IHS Canada

About IHS Canada

IHS Canada Virtual Conference

Canadian Government Affairs

IHS Canada Membership

IHS Canada Chapters

Canada Territory
Leslie Holden, BC-HIS
IHS Canada Territorial Governor
204.788.1083
 
Chair
Annette Cross, BC-HIS
IHS Canada Committee Chair
902.543.5872

International Hearing Society is honored to represent hearing instrument practitioners across Canada. Hearing instrument practitioners provide a variety of hearing healthcare services, including hearing evaluations, hearing aid dispensing services, follow up care, cerumen management, and tinnitus management. These professionals work in a variety of settings and are available in urban and rural communities.  They work with governmental programs, including Veterans Affairs, Workers’ Compensation, the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program, and all provincial hearing aid programs to provide covered services. They also work with other healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and audiologists, to deliver integrated care.

The IHS Canada Committee

In 2020, IHS established IHS Canada, which represents the entire territory of Canada, and is represented on the IHS Board of Governors. In 2023, the IHS board authorized the creation of a new Committee, the IHS Canada Committee, which includes members from each of the provincial associations. Chairing the committee is Immediate Past President Annette Cross, BC-HIS, who was also the first Canadian president of IHS. The purpose of this committee is to create a collaborative space for IHS’ Canadian chapters and represent the profession with the federal government and other organizations.

Committee Volunteer Members:

  • Alberta: Candice Boldt, BC-HIS
  • British Columbia: Christina Beer, BC-HIS
  • Manitoba: Leslie Holden, BC-HIS 
  • New Brunswick: Cheryl Morehouse, BC-HIS
  • Newfoundland: Sandra Cahill, BC-HIS 
  • Nova Scotia: Annette Cross, BC-HIS (Chair)
  • Ontario: Chris Arnold
  • Saskatchewan: Geraldine Coolidge-Ruzicka, BC-HIS

IHS Canada Virtual Conference

The IHS Canada Virtual Conference is scheduled for June 6, 2024. Registration is now open! Learn more here!

IHS Canada Membership

IHS is here to help you reach your practice goals! IHS Member benefits are designed to deliver education, information, and tools that help you drive hearing healthcare forward.

The IHS community is here to help you provide unparalleled hearing healthcare to your community.  By joining IHS, you will join fellow Canadian members in making positive advances for the hearing profession throughout Canada.

For more information on membership and to join, click here.

Jean Duncan, M.Sc.
IHS Member since 2012
Alberta, Canada

"Membership brings access to educational and professional resources and services aimed at enhancing personal, professional, and business success."

Chris Arnold
IHS Member since 2017
Ontario, Canada

"I believe it's important to give back and be present within your job field. I learn a lot from my peers and I don't think we should ever stop learning. IHS gives me the ability to do that."

Candice L. Appler, BA, BC-HIS
IHS Member since 2008
Manitoba, Canada

"It's a great way to stay connected to your fellow colleagues."

Learn More about Membership

IHS Canada Chapters

The International Hearing Society (IHS) partners with a resilient network of independent affiliate chapters across every Canadian province. Holding a dual membership in both IHS and your local chapter gives hearing aid dispensing professionals the opportunity to access complementary support and resources and wield significant influence in legislative, regulatory and policy endeavors at various levels. You access more information about your provincial association through the following links: 

Chapter Listing Request Information

Canadian Government Affairs

Hearing instrument practitioners are regulated by provincial organizations. The following is a list of provincial oversight bodies and links to applicable rules and laws.

Alberta

College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta
Suite 105, 17707 - 105 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
T5S 1T1
Phone 780 760 4327




British Columbia
The College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia (CSHBC) regulates three professions: 

1)    Audiology – Registered Audiologists (RAUDs)
2)    Hearing Instrument Dispensing – Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioners (RHIPs)
3)    Speech Language Pathology – Registered Speech-Language Pathologists (RSLPs)

College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia
Phone: 604.742.6380
Toll-free: 1.888.742.6380
Fax: 604.357.1185
enquiries@cshbc.ca
900 – 200 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC, V6C 1S4



Manitoba

Hearing aid specialists: For information on the examination and certification of hearing aid dealers please contact the Consumer Protection Office:
204-945-3800
1-800-782-0067 (in Manitoba)
consumers@gov.mb.ca




New Brunswick
Hearing aid specialists: 
New Brunswick
Hearing Aid Society
1133 Regent Street Suite 111
Fredericton NB
E3B 3Z2. 452-2913




Newfoundland and Labrador
Hearing aid specialists: 
Hearing Aid Practitioners Board of NL
P.O. Box 29073
St. John’s, NL
A1A 5B5
Email: info@hapbnl.com 
Call: (709)722-9737



Northwest Territories 
The Northwest Territories (NWT) Professional Licensing Office does not license hearing healthcare professionals as this profession is currently unregulated in the NWT (i.e. there is no regulatory body for this profession and as such, no government standards or guidelines in place).
 
