HSP Professional Development Programs
2022-2023 HSP Pro-D Fund
The 2022-2023 HSP Professions Development Fund is now open for applications
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. Once your application is approved, please submit a Direct Deposit Form to PEA Finance Officer, Marc Joly. 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 HSP Collective Agreement.
2. The application must pertain to education/training commenced between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023.
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. There is a maximum $2500 cap (from the total $10,000 possible amount) per member for reimbursement of eligible travel expenses. Only travel within Canada or the United States is eligible.
For transportation, there is a cap of $750 total for combined expenses such as airfare, mileage, ground transportation, parking, bus fare, ferry costs etc. Mileage is calculated at $.61/km. For travel in town, the fund will reimburse for km that are calculated at the difference between the member's normal commute from home to work, and the commute from home to training.
Eligibility for hotel or other 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 accommodation expenses will be reimbursed up to the maximum cap of $1750 with the following limitations:
- Eligible hotel accommodation reimbursement is capped at a maximum of $250.00 CAD per night for the duration of the event, to a maximum of seven nights (7 x $250 = $1750);
- 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.
- If a member must relocate for a longer duration training period (eg clinical placement, course/training longer duration not offered locally) they may submit accommodation expenses for consideration. Such expenses if deemed eligible will be reimbursed up to the maximum accommodation cap of $1750.
See Funding Guidelines below for the funding cap per member.
6. Applications must be received by August 31, 2023, for this funding period and will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
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. The PEA will inform successful applicants by email;
-that their application has been approved or denied; and
-if approved, the fund will reimburse them for their receipted actual costs, in the amount specified.
4. Successful applicants must provide detailed receipts for all claimed expenses. Receipts must be submitted in a timely manner and, in any event, by the deadline specified in the email. 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.
2022-2023 HSP Professional Development Fund Application Form
HSP ProD Fund FAQ
Health Science Professionals Chapter Bursary Program
The Bursary Program is now closed for 2022.
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 of full-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 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 December 10, 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.