2023 Dues FAQ

Dues for College registrants were last raised (by $50 for RPBios and RBTechs and $15 for ABTs) for the 2022 registration year. The College was continuing with implementation of the Professional Governance Act and was adding resources to be able to address increasing requests and requirements of the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance.

Under the Professional Governance Act, a referendum is no longer required to enact changes to registration dues. The Council of a governing body has the authority to set and adjust registration dues.

All regulators under the PGA have had to evaluate, revise and expand their statutorily mandated activities to come into and remain in compliance with the Act. Examples of investments and improvements made over the last four years includes:

• Legal fees for regulatory and Bylaw development
• Revisions to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and corresponding mandatory course
• Revamped internal operating procedures
• Investments in technology to allow for better access for registrants including online CPD reporting, an in-house Learning Management System, and the online application portal
• Development of new mandatory courses, webinars and explanatory documents
• Enhanced engagement and consultation on changes because of the Act and the implementation of reserved practice

Ongoing costs will include:

• Increased capacity to support the required practice guidance program which includes development of a formal practice guidance program
• Increased support for statutory committees
• Bylaw updates and bylaw development
• Increased reporting functions as required through the OSPG’s Standards of Good Regulation
• Increased OSPG information requests, annual audits by the OSPG on meeting the Standards of Good Regulation, and annual reporting requirements
• Proactive approach to enforce Title and Reserved Practice infringement
• Operationalizing the Environmental Practice Panel (EPP) with the Association of Professional BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP) to develop better guidance for our registrants and the public
• Ongoing collaboration with other regulators on alignments and intersections of reserved practice, and overlaps in regulated practice
• Continued investments in technology
• Monthly meetings with the OSPG and other regulators, quarterly meetings with the Professional Governance Advisory Committee, and participation on a number of task-oriented committees (e.g., firm regulation)

As well as increased demands from the OSPG, ongoing regulatory requirements of the PGA continue to put increased pressure on the College’s capacity to meet its statutory requirements.

These requirements include:

• Maintaining a fair, transparent and robust Complaints and Discipline process in an environment that has seen the number of complaints double over the past five years
• Delivering an efficient and rigorous credentialing program that has seen applications increase seven per cent annually since 2019 that could still increase further now that reserved practice has been enabled
• Supporting effective audit and practice reviews programs to ensure that registrants continue to meet their professional development requirements and maintain high professional standards
• Implementing a new Practice Guidance program to support registrants proactively with their professional practice

It is important to note that the College is required to meet the same regulatory standard as other regulators under the Act who currently have more capacity.

Yes, however with the increase in registrants comes an increase in workload for the College. This includes increases in:

• applications to be processed,
• audits to meet the three per cent requirement annually,
• practice reviews,
• complaints leading to more disciplinary action; and,
• practice and title infringement enforcement

Yes, as with the statutory responsibilities mentioned above (particularly the possible increase in applications), reserved practice is a benefit to the public interest that requires greater resources. For most of 2023, the College will still be in the education phase of its compliance plan, but towards the end of 2023, and in subsequent years, enforcement measures will be required.

At this time, it is unclear how much demand enforcement will have on the College’s resources, but the College will need to build capacity in this area before enforcement can occur.

The added pressure on the College’s ability to fulfil its mandate to protect the public interest comes more from increased statutory demands rather than the general cost of doing business in the current economic conditions.

Registrants are obligated to pay their dues by the dues deadline in order to avoid losing their status in good-standing and to avoid risk of removal from the register. The College begins taking dues payment in October and payments made after December 31 are considered late; the College does not have a mechanism at this time to allow for payment plans, however it will be investigating this for implementation in future years.

Failure to pay the annual dues (as well as any late fee and GST on the late fee, which become applicable on January 1st) by March 31 will result in a registrant being listed as removed from the register according to College bylaw Part 5, Division 5, 5-15 and Part 12, 12-2 which means that the registrant is not in good standing and not authorized to practice applied biology. The registrant must apply for reinstatement according to College bylaw Part 5,  5-11 and Part 12,  12- 4. Under reserved practice, being removed from the register may compromise your ability to work in compliance with the Professional Governance Act and could result in further sanctions under the law.

Annual dues for most other professionals under the PGA continue to outpace those of applied biology professionals even with the 2023 increase.

