Jurisprudence E-Course

Module 1: Regulation of Healthcare Professionals in Alberta

Module 2: Registration

Module 3: Professional Practice Requirements

Module 4: Therapeutic Relationships, Trauma informed Service Delivery, and Professional Communication

Module 5: Professional Conduct, Complaints, and Capacity

Module 6: Sexual Abuse & Sexual Misconduct

Module 1

Regulation of Healthcare Professions in Alberta

Module 1 is a high-level overview of the legislative environment, the legislation relevant to SLPs and Audiologists, and the governance of ACSLPA and its regulated members.

Click on the topics below to begin this module:

Speech-language pathology and audiology are regulated professions in Alberta, which means that the professions are accountable to the public and the Minister of Health. The professions are governed by equal amounts of regulated members of the College and members of the public. Regulated members are involved in setting and enforcing practice standards of their profession and fund the regulation of their professions.

In Canada, the regulation of health professions occurs at the provincial level The Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (ACSLPA) is the regulatory body for SLPs and Audiologists in Alberta, as identified through Health Professions Act (HPA).

Under the HPA, a college must not act or hold itself out as a professional association. It is important to understand that ACSLPA is a regulatory body and not a professional association. The key differences between regulatory bodies and professional associations are highlighted in the table below.

Regulatory Bodies Professional Associations
Protect and serve the public. Serve the needs of members.

Accountable to the public and the Minister of Health.

 Accountable to association members.
Activities focus on regulating a profession as set out in provincial legislation;
key focus areas include:

  • registration and practice permits;
  • professional practice standards;
  • continuing competence; and
  • professional conduct.
 Activities focus on:

  • advocating for and promoting the professions;
  • lobbying government on issues that support the best interest of the public;
  • providing continuing education opportunities for members; and
  • providing practice information and resources for members.

Note: Professional associations may be both provincially and/or nationally organized.

The HPA is the governing legislation for all health professions in Alberta. Under the HPA, the various health professions are organized into regulatory bodies called colleges.

The HPA sets out in law the powers, duties, and responsibilities of each college, its regulated members, employers, and others, with respect to the regulation of health professions. While regulated health professions each govern themselves, the HPA lays out consistent rules by which all professions must provide competent and safe professional services to the public.

HPA Parts 0.1 – 9 are common to all the health professions regulated under the Act, and address matters such as the:

  • identification of restricted activities (i.e., procedures or services that pose significant risk and require a high level of professional competence to be performed safely; and which may only be performed by persons authorized by their regulatory College to do so)
  • establishment and governance of a professional college,
  • initial registration, registration renewal,
  • continuing competence of health professionals,
  • investigation of complaints, and
  • protection of professional titles.

HPA Part 10 contains profession specific schedules for each college established under the HPA. These schedules address unique aspects of each profession including:

  • The professional titles that regulated members may use.
  • The health professions’ practice statement, which describes the services provided by members.

Protected titles help the public identify qualified health professionals. Only regulated members are entitled to use protected titles and be identified as a member of their profession.

Under the HPA, the following protected titles and designations may only be used by regulated members of ACSLPA who hold a valid practice permit:

Speech-Language
Pathologists		 Audiologists
  • speech-language pathologist
  • speech therapist
  • speech pathologist
  • SLP
  • R.SLP
  • audiologist
  • Aud
  • R.Aud
  • Note: AuD (with a capital D) designates a
    doctoral degree in audiology.
 HPA, Schedule 28, Sec 2; The Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Profession Regulation 18 (1-4).

The SLPs and Audiologists who have met the requirements for registration and have the competence to provide professional services are listed on the or Courtesy Register (see Module 2: Registration, for more).

The HPA also protects the use of other words:

  • college
  • registered
  • regulated
  • regulated health professional
  • specialist (may only be used by those professions who have legislated authorization)

A person may not use these protected words, alone or in combination with any other words, to imply that they are a regulated member of a college when they are not.

Additional Information

For more information, see ACSLPA’s advisory statement Using Your Professional Designation the Right Way.

[1] Regulated members on the General Register who do not hold a valid practice permit, i.e., those who are non-practicing, may use the protected titles of their profession followed by phrase “Non-Practicing”.

A restriction on the use of the title ‘doctor’ applies when providing a health service.

A health service is “a service provided to people

  • to protect, promote or maintain their health;
  • to prevent illness;
  • to diagnose, treat or rehabilitate; or
  • to take care of the health needs of the ill, disabled, injured, or dying.”

