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 practise 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.
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.
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 the a certification program for Reduction of Joint Dislocation. This certified practice is for the reduction of frank joint dislocations only.
Physical therapists will receive more information once the CHCPBC Board approves this new certification program.
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.
The following certifications are available to physical therapists:
- Dry Needling (PDF)
Please discuss with the course provider how to fulfill a requirement to log needling practice in between courses.
A licensee may take a course before they complete the 2-year/3,900–practice hour requirement if permitted by the course provider. However, the College strongly encourages licensees to consider acquiring at least the minimum experience (and mature clinical reasoning skills) before taking a course. The College also recommends that licensees not take a course too far in advance of being able to use the knowledge and skills in their practice.
- Intrapelvic Health (PDF)
Review the Competency Framework for Intrapelvic Health (PDF).
Applying for certified practice
Full licensees who wish to practice a certified restricted activity within the physical therapy scope of practice must first apply to the College:
- Complete and sign (electronic signatures are accepted) the applicable application form:
- Send the application form and a copy of your course completion certificate to the College at certification@chcpbc.org. A course content description is also required for Intrapelvic Health.
Processing an application generally takes 3–5 business days once all documents have been received. Current processing times may be longer, as we are receiving a high volume of applications. - After review of the submitted documents, if you are determined to be eligible to perform the restricted activity, you will be invoiced the $250 application fee.
- Once payment is received, you will be notified by email and the applicable certified practice will become visible as an additional skill on your record on the Public Registry.
Please note that until the College confirms a licensee is authorized to perform a certified practice, they must not do so.
Supervision and mentorship
Where completion of a certification program requires the oversight of a supervisor or mentor, another individual licensed in the profession may support the applicant, in accordance with CHCPBC requirements.
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.
When supervising a licensee as part of a certification program, a supervisor must:
- Ensure the activity is within the licensee’s competence and will be performed in accordance with the HPOA regulations, bylaws, certification program, and Ethics and Practice Standards.
- Ensure that the activity is consistent with the patient’s interests.
- Provide clear and appropriate instructions, expectations, and necessary support before performance of the activity begins.
- Use appropriate supervision strategies—proportionate to the risk associated with the activity, the patient’s needs, and the licensee’s abilities—and gradually decrease supervision to enable the licensee to attain autonomous practice of the certified restricted activity.
- Be available to provide the licensee with guidance and assistance and to intervene in the patient’s care to ensure their safety.
- Take over the activity if there is reason to believe that the licensee is incapable or unwilling to perform the activity safely.
- Ensure instructions provided, supervisory actions taken, and any issues or incidents arising from the practice of a certified restricted activity are documented.
- Notify CHCPBC immediately if the licensee is not compliant with or not competent to practise certification program requirements.
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.
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.
Where to find support
Review frequently asked questions (PDF) about certified practices
Email us at certification@chcpbc.org with questions about the certification application process
Email us at practicesupport@chcpbc.org with questions about the practice of restricted activities