*Currently transitioning to the PGA
^~Subject to change: regulator has not announced dues for 2023 registration year
^Inclusive of Goods and Services tax (GST)

Yes, if you were randomly selected in August 2022, you must complete the Indigenous Awareness training and Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct training through the College portal in order to pay your dues for the 2023 registration year. If you were not selected in August 2022, you can still complete the courses at your leisure through the registrant portal. More information about mandatory training courses can be found here.

New for 2023 is the requirement for registrants to provide verification of their identity in the College portal. More information about identification verification can be found here.

While causing severe outcomes in other ways, the ongoing coronavirus has restricted some activities of the College that has resulted in a budget surplus. While these restrictions saved money in the short term, it has meant that many of our important outreach activities have been neglected. As restrictions are removed the College is resuming its critical pre-Covid activities.

Delivery demands increased by reserved practice that came into effect in September 2022 require significant resources from both volunteers’ and staff’s workloads and financial perspectives.

The College has identified that it will need to increase capacity by two full-time equivalencies (FTEs) in 2023 and possibly an additional two FTEs in 2024. These increases in resources will allow the organization to manage workloads at a reasonable level, support existing and future committees and Task Forces, and increase professional supports as mandated by the PGA for registrants such as practice guidance, continuing professional development and policy directives.

The 2023 budget will be finalized and posted in early 2023.

NB: To the College’s knowledge, all regulatory bodies under the PGA have increased staffing levels over the past two years to fulfill their obligations.

The College has worked diligently to find operational savings and non-dues related revenue. This includes reductions in printing costs, bringing the learning management system in-house, thereby eliminating the need for a third party, and securing government grants for specific projects. However these measures alone will not allow the College the increase in capacity required to fulfill our statutory obligations, meet the increased requirements coming from the PGA implementation, and successfully implement reserved practice.

Approved dues increases are summarized in the table below with the average increase across all categories to be around eight per cent (but not exceeding 10 per cent). The percentage of increase is different for some designations due to rounding preference.

NB: Temporary Withdrawal has the same meaning as on-leave

Retired status dues have been static over the last few years but have been set at $50 per annum in order to offset required resources for managing these retired designations.

Dues for College registrants were last raised (by $50 for RPBios and RBTechs and $15 for ABTs) for the 2022 registration year. The College was continuing with implementation of the Professional Governance Act and was adding resources to be able to address increasing requests and requirements of the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance.

Under the Professional Governance Act, a referendum is no longer required to enact changes to registration dues. The Council of a governing body has the authority to set and adjust registration dues.

All regulators under the PGA have had to evaluate, revise and expand their statutorily mandated activities to come into and remain in compliance with the Act. Examples of investments and improvements made over the last four years includes:

• Legal fees for regulatory and Bylaw development
• Revisions to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and corresponding mandatory course
• Revamped internal operating procedures
• Investments in technology to allow for better access for registrants including online CPD reporting, an in-house Learning Management System, and the online application portal
• Development of new mandatory courses, webinars and explanatory documents
• Enhanced engagement and consultation on changes because of the Act and the implementation of reserved practice

Ongoing costs will include:

• Increased capacity to support the required practice guidance program which includes development of a formal practice guidance program
• Increased support for statutory committees
• Bylaw updates and bylaw development
• Increased reporting functions as required through the OSPG’s Standards of Good Regulation
• Increased OSPG information requests, annual audits by the OSPG on meeting the Standards of Good Regulation, and annual reporting requirements
• Proactive approach to enforce Title and Reserved Practice infringement
• Operationalizing the Environmental Practice Panel (EPP) with the Association of Professional BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP) to develop better guidance for our registrants and the public
• Ongoing collaboration with other regulators on alignments and intersections of reserved practice, and overlaps in regulated practice
• Continued investments in technology
• Monthly meetings with the OSPG and other regulators, quarterly meetings with the Professional Governance Advisory Committee, and participation on a number of task-oriented committees (e.g., firm regulation)

As well as increased demands from the OSPG, ongoing regulatory requirements of the PGA continue to put increased pressure on the College’s capacity to meet its statutory requirements.

