Hearing Instrument Dispensing for Pediatric Patients
More details on these certification programs will be available soon.
Occupational therapy
The Health and Care Professionals Regulation authorizes certified occupational therapists to:
- Perform a procedure on tissue below the dermis for the purpose of wound care
- Insert an instrument, device, hand, or finger beyond the point in the nasal passages where they normally narrow, beyond the pharynx, or into an artificial opening into the body for the purpose of airway suctioning
CHCPBC is working with subject matter experts to develop the following certification programs for these activities:
- Wound Care (below dermis)
- Management of Airway Secretions
Occupational therapists will receive more information once the CHCPBC Board approves these two new certification programs.
Opticianry
The Health and Care Professionals Regulation authorizes certified opticians to prepare a dispensing authority unless a patient has or may have a condition, or is exhibiting signs or expressing symptoms, that indicate the need for the optician to recommend to the patient that they be assessed by a qualified practitioner.
Opticians certified to prepare a dispensing authority should refer to Appendix A: Optician – Preparing dispensing authorities and fitting contact lenses for additional standards specific to this practice within the Ethics and Practice Standards.
An optician may apply for this certified practice upon application for Full licensure through the Licensee Portal.
An optician may also apply for this certified practice after receiving their CHCPBC licence by emailing licensure@chcpbc.org.
Physical therapy
The Health and Care Professionals Regulation authorizes certified physical therapists to:
- Perform a procedure on tissue below the dermis by inserting solid filament needles for the purpose of reducing inflammation or managing pain
- Reduce a dislocation of a joint
- Insert an instrument, device, hand, or finger beyond the labia majora or anal verge for the purpose of assessing or treating the pelvic floor
CHCPBC is working with subject matter experts to develop certification programs for these activities:
- Intrapelvic Health: Physical therapists who wish to perform pelvic health internal assessments and treatment must be certified by CHCPBC to do so. Physical therapists who provide pelvic health services that do not include an internal component are not required to obtain this certification and can continue to offer these services.
- Reduction of Joint Dislocation: This certified practice is for the reduction of frank joint dislocations only. Spinal manipulation is a restricted activity that has now been granted to physical therapists in the Health and Care Professionals Regulation but does not require certification.
Physical therapists will receive more information once the CHCPBC Board approves these two new certification programs.
The following certifications are currently available to physical therapists:
- Dry Needling (PDF)
Application Process
Full licensees who wish to practice dry needling within the physical therapy scope of practice must first apply to the College:
- Complete and sign (electronic signatures are accepted) the Application to Perform Dry Needling form (PDF).
- Send the application form and a copy of your course completion certificate to the College at certification@chcpbc.org.
Processing an application may take 3–5 business days once both documents have been received. - After review of the submitted documents, if you are determined to be eligible to perform dry needling, you will be invoiced the $250 application fee.
- Once payment is received, you will be notified by email and “dry needling” will become visible as an additional skill on your record on the Public Registry.
Please note that:
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Speech-language pathology
The Health and Care Professionals Regulation authorizes certified speech-language pathologists to:
- Insert an instrument, device, or finger beyond the pharynx for the purpose of:
- Assessing or managing voice and swallowing disorders and conditions
- Voice restoration
- Insert an instrument or device beyond the point in the nasal passages where they normally narrow, for the purpose of assessing or managing voice and swallowing disorders
- Insert an instrument or device into an artificial opening in the body for the purpose of:
- Assessing or managing voice and swallowing disorders and conditions
- Voice restoration
- Administer topically a Schedule I or II drug that is an anaesthetic for the purpose of performing certified restricted activities
The following certifications are available to speech-language pathologists:
- Flexible Endoscopy of Voice & Swallowing in Adults
- Tracheoesophageal Voice Restoration
- Communication & Swallowing for Tracheostomy (with speaking valves)
- Videofluoroscopy of Pediatric Velopharyngeal Disorders
- Management of Airway Secretions
More details on these certification programs will be available soon.
Find more information
Review frequently asked questions about certified practices
For questions about the application process for certified practices, contact certification@chcpbc.org
For questions about the practice of restricted activities, contact practicesupport@chcpbc.org