Acupuncturists Profession Regulation

(Consolidated up to 30/2023) alberta regulation 255/2020 Health Professions Act ACUPUNCTURISTS PROFESSION REGULATION Table of Contents 1 Definitions Registration 2 Registers 3 General register 4 Provisional register 5 Courtesy register 6 Equivalent jurisdiction 7 Substantial equivalence 8 Examination attempts 12 First aid and CPR certification Titles and Abbreviations 15 Authorization to use titles, etc. Practice Permit Renewal Requirements 21 Renewal requirements Transitional Provisions, Repeal and Coming into Force 40 Transitional 41 Repeal 42 Coming into force Definitions 1 In this Regulation, (a) “Act” means the Health Professions Act ; (b) “College” means the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta; (c), (d) repealed AR 30/2023 s2; (e) “Council” means the council of the College; (f) “courtesy register” means the courtesy register category of the regulated members register; (g) “general register” means the general register category of the regulated members register; (h) “jurisprudence requirement” means the jurisprudence requirement approved by the Council; (i) “provisional register” means the provisional register category of the regulated members register; (j) “Registrar” means the Registrar of the College; (k) “Registration Committee” means the registration committee of the College; (l) “registration examination” means the registration examination approved by the Council; (m) repealed AR 30/2023 s2; (n) “standards of practice” means the standards of practice governing the acupuncturists profession as adopted by the Council in accordance with the bylaws and section 133 of the Act; (o) “upgrading” includes academic requirements, formal refresher training requirements, experiential requirements, examinations and testing. Registration Registers 2 The regulated members register established by the Council under section 33(1)(a) of the Act has the following categories: (a) general register; (b) provisional register; (c) courtesy register. General register 3 An applicant for registration as a regulated member may be registered on the general register if (a) the applicant, within the 3-year period preceding the date on which the Registrar receives the applicant’s completed application for registration, (i) has obtained a diploma from a program in acupuncture approved by the Council, (ii) has passed the registration examination, and (iii) has successfully completed the jurisprudence requirement, if any, or (b) the applicant (i) has obtained a diploma from a program in acupuncture approved by the Council, (ii) has passed the registration examination, (iii) has successfully completed the jurisprudence requirement, if any, and (iv) meets one or more of the following currency‑in‑practice requirements: (A) the applicant, within the one-year period preceding the date on which the Registrar receives the applicant’s completed application for registration, has successfully completed upgrading to the satisfaction of the Registrar or Registration Committee; (B) the applicant has practised as an acupuncturist in a manner and to an extent that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Registrar or Registration Committee that the applicant is currently competent to practise as an acupuncturist; (C) the applicant otherwise demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Registrar or the Registration Committee that the applicant is currently competent to practise as an acupuncturist. Provisional register 4 (1) An applicant for registration as a regulated member on the general register may be registered on the provisional register if the applicant (a) meets the registration requirement under section 3(a)(i) but has not passed the registration examination or successfully completed the jurisprudence requirement, if any, or (b) is completing upgrading for the purposes of meeting the requirements set out in section 3(b). (2) A regulated member registered on the provisional register may practise only (a) while under the supervision, in accordance with the standards of practice, of a regulated member who (i) is registered on the general register, and (ii) is authorized to perform all the restricted activities that the regulated member being supervised is authorized to perform, and (b) in accordance with any conditions imposed under section 40.1 of the Act. (3) A registration on the provisional register expires on the earlier of the following: (a) one year or such shorter term as specified by the Registrar or, if the Registrar extends the registration, on the expiry of the final term of extension; (b) immediately on the regulated member’s final unsuccessful attempt to pass the registration examination in accordance with section 8. (4) The Registrar may extend a registration on the provisional register for one or more additional terms if the Registrar is of the opinion that extenuating circumstances exist. (5) A registration on the provisional register, including any extensions under subsection (4), must not exceed 2 years. (6) If a regulated member registered on the provisional register meets the requirements set out in section 3, the Registrar must remove the regulated member’s name from the provisional register and enter it on the general register. (7) The Registrar must remove the name of a regulated member registered on the provisional register when the regulated member’s registration on the provisional register expires. AR 255/2020 s4;30/2023 Courtesy register 5 (1) An applicant may be registered on the courtesy register if (a) the applicant is registered as an acupuncturist in good standing in another jurisdiction recognized by the Council as having substantially equivalent competencies and practice requirements to those set out in section 3, (b) the applicant has applied for registration in Alberta on a temporary basis for a specified purpose approved by the Registrar or Registration Committee, and (c) the Registrar or Registration Committee is satisfied of the applicant’s competence to provide services related to the specified purpose. (2) Subject to subsection (3), a registration on