These requirements include:

• Maintaining a fair, transparent and robust Complaints and Discipline process in an environment that has seen the number of complaints double over the past five years
• Delivering an efficient and rigorous credentialing program that has seen applications increase seven per cent annually since 2019 that could still increase further now that reserved practice has been enabled
• Supporting effective audit and practice reviews programs to ensure that registrants continue to meet their professional development requirements and maintain high professional standards
• Implementing a new Practice Guidance program to support registrants proactively with their professional practice

It is important to note that the College is required to meet the same regulatory standard as other regulators under the Act who currently have more capacity.

Yes, however with the increase in registrants comes an increase in workload for the College. This includes increases in:

• applications to be processed,
• audits to meet the three per cent requirement annually,
• practice reviews,
• complaints leading to more disciplinary action; and,
• practice and title infringement enforcement

Yes, as with the statutory responsibilities mentioned above (particularly the possible increase in applications), reserved practice is a benefit to the public interest that requires greater resources. For most of 2023, the College will still be in the education phase of its compliance plan, but towards the end of 2023, and in subsequent years, enforcement measures will be required.

At this time, it is unclear how much demand enforcement will have on the College’s resources, but the College will need to build capacity in this area before enforcement can occur.

The added pressure on the College’s ability to fulfil its mandate to protect the public interest comes more from increased statutory demands rather than the general cost of doing business in the current economic conditions.

Registrants are obligated to pay their dues by the dues deadline in order to avoid losing their status in good-standing and to avoid risk of removal from the register. The College begins taking dues payment in October and payments made after December 31 are considered late; the College does not have a mechanism at this time to allow for payment plans, however it will be investigating this for implementation in future years.

Failure to pay the annual dues (as well as any late fee and GST on the late fee, which become applicable on January 1st) by March 31 will result in a registrant being listed as removed from the register according to College bylaw Part 5, Division 5, 5-15 and Part 12, 12-2 which means that the registrant is not in good standing and not authorized to practice applied biology. The registrant must apply for reinstatement according to College bylaw Part 5,  5-11 and Part 12,  12- 4. Under reserved practice, being removed from the register may compromise your ability to work in compliance with the Professional Governance Act and could result in further sanctions under the law.

Annual dues for most other professionals under the PGA continue to outpace those of applied biology professionals even with the 2023 increase.

*Currently transitioning to the PGA
^~Subject to change: regulator has not announced dues for 2023 registration year
^Inclusive of Goods and Services tax (GST)

Yes, if you were randomly selected in August 2022, you must complete the Indigenous Awareness training and Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct training through the College portal in order to pay your dues for the 2023 registration year. If you were not selected in August 2022, you can still complete the courses at your leisure through the registrant portal. More information about mandatory training courses can be found here.

New for 2023 is the requirement for registrants to provide verification of their identity in the College portal. More information about identification verification can be found here.

While causing severe outcomes in other ways, the ongoing coronavirus has restricted some activities of the College that has resulted in a budget surplus. While these restrictions saved money in the short term, it has meant that many of our important outreach activities have been neglected. As restrictions are removed the College is resuming its critical pre-Covid activities.

Delivery demands increased by reserved practice that came into effect in September 2022 require significant resources from both volunteers’ and staff’s workloads and financial perspectives.

The College has identified that it will need to increase capacity by two full-time equivalencies (FTEs) in 2023 and possibly an additional two FTEs in 2024. These increases in resources will allow the organization to manage workloads at a reasonable level, support existing and future committees and Task Forces, and increase professional supports as mandated by the PGA for registrants such as practice guidance, continuing professional development and policy directives.

The 2023 budget will be finalized and posted in early 2023.

NB: To the College’s knowledge, all regulatory bodies under the PGA have increased staffing levels over the past two years to fulfill their obligations.

The College has worked diligently to find operational savings and non-dues related revenue. This includes reductions in printing costs, bringing the learning management system in-house, thereby eliminating the need for a third party, and securing government grants for specific projects. However these measures alone will not allow the College the increase in capacity required to fulfill our statutory obligations, meet the increased requirements coming from the PGA implementation, and successfully implement reserved practice.

Approved dues increases are summarized in the table below with the average increase across all categories to be around eight per cent (but not exceeding 10 per cent). The percentage of increase is different for some designations due to rounding preference.

NB: Temporary Withdrawal has the same meaning as on-leave

Retired status dues have been static over the last few years but have been set at $50 per annum in order to offset required resources for managing these retired designations.