HPA, s.1(p)



Registered SLPs and Audiologists with doctoral degrees must apply to ACSLPA for authorization to use the protected title Doctor (Dr.), alone or in a combination of words, in connection with providing a health service.

Regulated members with doctoral degrees can use the title doctor in teaching, research, or administrative settings without requiring authorization by the College.

Additional Information

For more information, see ACSLPA’s advisory statement Use of the Protected Title “Doctor” or “Dr.” When Providing a Health Service; and application form Authorization Criteria for use of the Protected Title “Doctor” or “Dr.” by Speech-Language Pathologists When Providing a Health Service.

Protected professional titles are NOT portable between provinces and countries. In Canada, only registration with a provincial regulatory body, like ACSLPA, allows a regulated member to use the protected titles of their profession and practice the profession. This authorization applies only in the province(s) in which the healthcare professional is registered.

Registration in one province or jurisdiction does not mean that a professional may work or use protected titles in another province or jurisdiction. To work (paid or unpaid) in another province in Canada, or in another country, professionals must apply to the authority that oversees their profession in that province or country. Membership with a provincial, national, or international association (e.g., Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC), American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), Canadian Academy of Audiology (CAA)) does not grant the right to use professional titles.

All SLPs and Audiologists are responsible for protecting the integrity of the profession by reporting any misuse of professional titles to the College. Verification of who is authorized to practice and use of the SLP and Audiology titles can be confirmed on the ACSLPA website (View Public Register).

Practice statements for each profession are included in the HPA. Practice statements inform the public, in plain language, of the type of services that can be expected from those .

SLP Practice Statement

“In their practice, speech-language pathologists do one or more of the following:

  1. assess, diagnose, rehabilitate, and prevent communication and oral motor and pharyngeal dysfunctions and disorders;
  2. teach, manage, and conduct research in the science and practice of speech-language pathology; and
  3. provide restricted activities authorized by the regulations”.

HPA, Schedule 28, s. 3(1)

Audiology Practice Statement

“In their practice, audiologists do one or more of the following:

  1. assess auditory and vestibular function and diagnose, rehabilitate, prevent, and provide appropriate devices and treatment for auditory and vestibular dysfunction;
  2. teach, manage, and conduct research in the science and practice of audiology; and
  3. provide restricted activities authorized by the regulations”.

HPA, Schedule 28, s. 3(2)

The role of a college, like ACSLPA, is outlined in the Health Professions Act.

“A college:

  1. must carry out its activities and govern its regulated members in a manner that protects and serves the public interest;
  2. must provide direction to and regulate the practice of the regulated profession by its regulated members;
  3. must establish, maintain, and enforce standards for registration and of continuing competence and standards of practice of the regulated profession;
  4. must establish, maintain, and enforce a code of ethics;
  5. must carry on the activities of the college and perform other duties and functions by the exercise of the powers conferred by this Act; and
  6. may approve programs of study and education courses for the purposes of registration requirements”.

HPA, Part 1, s.3(1)

The College is accountable for how it exercises its responsibilities under the HPA and must submit an annual report to the government. The report is tabled in the Alberta Legislature and includes information requested by the Minister of Health.

Annual reports are posted on the ACSLPA website.

Protected titles help the public identify qualified health professionals. Only regulated members are entitled to use protected titles and be identified as a member of their profession.

Under the HPA, the following protected titles and designations may only be used by regulated members of ACSLPA who hold a valid practice permit:

Speech-Language
Pathologists		 Audiologists
  • speech-language pathologist
  • speech therapist
  • speech pathologist
  • SLP
  • R.SLP
  • audiologist
  • Aud
  • R.Aud
  • Note: AuD (with a capital D) designates a
    doctoral degree in audiology.
 HPA, Schedule 28, Sec 2; The Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Profession Regulation 18 (1-4).

The SLPs and Audiologists who have met the requirements for registration and have the competence to provide professional services are listed on the or Courtesy Register (see Module 2: Registration, for more).

The HPA also protects the use of other words:

  • college
  • registered
  • regulated
  • regulated health professional
  • specialist (may only be used by those professions who have legislated authorization)

A person may not use these protected words, alone or in combination with any other words, to imply that they are a regulated member of a college when they are not.

Additional Information

For more information, see ACSLPA’s advisory statement Using Your Professional Designation the Right Way.

[1] Regulated members on the General Register who do not hold a valid practice permit, i.e., those who are non-practicing, may use the protected titles of their profession followed by phrase “Non-Practicing”.

