Updates and Events

Updates

The list below provides a brief summary, as new information, resources or tools become available or are updated that support student practice education planning and coordination.

Immunity status reporting

As of July 24, 2024, students on practice education placements within health authority settings are required to report their immunity status through the Provincial Immunization Registry for critical vaccine preventable diseases (e.g., Covid-19, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, whooping cough [Pertussis], chickenpox [Varicella]). Immune status means immunity through either vaccine or prior infection. For additional information, see Practice Education Guideline: Prevention, Screening and Monitoring of Communicable Diseases.

Provincial guidance

The provincial Practice Education Guidelines and Standards (PEGS) provide guidance for health care organizations and post-secondary institutions to collaboratively support quality student practice education placements. The following documents include guidance from other provincial organizations (e.g., Provincial Infection Control Network of British Columbia) that apply to practice education settings.

June 2026

Provincial Guidance on Return to Work and Exposure Management for Health Care Workers with Viral Rispiratory Illness

March 2026

Point-of-Care Risk Assessment PCRA

July 2024

Fit-testing Memo - Revised list of approved models and link update.

October 2023

Viral respiratory illness checklist for health-care workers

Provincial initiatives

Capacity planning

The capacity planning project aims to streamline student practice education placement coordination by establishing regularized planning approaches across health occupations. Regular planning and coordination of student placement capacity will support a better understanding of future placement needs, identify gaps, improve efficiency, and mitigate capacity pressures. Building on the implementation of regularized planning processes in two occupations, the project is now expanding to seven additional occupations. For more information, contact studenteducation@phsa.ca.

PEGS refresh project

As stewards of the provincial practice education guidelines and standards (PEGS), per the BC Student Practice Education Policy, PHSA is leading a refresh project of the PEGS suite. PHSA will host regular BC Student Practice Education Network webinars to highlight proposed changes to the PEGS. Please submit any feedback or requests to join the BC Student Practice Education Network distribution list to studenteducation@phsa.ca.

Planning and coordination

Provincial Policy

Student Practice Education

Placement request timelines

Fall placement timelines (Sept - Dec):

March 31 - PSI submit requests to Health
May 31 - Health respond to PSIs
Students must be confirmed in HSPnet at least four weeks prior to placement start date

Winter placement timelines (Jan - April):

August 31 - PSI submit request to Health
October 15 - Health responds to PSIs
Students must be confirmed in HSPnet at least four weeks prior to placement start date

Spring/Summer placement timelines (May - August):

January 15 - PSI submit request to Health
February 28 - Health responds to PSIs
Students must be confirmed in HSPnet at least four weeks prior to placement start date

For additional information, see Practice Education Standard: Student Placement Process.

Coordination diagram

Provincial committees related to student practice education: Health and Medical Education Planning Coordination

Events

Webinars, Information sessions or professional development related to student practice education can be found here.

Provincial planning sessions

BC student practice education: information and planning series

Next session: TBA

For further information, please contact studenteducation@phsa.ca

Upcoming webinars

PEGS webinars to be scheduled.

For further information, please contact: studenteducation@phsa.ca

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