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The HPOA and changes to our practice at the North Shore CBT Centre

  • Writer: Dr. Sue Hackett, LPsych
    Dr. Sue Hackett, LPsych
  • 1 day ago
  • 3 min read

At the North Shore CBT Centre our psychologists and counsellors are “registered” healthcare professionals who are soon to become “licensed”.

 

“ What is the difference between being “licensed” and being “registered”?”


Our psychologists were previous ‘registered’ with the College of Psychologists of BC. Recently, the government amalgamated many Colleges to form the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC). The CHCPBC refers to their members as licensees.  All health care professionals working under the CHCPBC are considered ‘licensed’. 

Our Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) are currently registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC. They will join the new CHCPBC in November 2027, at which point their title will change too.


“So, to say that NSCBT’s Psychologists and Clinical Counsellors are licensed or registered means that they are skilled and ethical?”


Yes! Both CHCPBC and the BCACC work to protect the public by ensuring that our psychologists and counsellors not only have the skills they need to do their work, but that they follow the required standards for safe and ethical care.


“Do RCCs have to join the CHCPBC?  Can’t they just stay in the BCACC?”


Hmm…. That’s an interesting question.  The RCC designation is a registered trademark of the BCACC.  You have to be an active member of the BCACC to call yourself an RCC. 

On Nov. 29, 2027, the BCACC will shift from being a self-regulating organization to becoming a professional association with a focus on advocacy and support for its members. The CHCPBC will take on the responsibility of regulating the RCCs…along with the psychologists.


“Will RCCs automatically be ‘ported over’ to become members of the CHCPBC?”


According to the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, all counsellors must apply to the CHCPBC and meet the requirements to be licensed. No designations will be automatically ‘ported’.


“Do all RCCs have to join the CHCPBC?”


Actually, the way things stand currently the term “counselling” is NOT a protected term.  So, anyone can say they offer counselling in BC, without being a member of the CHCPBC and without meeting any standards of practice or training requirements.

For RCCs wanting to join the CHCPBC, “psychotherapy” will be the new term that is a protected activity they will offer under the CHCPBC.  Only members of the CHCPBC can provide ‘psychotherapy’ and they will be called ‘psycho-therapists’. The protection of this term (psychotherapy) and this title (psychotherapist) means that specific training requirements and standards of practice are being met.


However, keep in mind that things are still in transition and could change.


“What other changes can be expected?”


As you can imagine, the HPOA is a massive piece of legislation, providing the structure that is intended to better protect the public in the CHCPBC oversight of different healthcare professionals.


The CHCPBC describes some of the important changes that result from the introduction of the HPOA as being:

  • New requirements for committing to cultural safety and humility, improved governance, strengthened oversight of health profession regulatory colleges (see Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office), a safer complaints and adjudication process, and better information sharing;

  • A set of guiding principles that health professions regulators will be required to adhere to;

  • An expanded list of duties that regulated health professionals will be required to uphold;

  • Changes in regulatory language, including referring to “licensees” instead of “registrants.”

                                      https://chcpbc.org/legislation/hpoa/

 

Our team at the North Shore CBT Centre is currently adjusting to these changes. Our clients will notice we have shifted to using the term Licensed Psychologist. We will also be notifying clients of the changes the HPOA has made to informed consent, client confidentiality, and other areas of clinical practice. 


Written by: Dr. Sue Hackett, Licensed Psychologist

Sue provides therapy for youth, adults, and families. Click here to view her bio.

 

References


 

 

College of Health Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC) https://chcpbc.org/

 

BC Psychological Association https://psychologists.bc.ca/

 

BC Association of Clinical Counsellors https://bcacc.ca/

 

 

 

 
 
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