Registrants Share Feedback on Reserved Practice for ASTTBC
The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills has confirmed the intention to develop this area of reserved practice.
The survey asked for registrants’ perceptions, experience, and questions about this work, and what information they would like to receive from Engineers and Geoscientists BC on this topic as it progresses. Just over 2,300 registrants provided feedback.
Awareness and Understanding
About 46% of respondents were aware of the proposed change, with the same number indicating they were familiar with the concept of reserved practice – work that may only be carried out by or under the supervision of an individual registered with the specific regulatory body. Reserved practice was more commonly referred to as “practice rights” before the introduction of the Professional Governance Act.
With the proposed reserved practice for ASTTBC registrants, professional engineers and licensees would continue to supervise those performing work in the reserved practice of engineering and would also be able to practice and to supervise others in the future reserved practice of applied science technology.
Benefits, Concerns, and Current Practice
The top benefits noted by registrants included recognizing technologists and technicians as accountable professionals, providing oversight for work that is unregulated and preventing unqualified individuals from practicing, and providing more clarity about which professionals can engage in specific types of work.
For concerns, registrants mentioned potential confusion around the line between engineering and applied science technology, uncertainty around qualifications and competence to take on independent work, and concerns around encroachment into the reserved practice of engineering.
Registrants also provided feedback about workflows between engineers, technologists, and technicians in current practice. Items noted included clarity between roles, what type of work is carried out independently by technologists and technicians in their workplaces, and the criteria for assigning this work.
Registrants also requested information about the details and scope of the reserved practice for ASTTBC registrants (74%), followed by the requirements and process for introducing it (17%), and the impact of this change (13%).
Next Steps
Engineers and Geoscientists BC and ASTTBC are considering this feedback and will keep registrants informed as they work to create descriptive materials to clarify the reserved practice.
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