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HSP — Professional Development Programs
2023-2024 HSP Pro-D Fund
The 2023-2024 HSP Professions Development Fund applications are now closed.
Working in partnership with the government of British Columbia, Health Science Professional Bargaining Association has secured $3 million in new funding to support professional development for members covered by the collective agreement. The funding, first announced June 2022 and provided by the BC Ministry of Health, will allow members to pursue further specialization of skills in key professions.
The HSP Professional Development Fund is administered by the PEA on a first-come, first-served basis. All provisions of the HSP Collective Agreement continue to apply, including the leave provisions.
Health Science Professionals Chapter Bursary Program
The Bursary Program is taking applications until June 5, 2024.
The HSP chapter is offering four $500 bursaries for 2024. These bursaries are available to PEA HSP family members. Apply by June 5 through the following form:
https://forms.gle/ocANsRzbMFmeN7Hc7
The Health Science Professionals (HSP) chapter may, as funding permits, offer annual Chapter bursaries. These bursaries shall be available to PEA HSP immediate family members (spouse or children) subject to the following terms:
A. Eligibility
- Only the immediate family of PEA HSP members in good standing shall be eligible to apply for HSP Chapter bursaries.
- Applicants must be registered for, or in the process of being registered in, an upcoming part-time of full-time post-secondary educational degree or diploma program or other professional development education. A partial bursary may be awarded to cover education courses and associated costs (such as books and course materials) costing less than $500.
B. Requirements
- Bursary applicants shall submit applications to the HSP chapter via the link above. Applications shall include a statement (maximum 250 words) outlining the applicant’s education and career goals and how bursary funds will assist in attaining these goals.
- Deadline for receipt of applications shall be June 5, 2024. No late applications will be considered.
C. Conditions
- Bursaries shall be awarded at the discretion of the HSP Chapter Executive
- Bursaries may not be awarded should an insufficient number of suitable applications be received. Unawarded bursaries shall revert to Chapter funds.
- HSP Executive will review each bursary application to ensure that it meets eligibility criteria in sections A and B above.
- Should the number of applications identified in section C3 above exceed the number of bursaries available, bursaries shall be awarded first to those who have not previously received an HSP Chapter bursary. Selection will occur via random draw.
- Payment of bursary award shall be subject to proof of course completion. Successful applicants must provide proof of successful course completion within 12 months of notification of award or will be asked to repay the funds to HSP.
Health Science Professionals Pro Fees
Casual HSP and late applicant members are now able to apply for funding to cover a portion of their health science professional fees for 2024.
What are the funding guidelines for 2024?
Recognizing that many health science professionals pay out of pocket for mandatory regulatory body fees, and/or voluntary fees to professional associations that help them enhance their ability to maintain current and best practices, for the current year – 2024 – members may submit a receipt for reimbursement to cover a portion of the fees related to one professional body.
Application for reimbursement will be open to all members until January 31, 2025. Funding is limited and the PEA cannot guarantee sufficient funds will be available to reimburse members after January 31.
Members are encouraged to apply for reimbursement for the highest dollar value fee paid or will pay in 2024, and will be reimbursed up to 30% of a maximum cap, informed by the fee rates set by regulatory bodies and professional associations. Please note that the maximum cap is based on required regulatory professional fees. Voluntary fees in excess of this amount will be capped at 30% of required regulatory professional fees.
As in 2023, insurance and other additional fees are not eligible for reimbursement.
How much will I be reimbursed?
Available funding allows for a 30% reimbursement of professional fees.
Last year’s funding included a “one-time” pro-rated component of $11 million in addition to our pro-rated shared of the bargained $3.1 million funding. PEA’s pro-rated share of funding was a total of $192,606.
For 2024, PEA’s pro-rated share of funding was $6,475. The 2024 program funding consists of unspent funding from the previous year and the 2024 allocation.
How much of the funding did PEA keep for administrative costs?
The program criteria allowed for the PEA to allocate up to 10% of the total funding received (nearly $20,000) to cover administrative overhead to process member reimbursements. To ensure as much funding as possible went to members, PEA made the decision to pay for all administrative overhead costs. No funding dollars were kept by PEA.
When can casual members apply?
We will communicate with casual members regarding the details of their application process in November 2024.
How To Apply
To apply for reimbursement of your 2024 health science professional fees, please submit the following three documents to hspfees@pea.org:
A completed 2024 HSP Pro Fees Reimbursement Application Form
A digital copy (picture or scan) of the receipt you are applying to claim reimbursement for.
A completed Direct Deposit Form (this is not required if you allowed PEA to store your information from last year and your banking information is unchanged).
Note: Please use only the email above for your application and DO NOT email or cc: it to any PEA staff directly as this will slow down processing of your application.
We will continue to make full reimbursement of professional fees for all members a priority in future rounds of bargaining.