Protected titles help the public identify qualified health professionals. Only regulated members are entitled to use protected titles and be identified as a member of their profession.

Under the HPA, the following protected titles and designations may only be used by regulated members of ACSLPA who hold a valid practice permit:

Speech-Language
Pathologists		 Audiologists
  • speech-language pathologist
  • speech therapist
  • speech pathologist
  • SLP
  • R.SLP
  • audiologist
  • Aud
  • R.Aud
  • Note: AuD (with a capital D) designates a
    doctoral degree in audiology.
 HPA, Schedule 28, Sec 2; The Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Profession Regulation 18 (1-4).

The SLPs and Audiologists who have met the requirements for registration and have the competence to provide professional services are listed on the or Courtesy Register (see Module 2: Registration, for more).

The HPA also protects the use of other words:

  • college
  • registered
  • regulated
  • regulated health professional
  • specialist (may only be used by those professions who have legislated authorization)

A person may not use these protected words, alone or in combination with any other words, to imply that they are a regulated member of a college when they are not.

Additional Information

For more information, see ACSLPA’s advisory statement Using Your Professional Designation the Right Way.

[1] Regulated members on the General Register who do not hold a valid practice permit, i.e., those who are non-practicing, may use the protected titles of their profession followed by phrase “Non-Practicing”.

It is important that regulated members understand their responsibilities and obligations as self-regulated professionals.

Under the HPA, regulated members have a responsibility to conduct themselves in a professional manner and must:

  • Demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skill, attitudes, and judgment in the provision of professional services.
  • Practice in compliance with the Health Professions Act, Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Profession Regulation, Code of Ethics, and Standards of Practice.
  • Comply with the registration requirements of the College.
  • Respect any conditions imposed on a practice permit.
  • Respect the legal restrictions around the use of protected titles.
  • Comply with the requirements of the Continuing Competence Program.
  • Cooperate with the College during investigations.
  • Avoid any conduct that harms the public or the integrity of the profession.
  • Report offences and/or professional negligence.

College Governance

Under the HPA, the business and affairs of ACSLPA are governed by a council.

The Council body is a 50/50 split between:

  • elected, registered SLPs and Audiologists; and
  • members of the public who are appointed by the provincial government.

Council includes public members to ensure that the interests of public protection are served in governance decisions. Generally, a regulated member of ACSLPA is eligible to be a member of the ACSLPA Council unless they:

  • are named on the Courtesy Register;
  • are serving as a senior official of a professional or labour association that represents members of the professions;
  • have not completed registration renewal requirements or are not in compliance with any conditions placed on their registration;
  • have not completed the requirements of the College’s continuing competence program, or are not in compliance with competence program related conditions on their registration;
  • are subject to a direction due to incapacity;
  • have been found guilty of unprofessional conduct or have agreed that their conduct was unprofessional, and at least 3 years have not passed since all conditions arising from the finding are resolved;
  • have been found guilty of a criminal offence or have received judgement against them in a civil action, and at least 3 years have not passed since all conditions arising from the verdict or judgement are resolved;
  • have worked as an employee or contractor for ACSLPA within the preceding two years;
  • have their primary residence outside of Alberta or practice primarily outside of Alberta; or
  • have not held an active practice permit within 3 years.

The governing responsibilities of the Council include:

  • selecting a president and vice-president from among the members of Council;
  • appointing the College Registrar, Chief Executive Officer, and Privacy Officer;
  • establishing and approving the terms of reference of statutory committees of the College;
  • appointing regulated members to hearing tribunal and complaint review committee membership lists;
  • hearing registration reviews and appeals;
  • approving and adopting regulations and bylaws,
  • approving and adopting documents for the purpose of regulating and directing the practice of regulated members (e.g., standards of practice, code of ethics, guidelines, etc.);
  • approving policies that govern Council in the discharge of its duties, monitoring conformance, and taking corrective action when necessary;
  • approving policies that govern the delegation of powers and duties to College officers and statutory committees, monitoring conformance, and taking corrective action when necessary;
  • approving the operations plan and operating budget for the College, monitoring progress and taking corrective action when necessary;
  • approving all fees and levies prescribed under the HPA;
  • ensuring that the College fulfills its statutory mandate and complies with all relevant legal and fiduciary responsibilities.

The key governing documents for the College inform each other hierarchically, with the HPA being the parent document. It should be noted that while the HPA serves as a parent document in ACSLPA’s governance, it can be superceded by other legislation (e.g., human rights, privacy, and fair registration and labour mobility legislation).

