Criminal Record Checks

Who Must Have a Criminal Record Check

Overview Registered students in a university or college Early Childhood Education Students Volunteers and those working with vunerable persons Governing Bodies Positions not covered by the Criminal Records Review Act

Overview

Under the Criminal Records Review Act all individuals (current or new to their position or circumstance) who work with children, or have unsupervised access to children in the ordinary course of their employment, or in the practice of an occupation, or registered students in a post secondary institution who will work with children, and who are employed by or licensed by, or receive operating funds from the provincial government are included under the act. Positions such as:

• Members of governing bodies such as teachers, doctors, nurses, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, and physical and massage therapists
• Registered students in a post secondary institution who will work with children
• Licensed child care providers
• Licence-not-required child care providers registered with the provincial Child Care Resource and Referral Program
• School and hospital staff, including secretaries and cleaners
• Volunteers in child care facilities (licensed or licence-not-required) and licensed after school programs, but not to other volunteers or to individuals working with vulnerable adults.
• Residents age 12 and older, at licensed and licence-not-required child care facilities.

Registered students in a university or college with practicum component involving work with children

Registered students in a university or college with a practicum component involving work with children and the successful completion of which is a requirement for registration as a member of a governing body must provide a criminal record check authorization to the Criminal Records Review program. This authorization is done (preferably) at the time the student registers with the program.

Registered students working with children are considered 'Schedule B' and submit their completed Consent to a Criminal Record Check form to their education institution to follow through with the process.

Early Childhood Education Students

Early childhood education students are considered 'Schedule F' and submit their completed Consent to a Criminal Record Check form directly to the Criminal Records Review program, to satisfy the criminal record check requirements under the B.C. Child Care Regulation.

Volunteers and those working with vulnerable persons

The only volunteers that are covered by the act are those individuals at child care facilities licensed by a local health authority, or licence-not-required child care facilities registered with the Child Care Resource and Referral Program.

Although criminal record checks are not currently covered by the act for other volunteers or for individuals who work with vulnerable people (such as the elderly or people with disabilities), many groups or agencies conduct their own criminal record checks on their staff and volunteers with the assistance of their local police agency.

Governing Bodies

Professional Governing Bodies requiring criminal record checks through the Criminal Records Review Program:

• Board of Examiners in Optometry
• British Columbia Association of Podiatrists
• British Columbia College of Chiropractors
• British Columbia College of Pharmacists
• British Columbia College of Social Workers
• British Columbia College of Teachers
• College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia
• College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia
• College of Denturists of British Columbia
• College of Dietitians of British Columbia
• College of Licensed Practical Nurses of British Columbia
• College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia
• College of Midwives of British Columbia
• College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia
• College of Opticians of British Columbia
• College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
• College of Psychologists of British Columbia
• College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia
• College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia
• College of Registered Nurses' of British Columbia
• College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia

The requirement for a criminal record check is outlined in the act relevant for each governing body. The list of acts is outlined in Schedule 2 of the Criminal Records Review Act and are as follows:

• Chiropractors Act
• Dentists Act
• Health Professions Act
• Medical Practitioners Act
• Optometrists Act
• Podiatrists Act
• Social Workers Act
• Teaching Profession Act

Positions Not Covered by the Criminal Records Review Act

Organizations whose employees or volunteers are not covered by the act must make their own arrangements for criminal record checks by contacting their local policing agency. If it is unclear if an individual is included under the act, contact the Criminal Records Review Program for further clarification.