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, 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.

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.

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, 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.

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.