Quality Assurance Program
Developing a new Quality
Assurance Program (QAP)
The College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC) is moving forward with the development of a modernized and unified approach to a Quality Assurance Program (QAP). This program will support quality practice of more than 16,000 health and care professionals in nine professions and will be consistent with the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) when it is brought into force.
The purpose of the new QAP is to improve client/patient outcomes, and support health professionals’ learning and performance by:
- Taking a unified approach to ensure consistency in public protection while reflecting profession-specific uniqueness;
- Assessing, monitoring, and supporting health professionals’ individual and collaborative performance, which is central to the delivery of safe care and improved client/patient outcomes;
- Including cultural safety and humility, health equity, and anti-discrimination initiatives;
- Supporting the prevention of harm by proactively identifying and addressing risks to patients and professional competence;
- Aligning with harmonized standards that will guide and inform QAP content; and,
- Meeting the expectations for Quality Assurance and the guiding principles in the HPOA.
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 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 must also be equitable, feasible, and sustainable, while prioritizing patient safety by addressing risks to patients and risks to competence.
Transition to the new QAP
To facilitate the design of this new program, health professionals regulated by CHCPBC will not have to report their legacy QAP requirements to the College effective July 1, 2025 until December 31, 2025. Although the reporting of QAP requirements will not be 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.
The new QAP will include guided self-reporting related to professional development. However, quantified continuing education (i.e., reporting continuing education hours) will not be required.
In 2026, registrants will participate in transitional activities that will introduce the new and unified approach. Details on these activities will be shared as soon as they are available.
The table below outlines the current QAP requirements that registrants do not need to report to the College effective July 1, 2025, by profession. Please note: occupational therapists must complete and report QAP activities for the current registration renewal period.
| Profession | QA required Practice Hours (PHs) | QA required quantified continuing education | Other requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audiology | PHs | CCCs | n/a |
| Dietetics | n/a | n/a | CCP completion:
|
| Hearing Instrument Dispensing | PHs | CCCs | Practice Reviews |
| Occupational Therapy | n/a *Practice hours are a registration renewal requirement | n/a | ACCR completion:
|
| Opticianry | n/a | n/a | CCP completion:
|
| Optometry | n/a | CEs | PEP completion:
|
| Physical Therapy | n/a *Practice hours are a registration renewal requirement | n/a | ASR completion:
|
| Psychology | n/a | Learning Activities | CCP completion:
|
| Speech-Language Pathology | PHs | CCCs | Practice Reviews |
QAP 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 audiologists, dietitians, hearing instrument practitioners, opticians, optometrists, physical therapists, psychologists, and speech-language pathologists during the current QA cycle do not need to be reported to the College. Occupational therapists must complete and report QAP activities for the current registration renewal period.
3. Should I still attend continuing professional development courses?
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.
QAP information on CHCPBC website
Please consider this page (Quality Assurance Program) as the most up-to-date source of information about CHCPBC’s Quality Assurance Program (QAP). 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.
For more information
Questions about QAP requirements or development of the new QAP program can be submitted through the Contact Form by selecting “Quality Assurance” as the subject of enquiry.