The standing committees of the College as established by the Health Professions Act (HPA) are: the Inquiry Committee, the Registration Committee, the Quality Assurance Committee, the Discipline Committee, and the Patient Relations Committee. The role of each of these committees is described below.
The Registration Committee has the jurisdiction under the Health Professions Act to grant registration, to limit the granting of registration or to refuse registration, and to grant reinstatement. It oversees the entire registration application process and determines issues of eligibility.
The Quality Assurance Committee has the statutory jurisdiction to monitor the standards of practice of psychologists by administering a continuing competence program for registrants and auditing compliance.
The Inquiry Committee reviews complaints. The Inquiry Committee conducts investigations and, if it identifies concerns, determines whether or not the concerns can be addressed by an undertaking or consent agreement or other consensual means. The Inquiry Committee also has the power to direct the Registrar to issue a citation to the Discipline Committee.
The Discipline Committee conducts hearings concerning allegations of professional misconduct, incompetence, or addiction. A formal hearing is very similar to a trial. In discipline hearings the burden of proof is on the College to establish its case based upon clear, cogent and convincing evidence. A respondent who is found against by a Discipline Committee at a hearing may also be found liable for the costs of the discipline hearing.
The Patient Relations Committee has the mandate to develop programs and materials to increase the awareness of practitioners and clients regarding their respective responsibilities and rights, with a view to preventing abuse of clients.
