Behaviour Analyst Appendix C: Vulnerable Sector Screening Policy

Section: Registration

Applies to: All applicants for all classes of registration as a Behaviour Analyst

PURPOSE

To describe the vulnerable sector screening process required for registration as a Behaviour Analyst with the College.

SCOPE

Applies to all applicants for all classes of registration as a Behaviour Analyst

POLICY STATEMENT

One of the ways that the College ensures that members of the public receive competent and ethical professional services from qualified providers, is to ensure that all applicants for registration be of good character.

All applicants for registration as a Behaviour Analyst are required to provide the results of a Vulnerable Sector Check as part of their application. The practice of Applied Behaviour Analysis is used widely to treat autism and other developmental disabilities, and Behaviour Analysts work closely with and have authority over children and other vulnerable persons in their care. A Vulnerable Sector Check provides an added level of public protection by obtaining information from an outside entity about an applicant’s good character.

PROCESS

As part of their application with the College, an applicant must submit the results of a Vulnerable Sector Check. A check is valid for 6 months from the date of issuance and must be valid at the time the applicant submits a completed application. The College reserves the right to request an updated Vulnerable Sector Check as required. It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain the correct type of check and pay all related fees. Detailed instructions for how to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Check are available at the page below.

Instructions for Requesting a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC)

The Vulnerable Sector Check must be completed on the applicants current and previous legal name(s). The applicant’s full legal name, previous name(s), and date of birth on the Vulnerable Sector Check must match the information the applicant has reported to the College in their application form. The College reserves the right to refuse a check that does not match the applicant’s information.

The College will accept a Vulnerable Sector Check from the following: a municipal police service, a First Nations police service, or the Ontario Provincial Police.

A Vulnerable Sector Check with one or more findings will not necessarily result in a refusal to register. The College’s Registrar will review the finding(s) and may request further details from the applicant.

Where the Registrar has reasonable doubts about whether the applicant is likely to practice the profession of applied behaviour analysis safely and ethically, the applicant will be notified in writing that the Registrar has referred their application to the Registration Committee for a further review (and decision) with respect to the applicant’s eligibility for registration.

EXCEPTION

Applicants who can prove to the Registrar that they are unable to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Check must complete a criminal record screening approved by the Registrar. This applies to applicants residing in regions that do not issue Vulnerable Sector Checks for registration purposes (see below), as a well as international applicants who do not and have not lived in Canada.

Applicants from the Ottawa, Gatineau or Halton regions must complete a Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check. These applicants will also be asked to complete an acknowledgement, declaration, and undertaking with the College.

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