March 27, 2009
College of Alberta Physiologists
2100 Sun Life Place
10123 99 Street
Edmonton, AB T5J 3H1
Re: Mandatory Registration and Use of Title Psychologist
Further to your letter of February 2, 2009 concerning your inquiry whether or not I fall within the
mandatory registration requirements under the Health Professions Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. H-7 (“the Act”),
I referred this matter to the legal council of my employer, the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre
(“AARC”), and was advised that I do not fall under the Act for any one of the following reasons:
1. My work is restricted to the application of the “Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Step Program” relating to
alcoholic or addicts under a contract for services with AARC being a non-profit corporation of Alberta
which program does not fall within the definition of a “health service” under the Act.
2. The implementation of the “Alcoholics Anonymous 12 step Program” does not require the services of
a professional psychologist or other health professional, therefore section 46 of the Act which
references section 28(2) does not apply. In the event persons who contract with AARC suffer from
mental illness or physical illness, such matters are referred to an appropriate health professional.
3. Section 46 of the Act does not apply because I do not provide “professional services directly to the
public”. The services associated with the application of the “Alcoholics Anonymous 12 step Program”
are not regulated under the Act as discussed above. Further, the services are not provided directly to
the public but to clients of AARC, being a private corporation, and the services are provided through
AARC under its direction.
4. AARC has a funding agreement with AADAC who are exempt from the mandatory registration
provisions in the Act.
As to the issue of the application “restricted title” provisions of the Act, the legal council for AARC
further advises that I do not fall under the restricted title provisions of the Act for the following reasons:
1. Section 2 of schedule 22 does not apply since I am not a regulated member of the College of Alberta
Psychologists and not obligated to register. Section 128(5)(a) therefore does not apply.
2. Section 128(1) of the Act has no application since I do not make representations that I am regulated
by the College of Alberta Psychologists.
5. Section 128(7) of the Act does not apply since I am not providing a health service within the meaning
of the Act.
I trust the above answers the questions you raised.
Yours truly,
F. Dean Vause, PhD
