Update to: Temporary Policy for Online Classroom Instruction During Covid-19 Pandemic and Extraordinary Time.

This policy will expire on June 30, 2023.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, CTCMA enforced the Temporary Policy on Online Classroom Instruction to help TCM schools in BC provide continued stable TCM education. The policy allowed for the online delivery of didactic courses during the period of time when social distancing was required to help prevent spread of the virus.

With many social distancing restrictions associated with transmission of the virus recently lifted by the Province, more and more in-person classes have successfully resumed.

The Education and Examination Committee has therefore concluded that the Temporary Policy on Online Classroom Instruction has served its purpose as a response to the pandemic and does not need to be extended. Therefore, when the Temporary Policy expires on June 30, 2023, the Committee will manage recognized programs in TCM schools listed in Schedule H as follows:

• Online courses offered by TCM schools listed in Schedule H that began before the expiration of the Temporary Policy, that is, before June 30, 2023, will continue to be recognized until completion of the current academic term.
• Any planned curriculum and/or program changes must go through the consent and approval processes as outlined by the Education Program Review (EPR) and the appropriate governmental ministry/agency, the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB), as prescribed under the Education and Examination Committee’s Distance Learning Policy.
• A review of the Distance Learning Policy will be conducted to ensure it remains up-to-date and continues to serve its purpose of regulating the profession.

Under the Distance Learning Policy, the Committee will consider recognized training programs offered by TCM schools listed in Schedule H that include courses with either partial or full distance learning components, as long as the school can provide evidence that the distance learning components adhere to the same standard and assessment as do the same regular in-classroom course(s). 

For Recognized TCM Schools: Please submit proposed curriculum updates to the College for Education Program Review. Once approved by the College, consent for program change(s) should be obtained from the appropriate governmental ministry or agency. 

All program changes must obtain appropriate approvals before implementation to ensure the course of study will continue to be recognized. Under the Education Program Review, all didactic courses must be provided as approved, and all clinical training must be conducted at approved clinic sites.