College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta, Camrose, AB

The College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta was declared to have College Status by the Government of Alberta in April 2002. Prior to its declaration as a College, the Hearing Aid Practitioner Profession in Alberta was governed by the Alberta Hearing Aid Practitioners Association. (AHAPA). A need was seen by the Council of the AHAPA to ensure that those individuals practicing as Hearing Aid Practitioners in Alberta were licensed and regulated in a capacity that would ensure a high level of educational background, proof of competency, and means for ensuring that there would be remedy against individuals who chose to practice outside of a regulatory body. The safety of the public, it was felt, could best be protected if that regulatory body fell under the legislation of the Health Professions Act. It was also felt by the AHAPA that regulation of its members under the HPA would bring an increased understanding and recognition of the Profession to the public.