the courtesy register expires after the term specified by the Registrar or Registration Committee, which must not exceed 6 months. (3) The Registrar or Registration Committee may extend a registration on the courtesy register for one additional term not exceeding 6 months if the Registrar or Registration Committee is of the opinion that extenuating circumstances exist. (4) A regulated member registered on the courtesy register must remain registered in good standing in the other jurisdiction in which the regulated member is registered. (5) If the registration of a regulated member registered on the courtesy register is suspended or cancelled in the other jurisdiction, the courtesy registration is cancelled and the Registrar must remove the name of the person from the courtesy register. (6) The Registrar must remove the name of a regulated member registered on the courtesy register when the regulated member’s registration on the courtesy register expires. Equivalent jurisdiction 6 An applicant for registration as a regulated member on the general register who is currently registered in good standing in another jurisdiction recognized by the Council under section 28(2)(b) of the Act as having substantially equivalent registration requirements to those set out in section 3 may be registered on the general register. Substantial equivalence 7 (1) An applicant for registration as a regulated member on the general register who does not meet the requirements set out in section 3 but whose qualifications have been determined by the Registrar or Registration Committee under section 28(2)(c) of the Act to be substantially equivalent to the requirements set out in section 3 may be registered on the general register. (2) The Registrar or Registration Committee may, in order to determine whether an applicant’s qualifications are substantially equivalent, (a) engage the services of experts, or (b) require the applicant to undergo an examination or other assessment activity. (3) The Registrar or Registration Committee may require an applicant who does not meet the requirements set out in section 3 to provide any other relevant information or evidence that the Registrar or Registration Committee considers necessary to determine whether the applicant’s qualifications are substantially equivalent to the requirements set out in section 3. (4) The Registrar or Registration Committee may require an applicant who does not meet the requirements set out in section 3 to successfully complete any upgrading or examination the Registrar or Registration Committee considers necessary for the applicant to be registered under subsection (1). (5) The Registrar or Registration Committee may require an applicant who the Registrar or Registration Committee has determined does not meet the requirements set out in section 3 to pay any costs incurred under subsection (2) or (4). Examination attempts 8 (1) An applicant for registration as a regulated member may attempt the registration examination 3 times. (2) The Registrar or Registration Committee may grant permission to an applicant who has failed the registration examination 3 times to attempt the examination for a 4th and final time if the Registrar or Registration Committee is of the opinion that extenuating circumstances exist. (3) The Registrar or Registration Committee may require an applicant to successfully complete upgrading before attempting the registration examination for a 4th and final time. 9 to 11 Repealed AR 30/2023 s4. First aid and CPR certification 12 An applicant for registration as a regulated member must provide evidence satisfactory to the Registrar or Registration Committee of current first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification at the level required by the Council. 13 and 14 Repealed AR 30/2023 s4. Titles and Abbreviations Authorization to use titles, etc. 15 (1) A regulated member registered on the general register or courtesy register may use the following titles, abbreviations and initials: (a) acupuncturist; (b) doctor of acupuncture; (c) Dr. Ac.; (d) R. Ac.; (e) Ac. (2) A regulated member registered on the provisional register may use the title “intern acupuncturist”. (3) A regulated member may, in accordance with the standards of practice, use the word “specialist” in connection with the provision of professional services within the acupuncturists profession. 16 to 19 Repealed AR 30/2023 s5. Practice Permit Renewal Requirements 20 Repealed AR 30/2023 s7. Renewal requirements 21 (1) In addition to meeting the requirements established under section 40 of the Act, a regulated member who is applying for renewal of a practice permit must provide evidence satisfactory to the Registrar or Registration Committee that the regulated member (a) has, within the 5‑year period immediately preceding the date on which the Registrar receives the regulated member’s completed application for renewal, (i) practised as an acupuncturist for at least 1200 hours, or (ii) enrolled in a program of studies recognized by the Council, and (b) continues to meet the requirements set out in section 12. (2) A regulated member applying for renewal of the member’s practice permit must provide one or more of the following as requested by the Registrar or Registration Committee: (a) a photo ID of the member in the form required by the Registrar or Registration Committee; (b) evidence of being a Canadian citizen or being lawfully permitted to work in Canada; (c) evidence of English language proficiency. AR 255/2020 s21;30/2023 22 to 28 Repealed AR 30/2023 s9. 29 to 32 Repealed AR 30/2023 s10. 33 to 37 Repealed AR 30/2023 s11. 38 and 39 Repealed AR 30/2023 s12. Transitional Provisions, Repeal and Coming into Force Transitional 40 On the coming into force of this Regulation, a person described in section 6 of Schedule 1 to the Act is deemed to be entered on the regulated members register in the register category that the Registrar considers appropriate. Repeal 41 The Acupuncture Regulation (AR 42/88) is repealed. Coming into force 42 This Regulation has effect on the coming into force of Schedule 1 to the Act.