It would be the responsibility of the NWT employer (or the self-employed) to ensure that the individual providing the service has the necessary credentials and holds/maintains registration in their home jurisdiction (i.e. where they are regulated and regularly practices) while practicing in the NWT or serving clients located in the NWT. 

The employer or the individual would have to inquire with the regulator in their home jurisdiction to learn of their requirements. 



Nova Scotia
Hearing Aid Salesperson Permit - Government of Nova Scotia
Business Licensing Section
Phone: 902-424-5552
General enquiries: reglicensing@novascotia.ca
Mailing address: 
Business Licensing Section
PO Box 1529, 
Halifax NS 
B3J 2Y4



Nunavut 

Clinical questions /concerns can be emailed to:  AudiologyBAF@gov.nu.ca

Additionally, below is staff provided contact information.

Nunavut Logo

Ontario

The prescribing of hearing aids is a controlled act under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, (RHPA). Audiologists and physicians are the only regulated health professions permitted by the RHPA to perform the controlled act of prescribing hearing aids. To protect the public, CASLPO has standards of practice for audiologists when they prescribe and fit hearing aids, which are described in the Practice Standards for the Provision of Hearing Aid Services.   
The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) is responsible for ensuring its members are competent, skilled, and qualified to practise in Ontario. You may contact the college at:

College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario
5060 - 3080 Yonge St. 
Toronto ON  M4N 3N1
Phone: 416-975-5347 toll-free (Ontario): 800-993-9459
Fax: 416-975-8394
Email: caslpo@caslpo.com


With respect to hearing aid fitters or hearing instrument practitioners, these individuals are not regulated in Ontario.




Prince Edward Island 

Audiology Services
Sherwood Business Centre
161 St. Peters Road
Charlottetown, PE   C1A 7N8
Telephone: (902) 368-5807



Quebec

French:
Communiquez avec un employé du Centre de relations avec la clientèle de Services Québec à l’un des numéros de téléphone ci-dessous. Selon les renseignements obtenus, cette personne peut vous fournir les renseignements souhaités.
Les heures d’ouverture du Centre de relations avec la clientèle sont de 8 h à 18 h, du lundi au vendredi.
514 644-4545
418 644-4545
450 644-4545
1 877 644-4545 (sans frais) 

English:
Contact an employee at the Centre de relations avec la clientèle of Services Québec at one of the telephone numbers below. Based on the information obtained, this person can provide you with the desired information. 

The opening hours of the Centre de relations avec la clientèle are: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.

514 644-4545
418 644-4545
450 644-4545
1 877 644-4545 (sans frais) 



Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, audiologists are licensed to practice by the College of Speech Language Pathologists & Audiologists Saskatchewan (CSASK). This is the licensing body for audiologists only. Audiologists may reach out to CSASK for clinical and regulatory advice. Please talk to CSASK for contact information. 

Hearing Aid Specialists are unregulated in Saskatchewan. The Ministry of Health licenses hearing aid clinics that my hire or be owned/operated by hearing aid specialists or audiologists. We do not license the individual. There is an application process for initial license and annual license renewal. The Ministry of Health may advise on questions about licensing or clinical questions as it pertains to the Hearing Aid Sales and Services Act and Regulations to keep them in compliance with the Act and Regulations. 

The person occupying the Hearing Consultant Position at the Ministry of Health would be the contact person. Contact information is listed below. 

Pamela Lamon, SLP (she/her)
Government of Saskatchewan
Hearing Consultant
Community Care Branch, Ministry of Health

3475 - Albert Street, First Floor
Regina, Canada S4S 6X6
Bus: 306-787-1957
Cell  306-536-2915
Fax  306-787-7095
pamela.lamon@health.gov.sk.ca or hearingconsultant@health.gov.sk.ca



Yukon 
Hearing aid specialists and audiologists are unregulated professionals. Often, other unregulated health professions in Yukon will obtain/maintain a license in another Canadian jurisdiction. This is done mainly so clients can bill their insurance provider for services and so they can assure their patients they have suitable training and education to practice within the field.