Professional & Quality Practice Program
Professional & Quality Practice Program (PQPP)
The College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC) has designed a comprehensive approach to quality practice that includes continuing professional development, practice support, and quality assurance assessments. The Professional & Quality Practice Program (PQPP) will replace previous Quality Assurance Program requirements, apply to all 16,000 registrants across nine professions, and be consistent with the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) when in force on April 1, 2026.
The purpose of the new PQPP is to improve patient outcomes, and support health professionals’ learning and performance.
The PQPP will have 3 parts:
1. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Annual Touchpoints
- To be completed by all CHCPBC registrants.
- Will be online and open for completion every October 1-November 30 (starting 2026).
- Resource Review on new, specified standards (e.g. up to 4 each year). Learning activity with common and profession-specific content.
- Standards Quiz: Short, case-based (for each profession) test on same standards, open book, with feedback and score.
- Guided self-report of performance, including
- Inventory of risks and protective factors: Reflective questions with summary of responses and feedback.
- Inventory of learning: Describes CPD done over the past year, plans for next year and reflection on the linkages between knowledge gaps or interests, plans and patient outcomes.
2. Practice Support & Resources
- Available and optional for all CHCPBC registrants, year-round.
- Practice resources in multiple formats and practice advice available from profession-specific Practice Advisors.
3. Quality Assurance Assessments
- For selected CHCPBC registrants only.
- Will be virtual (with some possible in person) for selected CHCPBC registrants from May 1-June 30 (starting 2027).
- Peer assessments for registrants identified as requiring additional supports based on patterns of overall health professional risks or professional performance, across multiple registrants or within a class of registrants.
More detailed descriptions for each part of the program, with guidance and instructions, will be provided to registrants as it becomes available, and nearer the start date in 2026.
Transition to the PQPP
To facilitate the design of this new program, effective July 1, 2025, health professionals regulated by CHCPBC do not have to report legacy Quality Assurance Program (QAP) requirements to the College. Although the reporting of QAP requirements is not required, registrants must practise within the scope of practice of their profession and actively maintain their individual skills and competencies.
CHCPBC acknowledges the importance of professional development as one tool to maintain skills and support the delivery of safe care. Health professionals are encouraged to participate in professional development activities that are focused on preventing patient/client harm and maintaining performance.
Starting in October 2025, registrants in some professions will begin to receive information on upcoming changes to their online portals, with instructions on downloading records of past QAP activities for their files if they choose. This will occur over time, with specific deadlines communicated for doing so.
Starting in November 2025, registrants will be asked to participate in transitional activities that will introduce the new and unified approach. This will include pre-testing of the new PQPP tools, sometime in 2026, offering those interested an opportunity to provide input prior to the PQPP being finalized. Profession-specific reminders will be sent to encourage participation from all nine health professions and facilitate input from each.
The process for developing a modernized and unified QAP
CHPCBC began exploring a new approach to QAP in February 2025. The College commissioned a report titled the “QAP Ideas and Design Report” to gather information and input about the current state of QA programs across the nine professions and to provide recommendations for the design of a new evidence-based QA program. The report, which was approved in principle by the Board in June 2025, contains detailed evidence to inform planning for the design, development, and implementation of a new QAP.
The new QAP will include individual and collaborative care competencies that are central to the delivery of safe care and improved health and care outcomes for clients/patients and the public. The new QAP will also be equitable, feasible, and sustainable, while prioritizing patient safety by addressing risks to patients and risks to competence.
PQPP transformation: Frequently asked questions
General
1. Why is CHCPBC developing a new Quality Assurance Program (QAP)?
The College has the novel opportunity to develop a modernized and unified QAP. This program will support the quality practice of more than 16,000 health and care professionals in the nine professions and be consistent with the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) when it is brought into force. Additionally, we’ve heard from many health professionals who have expressed a need for greater consistency in how professions are regulated at CHCPBC. The movement towards a QAP that is aligned with current evidence and best practices is one example of the College’s efforts to harmonize programs and processes across the nine professions we regulate.
