Update from FACT-NL:

"...we have received ministerial direction to add counselling therapists to the Schedule to the Health Professions Act. We will now proceed to advance this for further consideration and approval. As you know, s. 3(2) of the Health Professions Act provides that “the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may, by order and upon recommendation of the minister, add a health profession to the Schedule to this Act designating it as a profession to which this Act applies”. This direction from the Minister will serve as a formal recommendation as we advance to the next stage of the process.

If we receive approval to add the profession to the Schedule, this will serve as notice to the public of an intention to regulate the profession. This will help facilitate any further consultations as may be required. It would also mean that we would be able to proceed with actually drafting regulations in collaboration with the Office of the Legislative Counsel.

This means that we've received ministerial approval, which is an important initiating step. From here, we should expect three phases:

1. Legal procedure: Following ministerial approval (done ✅ ), the Lt. Gov in council issues a regulation to add RCTs to the NLHPC Act.
2. Regulation development: regulations for entry to college or basic entry to practice standards, regulations for scope of practice, CE requirements (for candidates specifically and beyond), complaints and disciplinary procedures and any other relevant pieces. Submitted for Min. approval.
3. Proclamation: Added date for the college rules to come into effect.
4. Implementation and Onboarding: This will include an initial 1yr for current practitioners (grandparenting), etc. Announcement of date deadline after which the act of counselling therapy cannot be practiced without title.

..."