The key governing documents used by the College in its governance are the:

Health Professions Act

  • Sets out in law the powers, duties, and responsibilities of all regulated healthcare colleges, their regulated members, employers, and others.

SLP and Audiology Profession Regulation

  • Expands on the HPA‘s requirements with specific directives for SLPs and audiologists.
  • Regulations are approved by the provincial government.

ACLSPA Bylaws

  • Provide further directives regarding ACSLPA’s governance (day-to-day operations), e.g., registration categories, fees, appeals, the College’s website, etc.
  • Are established and approved by the Council.

Policies

  • Internal documents that state the principles used to meet ACSLPA’s mandate and strategic goals.
  • Can be linked back to the other governing documents that informed their development.
  • Are established and approved by the Council.

In the chart below, follow the flow of directives downward to see how the practice permit renewal process is covered across the College’s governing documents.

Health Professions Act

The HPA States:

  • That regulated members must periodically submit applications for practice permit renewals (by deadlines stated in the Bylaws).
  • The broad listing of requirements for practice permit renewal (e.g. evidence of professional liability insurance, good character and reputation, fitness to practice, etc.).

SLP and Audiology Profession Regulation

The Regulation provides specific information on currency requirements for practice permit renewal, i.e. that:

  • Regulated members must have practiced for 1250 hours over the proceeding 5 year period, or must have completed their education in the preceding 3 year period before applying for renewal.

ACLSPA Bylaws

The Bylaws provide the exact:

  • Dates by which applications for practice permit renewal must be received each year.
  • Professional liability insurance requirements for renewal (e.g. minimum coverage and extended reporting period requirements).
  • Good character and reputation requirements for renewal (i.e. regulated member must report criminal offences or civil charges).

Policies

ACSLPA’s Failure to Meet Currency Requirements policy outlines steps to be taken if a regulated member does not meet the currency requirements as outlined in the Regulation at the time of renewal.

While the key governing documents discussed previously primarily relate to college governance, there are also key college documents that apply to regulated members in their practice.

These key college documents include:

Code of Ethics

Outlines the ethical principles, values, and responsibilities to which regulated members must adhere. Regulated members must practice in accordance with the Code; a breach of the Code may constitute unprofessional conduct, as defined in the HPA.

Standards of Practice

Are established measures or norms which define the minimum level of professional performance that regulated members must demonstrate in their practice; a breach of a Standard may constitute unprofessional conduct as defined in the HPA.

Competency Profile

Specifies the minimum knowledge, skills, abilities, and judgment required of regulated members for safe and effective practice.

Advisory Statement

Provides direction to ensure regulated members have information to comply with legislation, standards, and other minimum requirements.

Guideline

Provides guidance to regulated members to support them in the clinical application of Standards of Practice.

Position Statement

Sets out the official position or stand of the College on an issue or matter that is significant to the professions, and to outside agencies or groups.

Protocol

Consistent with Competency Profiles for the professions, a protocol outlines the specific clinical criteria, activities, and procedures that should be adhered to by regulated members in the provision of specific professional services. Protocols are evidence informed.

All key college documents are available to regulated members on the ACSLPA website. Both the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice are reviewed by the Provincial Minister of Health and relevant external stakeholders, and approved by Council.

Applicable provincial or federal legislation informs the key college documents. The next two sections outline two important areas of legislation – information management and duty to report.

All healthcare professionals have an obligation to comply with information management legislation. While providing professional services, SLPs and audiologists will have access to protected information about individual clients, client family members, groups, agencies, employers, employees, businesses, and organizations. Consequently, they have an obligation to maintain the confidentiality of the information.

Both the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta have legislation that outlines how information must be managed to protect people and organizations from harm, including the:

  • Health Information Act (HIA) — Alberta
  • Health Professions Act (HPA) — Alberta
  • Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) — Alberta
  • Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) — Alberta
  • Children First Act — Alberta
  • Protection for Persons in Care Act (PPC Act) — Alberta
  • Child, Youth & Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA) — Alberta
  • Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) — Gov. of Canada

How information management legislation applies to individual practitioners varies by workplace setting. For example, one type of legislation might apply in a healthcare setting while another might apply in a school or private practice setting.

While each type of information management legislation varies in its focus, there are some common themes across the legislation, including:

Protection of Information

    • Protect the confidentiality of information and the privacy of individuals.
    • Protect against the loss, unauthorized use, disclosure, or modification of information.

