HSP Professional Development Programs
Ongoing HSPBA Professional Development Fund
Apply for this funding before applying to the bursary program below
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a Professional Employees Association (PEA) member covered by Health Science Bargaining Professionals Association (HSPBA) contract.
- The course must relate to professional development in a health science discipline being practised in the public health care system.
Funding Guidelines
- Applications for funding will be dealt with on a first come first serve basis.
- Once the allocation is approved, the fund will reimburse the actual cost of tuition/course fees, book, and related expenses to a lifetime maximum of $500.00 per applicant.
- Applicants must disclose funding they have received toward the course from their employer or any other source. This funding is intended to supplement employer funding for which the member is eligible.
- Successful applicants will be advised by letter when their application has been approved and the amount that has been awarded.
- Successful applicants must provide detailed receipts for all expenses. Payment will be made once satisfactory receipts have been received.
Health Science Professionals Chapter Bursary Program
The Bursary Program is accepting applications until June 12, 2022. APPLY HERE
The Health Science Professionals (HSP) chapter may, as funding permits, offer annual Chapter bursaries of up to $500 each. These bursaries shall be available to PEA HSP and their immediate family members (spouse or children) subject to the following terms:
A. Eligibility
- Only PEA HSP members in good standing and their immediate family members 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 post-secondary educational degree or diploma program (members or family members) or other professional development education (members only). A partial bursary may be awarded to cover education courses and associated costs (such as books and course materials) costing less than $500.
- Members must disclose funding they have received from employer funding or other PEA programs. A partial bursary may be awarded to applicants who have received partial funding from other sources. However, combined funding shall not exceed course costs.
- For professional development courses that qualify for HSPBA Professional Development funding, applicants are expected to apply for professional development funding first and may only apply for bursary funds to cover the difference between Pro-D funding and course costs. Information about the HSPBA Professional Development funding can be found on this page under Ongoing HSPBA Professional Development Fund.
B. Requirements
- Bursary applicants shall submit applications to the HSP chapter via the link below. 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 12, 2022. 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.
2021-2022 HSP Pro-D Fund - Funds Exhausted
All funds for this program have been allocated - no further applications are being accepted.
The Provincial Ministry of Health and the PEA share a common commitment and goal to sustain a highly trained workforce of health science professionals in the province. Health Science Professionals must achieve and maintain rigorous educational standards to ensure that best practices continue to be achieved.
The Ministry of Health has allocated $3 million for the PEA as a professional development fund for its members. The funding is to be allocated to training and upgrading skills for HSP members working in professions experiencing shortages or in rural and remote locations, as well as for ongoing required professional development for all HSP members.
The HSP Professional Development Fund is administered by the PEA. All provisions of the HSP Collective Agreement continue to apply, including the leave provisions.
Eligibility
1. The applicant must be a PEA member covered by the HSPBA Collective Agreement.
2. The application must pertain to education/training commenced between April 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022.
3. The application must serve the purpose of at least one of the following three categories:
- on-going required professional development
- training and upgrading skills for members working in a profession experiencing shortage
- training and upgrading skills for members working in a profession in rural or remote location
4. The education/training must pertain to professional development in a health science professional discipline being practiced in the public health care system.
5. Eligible expenses for reimbursement include tuition fees, registration fees, cost of required books/materials, and other reasonable education-related expenses and may also include the reasonable costs of travel and accommodation if the applicant must travel or temporarily relocate to attend education/training or related clinical placement. A maximum of $2,500 of the $10,000 cap can be used for travel.
For travel within Canada, there is a cap of $500.00 for combined flight and mileage. For travel to and from the USA, there is a cap of $700.00 CAD for combined flight and ground transportation.
Eligibility for hotel accommodation is based on there being a minimum distance of 25 kilometres between the applicant’s residence and the location of the in-person education/training provider. Eligible hotel accommodation reimbursement is capped at $250.00 CAD per night for the duration of the event, to a maximum of seven nights; If it is necessary to arrive at the education/training location on the day preceding its start time, so as to be able to attend at the start time, eligibility for hotel accommodation reimbursement will include the date immediately preceding the event; If it is necessary to stay at the hotel for the night following the completion of the event because there is no transportation option that permits the applicant to arrive home before 10:30 pm on that date, eligibility for hotel accommodation reimbursement will include that night’s accommodation.
See Funding Guidelines below for the funding cap per member.
6. Applications must be received by August 31, 2022, for this funding period.
Funding Guidelines
1. When an application is deemed to satisfy the eligibility criteria, it will be approved subject to sufficient funding remaining available.
2. Applicants must disclose if they have received, or anticipate receiving, any funding from any source for any cost related to their application for funding.
3. HSA will inform successful applicants by letter;
4. Successful applicants must provide detailed receipts for all claimed expenses. Receipts must be submitted to HSA in a timely manner and, in any event, by the deadline specified in the approval letter. Reimbursement will only be made following an applicant’s submission of satisfactory receipts.
5. Following receipt of the applicant’s proof of payment of approved, eligible expenses, the fund will reimburse the applicant for those actual costs, subject to a funding cap of $10,000.00 per member. A member is permitted to make multiple applications to this fund, subject to the $10,000.00 cap per member.
HSP ProD Fund FAQ
In this section
The PEA was formed in 1974, by a group of professionals working in the public sector. The story goes that the founders of the union mortgaged their houses to fund negotiations of the union’s first collective agreement.
Now, the PEA is BC’s union for professionals. We represent a wide range of professionals including lawyers, foresters, engineers, agrologists, teachers, veterinarians, fundraisers, physiotherapists, pharmacists, psychologists program managers, librarians and more.
Our union is led by the PEA Executive. They represent members from across the chapters of the PEA and set the overall vision and direction for our union.
Resources for our members
Navigating a union can sometime be a challenging process. Under this section of the website you will find resources to help you navigate the PEA. In the members section you'll find expense claim reimbursements, information on the PEA's scholarship and bursary program and our grants and donations program.
Collective bargaining and job action resources explain the process of collective bargaining and what to do in the unlikely event of job action.
Local reps can also find resources to help them complete their job more effectively. This includes ways to welcome new members, how to take notes in investigation disciplinary meetings and more.
The heart of our union
The PEA is made up of nine chapters, or groups of members who either work for the same employer or are in the same field of work. Each chapter has an elected executive tasked with running the affairs of the chapter. Each chapter is entitled to representation at the PEA Executive, the governing body of the union.
Our members work for a range of employers: the Province of BC, the University of Victoria, St. Margaret's School, the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, the Oil and Gas Commission, the Law Society of BC, Legal Services Society, the Okangan Regional Library and health authorities across BC.
Professionals need unions now more then ever
Since the 1970’s, when the PEA was formed, our mission has been to ensure our members can work in safe, productive environments and receive fair and reasonable wages and benefits for the valuable work they do. We help individuals and groups of professional workers to understand the challenges they face in their workplaces and some of the solutions available to them.
We work with potential members to become certified as a union and achieve the wages, benefits and respect they deserve.