2. Do health professionals need to complete QAP requirements while the new program is in development?
From July 1 to December 31, 2025, registrants do not have to report their QAP activities to the College. While reporting of legacy QAP activities is not required during this period, health professionals are strongly encouraged to participate in professional development activities that are focused on preventing patient/client harm and maintaining performance. CHCPBC acknowledges the importance of professional development undertaken by health professionals as one tool to maintain skills and support the delivery of safe care.
3. Why does the College not require registrants to report QA activities between July 1 and December 31, 2025?
4. How is the College ensuring that registrants deliver safe care?
Registrants are expected to continue professional development in areas where new learning to improve professional performance is needed.
For the balance of 2025 and in 2026, transitional QAP activities will introduce new approaches and engage registrants in their development, such as identifying risks and protective factors to patient safety and individual competence impacting professional performance.
5. What is informing the design of a new QAP?
6. Why are continuing education hours not mandatory?
CHCPBC will support registrants learning through the QAP by focusing on Continuing Professional Development (CPD). CPD is defined in the HPOA as “an activity or program undertaken for the purpose of ensuring that professional knowledge, skills and abilities remain current” (2022, section 1).
Quantifying continuing education by setting a number of hours or credits of what is permissible to count is not supported by the literature. CPD in the new QAP will redirect energy to approaches with more demonstrated impact on registrant performance and patient care outcomes.
For Registrants
1. What QA activities and assessments are impacted by the development of the new QAP?
Starting July 1, 2025, completing, tracking, and reporting legacy Quality Assurance Program activities and assessments are not required. Legacy QA activities and assessments that are not required after July 1, 2025 include continuing education hours or credits with specific targets, self-reflection activities, portfolios, CCP, ASR, ACCR, and practice quizzes.
2. Do I need to report QAP activities within the current QAP cycle that occurred before July 1?
QAP activities already completed by registrants during the current QA cycle do not need to be reported to the College.
3. Should I still attend continuing professional development courses?
Yes, registrants are strongly encouraged to complete continuing professional development that is focused on preventing patient/client harm and maintaining performance, though these activities do not need to be reported to the College. You may choose to continue to record your activities with the existing QAP platform for your own record keeping purposes. CHCPBC acknowledges the importance of professional development undertaken by health professionals as one tool to maintain skills and support the delivery of safe care.
4. Can I continue to report my QAP requirements to the College after July 1, 2025?
Yes, you may continue to report your legacy QAP activities as you normally do through your existing QAP platform. Some registrants find recording activities in the QAP platform is helpful when information is required for marketing and their CV. This reporting is for your benefit only. The College will not monitor or assess this reporting for compliance. Registrants may also choose to download records of past QAP activities for their files if they choose. Registrants will be notified in advance of any potential changes to accessing their portals.
5. What will this mean when I need to renew my registration, certifications, or restricted activities?
This change will not impact your ability to renew your registration, certifications, or restricted activity registrations if you have them. Any references to legacy QAP requirements in licensure programs are in the process of being identified and amended in preparation for the new QAP. Registrants have an ongoing professional responsibility to engage in continuing professional development (e.g. continuing education, self-study) that supports their learning and improved performance, including knowledge, skills, and abilities required for certifications and restricted activities.
PQPP information on CHCPBC website
Please consider this page (Professional & Quality Practice Program) as the most up-to-date source of information about CHCPBC’s Professional & Quality Practice Program (PQPP). Information about legacy QAP requirements in the For Registrants section of the CHCPBC website remains for reference, and will be updated as soon as possible. The College appreciates registrants’ patience as we update website content.
Legacy QAP requirements
“Legacy QAP requirements” refers to CHCPBC Quality Assurance Program (QAP) requirements that were in effect from June 28, 2024 to June 30, 2025. They are “legacy” requirements because they were established by the seven former health profession regulatory colleges that amalgamated to create CHCPBC on June 28, 2024. To facilitate the design of a new QAP, effective July 1, 2025, registrants do not need to report completion of legacy QAP requirements. In 2026, registrants will participate in transitional activities that will introduce the new PQPP.
For more information
Questions about PQPP requirements or development of the new PQPP can be submitted through the Contact Form by selecting “Quality Assurance” as the subject of enquiry.