Collection, Use, and Disclosure of Information

    • Limit information collection, use, and disclosure to what is essential in carrying out the purpose of the collection, use, and/or disclosure (i.e., need to know basis).
    • Information should be collected directly from a client or their designated care giver.
    • Clients should be informed what protected information will be collected or disclosed: from whom and for what purpose.
      • Obtain the clients consent, some exceptions may apply (see Duty to Report).
    • The highest degree of anonymity should be maintained.

Additional Information

For more profession specific information, read  ACSLPA’s practice standard on Documentation and Information Management and guideline on Clinical Documentation and Record Keeping.

While regulated members of ACSLPA have an obligation to protect information, there are circumstances where a duty to report to the proper authority supersedes confidentiality.

For example:

The Health Professions Act requires a regulated member to notify the appropriate authority of an actual or suspected “nuisance or … threat that may be injurious or dangerous to the public health. (HPA, s.1.1(1))

The Protection for Persons in Care Act requires incidents of abuse against adult clients to be reported to the proper authority.

Child, Youth & Family Enhancement Act requires a report to be made to the proper authority if there are “reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a child is in need of intervention.” (CYFEA, s.4(1))

Additional Information

For more information regarding regulated member’s mandatory duty to report visit ACSLPA’s website.

For more profession specific information, read  ACSLPA’s practice standard on Documentation and Information Management and guideline on Clinical Documentation and Record Keeping.

Professional-Regulation

  • As regulated professions in Alberta, SLPs and Audiologists are accountable to the public and the Minister of Health.
  • ACSLPA is the regulatory body for SLPs and Audiologists in Alberta.
  • ACSLPA is not a professional association. ACSLPA’s role is to protect and serve the public, not the interests of the members.
  • The role of a college, like ACSLPA, is outlined in the HPA and includes duties such as:
    • ensuring that only qualified applicants are registered and issued a permit to practice;
    • maintaining a General Register;
    • establishing, maintaining, and enforcing Standards of Practice and a Code of Ethics; and
    • investigating complaints.

The Health Professions Act

The HPA:

  • Is the governing legislation for all health professions in Alberta.
  • Lays out consistent rules by which all health professions must provide competent and safe professional services to the public.
  • Addresses restricted activities, college governance, registration and renewal, continuing competence, complaints, and more.
  • HPA Part 10 contains profession specific schedules for each college, stipulating:
    • the protected titles that can be used by regulated members; and
    • the professions’ practice statements, which describe the services provided by regulated members.

Protected Titles

  • Only SLPs and Audiologists who have met the requirements for registration, have the competence to provide professional services, and hold a valid practice permit are entitled to use the protected titles of their profession.
  • The following protected titles and designations may only be used by regulated members of ACSLPA: speech-language pathologist, speech therapist, speech pathologist, SLP, R.SLP, audiologist, Aud, R.Aud.
  • Protected titles can only be used in the province(s) in which a professional is registered; they are not portable between provinces and countries.
  • Membership with a provincial, national, or international association does not grant the right to use professional titles.

Legislative Responsibilities

  • Under the HPA, ACSLPA is accountable for how it exercises its responsibilities.
  • The HPA outlines a number of functions that the College must fulfill, including:
    • governing its regulated members in a manner that protects and serves public interest; and
    • providing direction to, and regulating, the practice of the profession by its regulated members.
  • The College has a duty and power to protect and serve the public.
  • The College is prohibited from involvement in activities related to professional fees, including fee setting or providing guidelines for professional fees.
  • ACSLPA’s regulated members also have responsibilities and obligations to conduct themselves in a professional manner under the HPA, including:
    • Demonstrating appropriate knowledge, skill, attitudes, and judgment in the provision of professional services.
    • Practicing in compliance with the Health Professions Act, Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Profession Regulation, Code of Ethics, and Standards of Practice.

College Governance

  • Under the HPA, the business and affairs of the College are governed by a council.
  • The ACSLPA Council is comprised of elected, registered members of the College and members of the public who are appointed by the provincial government.
  • The key governing documents used by the College are the HPA, the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Profession Regulation, the ACSLPA Bylaws, and ACSLPA policies.
  • The key college documents that apply to regulated members in their practice include the Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics, competency profile, advisory statements, guidelines, position statements, and protocols.
    • Breach of a standard or code may constitute unprofessional conduct.
  • Regulated members have an obligation to comply with all relevant information management and duty to report legislation.