From Association to College
Advancing our Profession
Objectives
 To provide a summary of how the College concept was initiated.
 To explain the role of a College.
 To provide an update on the major changes to our Act.
 To outline the details of the professional development program.
 To discuss the future of the NSAMRT and CAMRT.
 To provide an explanation for a dues increase.
Where Did It All Start?
The following motion was passed at the Annual General
Meeting of the Nova Scotia Association of Medical Radiation
Technologists (NSAMRT) in May 2007:
“To form a new Act and Bylaws Committee with the
mandate to open and rewrite the NSAMRT Act & Bylaws.
This committee should stay in place until the mandate
is completed”.
AGM 2008
Another motion was passed in regards to the formation of a
College. It reads:
“The NSAMRT membership direct The Act
Steering Committee to pursue the formation
of a professional College”.
What is a Professional College?
 The regulatory body responsible for protecting the public by
ensuring that members practice safely, competently and
ethically.
 Professions such as medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy,
engineering, and law are also self-regulating with their
respective regulatory bodies.
Functions of a College
 Sets standards for the educational preparation and
qualifications required to enter a profession.
 Establishes and maintains the standards of practice.
 Issues licenses to qualified applicants.
 Investigates all complaints related to practice and
takes appropriate disciplinary action when there
is evidence of misconduct, incompetence,
incapacity or conduct unbecoming the profession.
Professional Colleges Within NS
 Physiotherapists
 Nurses
 Medical Laboratory Technologists
 Paramedics
 Respiratory Therapists
Why Do We Need a College?
 Recognition of our profession
 Protection of our profession
 NSAMRT Act is outdated
 MRI is not included in the existing Act
 25 Bed Rule
What is the 25 Bed Rule?
“Persons employed in a hospital with less than 25 beds,
or in a hospital where, in the opinion of the Nova Scotia
Health Services and Insurance Commission, the nature and
amount of medical radiation technology performed is such as
not to warrant having a medical radiation technologist on
staff”.
Aims of our College
 To serve and protect the public interest.
 To preserve the integrity of the profession.
 To maintain public confidence in the ability of the
profession to regulate itself.
Highlights of the New Act
1. Governance:
Act approved by Government
Regulations approved by Cabinet - easier to amend
By-laws approved by Members (previously approved by Cabinet)
2. Name Change - College of Medical Radiation Technologists of NS.
3. Purpose - Former purpose focused on the members, College will focus on
public interest.
4. Scopes of Practice - specific for each discipline - Old Act did not include MRI.
5. Composition of the Board - must have 2 - 3 public representatives.
Highlights - continued
6. Registration - must recognize international applicants, Agreement on Internal
Trade, Fair Registration Practices Act.
7. Complaints and Discipline Process - public representation on both committees.
8. Protection of Titles - only those that hold a license can use the title.
9. Grandparenting - permits current Association members to become College
members.
10. Illegal Practice - utilizes the Summary Proceedings Act - detailed system of fines,
daily fine for each day a non-member violates the Act.
Professional Development Program
Mandatory program which consists of 4 sections:
 Work-Based Learning
 Professional Activities
 Self-Directed Learning
 Non-Clinical Activities
Members must obtain 20 credits annually from any 3
of the 4 sections noted above.
Work-Based Learning
 Rounds/Reporting - 1 hour = 1 credit
 Lunch and Learn Sessions - 1 hour = 1 credit
 In-service Training - 1 hour = 1 credit
 Preceptorship - 35 hours = 2 credits (maximum 5 credits)
 Hospital Committee = 2 credits (must be related to profession)
 Workplace Safety Refresher Program = 1 credit
Professional Activities
 Involvement in professional body:
Board Member = 5 credits
Committee Chair = 3 credits
Committee Member = 2 credits
 Lecturer/Conference speaker = 5 credits
 Organizing a lecture/workshop/lunch and learn = 2 credits
 Organizing a journal club = 2 credits
 Organizing a department open house = 2 credits
 Promoting the profession to other groups - 1 hour = 1 credit
 Attend a college meeting = 2 credits
Self-Directed Learning
 Further education = 10 credits (needs further discussion)
(i.e. CAMRT course, university course, etc)
 Attending conferences/seminars - 1 hour = 1 credit
 Writing articles or papers for publication = 10 credits
 Distance learning - 1 hour = 1 credit
 Journal article - 1 article = 1 credit
 Journal club attendance = 1 credit
Non-Clinical Activities
 Attend lecture - 1 hour = 1 credit
 Journal Article - 1 hour = 1 credit
Includes such lectures/articles on Health Promotion, Patient Rights,
Risk Management & Promoting Team Work.
Additional Information
 A member must work a minimum of 1000 hours in 5 years in
order to be granted a license to practice in their specified
discipline.
 Temporary license for new grads.
 Credits not used in one year can be carried over to the next year.
 Grace period for Professional Development program - 1 year.
 Request from NSSDMS.
NSAMRT/CAMRT
 Will the role of the NSAMRT still exist?
 What will happen with our relationship with the CAMRT?
 Alberta and Saskatchewan operate a joint Association and
College.
 All provinces use the CAMRT Certification exam as the
gold standard as the entry-to-practice exam.
CAMRT
Benefits of belonging to CAMRT include:
 Professional Liability Insurance
 Professional Development Courses
 Professional Journal
 National Newsletter
 Annual Conference
 Excellent Networking Opportunities
Membership Dues
3 Key Considerations:
1. College Operational Fees
2. Legal Reserve Fund
3. Association Activities
The annual College dues will be in the range of $400.00 - $450.00.
Tentative Timelines
January 2010 - Special meeting of NSAMRT members
Spring 2010
- Act/Regulations introduced in
legislature
- 3 readings
- stakeholder input
- legislative approval
Summer 2010 - Application process
January 2011 - College of Medical Radiation Technologists of
Nova Scotia enacted
January 2011 - New dues structure starts
January 2012 - First audit of CPD Program (5%)
Questions??