RASP Supervised Categories

An occupational therapist with the support of a qualified supervisor who is an active member of the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia.

or 

An active registered speech-language pathologist with the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia, who has the support of a qualified supervisor who is an active member of the College.

All applicants must provide the following documentation:

• A RASP application form (PDF)
• A Criminal Record Check
• A current Curriculum Vitae
• Documentation of professional development, specific to the area of autism intervention with children under six, completed over the last two years
• A Letter of Supervision signed by an eligible supervisor

Occupational therapist applicants must also provide:

• A current active registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia

Speech-language pathologist applicants must also provide:

• A current active registration with the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia

Submitting Your Application

Please submit all documentation to:

Autism Information Services BC
3688 Cessna Drive
Richmond, BC V7B 1C7

Email: RASP@gov.bc.ca

Occupational therapists currently on the RASP are eligible to supervise.

Other occupational therapists who provide service to children under six with autism through the public system may apply to be a supervisor. This involves providing Autism Information Services BC with the following documentation:

• A RASP application form (PDF)
• A clear Criminal Record Check
• A current Curriculum Vitae
• Documentation of professional development, specific to the area of autism intervention with children under six, completed over the last two years
• A current active registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia
• Documentation of experience working with children under six with autism; the minimum requirements of the RASP is one year’s work with three children under six with autism

Speech-language pathologists currently on the RASP are eligible to supervise.

Other speech-language pathologists who provide service to children under six with autism through the public system may apply to be a supervisor. This involves providing Autism Information Services BC with the following documentation:

• A RASP application form (PDF)
• A clear Criminal Record Check
• A current Curriculum Vitae
• Documentation of professional development, specific to the area of autism intervention with children under six, completed over the last two years
• A current active registration with the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia
• Documentation of experience working with children under six with autism; the minimum requirements of the RASP is one year’s work with three children under six with autism

Once approved to the RASP, the supervised occupational therapist or speech-language pathologist must work under supervision to complete the following hours of clinical service:

• A minimum of 60 hours of direct service must be completed over a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years
• A minimum of 35 hours must be supervised and documented either as direct or indirect service, broken down as follows:
  • A minimum of six hours of supervised direct service. Direct service involves direct observation, or video review
  • A maximum of 29 hours of supervised indirect service (reviewing therapy session plans, helping set goals, discussion of outcomes, coaching on technique, materials to use or interviewing parents)
• There must be at least six hours of direct service per child over the supervisory period
• Services must be delivered to a minimum of three different children under the age of six
• Clinical services must be provided for at least one child under six with autism for a full 12 months

The supervisor must be on the RASP or meet the current RASP criteria.

The supervisor must provide supervision for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years for the following:

• A minimum of 35 hours of total documented supervision hours either as direct or indirect service
• A minimum of six of the 35 hours must be under direct supervision, whether through direct observation or video review
• A maximum of 29 hours can involve indirect supervision such as reviewing therapy session plans, helping set goals, discussion of outcomes, coaching on technique, materials to use or interviewing parents
• A minimum of one hour of direct supervision per child

The supervisor’s name and contact information must be listed on the RASP (in cases where the supervisor is only on the RASP in their capacity as a supervisor, this will be made clear).

After the minimum experience requirements are met, the supervisor may choose to complete the Supervision Verification Record to indicate the supervised occupational therapist or speech-language pathologist is competent to practice independently with children with autism under age six.

Parents will be provided with a copy of the plan of supervision created by the supervised occupational therapist or speech-language pathologist and their supervisor, specific to their child.

Parents should clearly understand both the supervision process and their financial obligations, prior to service beginning. At times, implementing the plan will involve both the supervised professional and supervisor working directly with the child concurrently. The family will be billed by only one professional for the time spent with the child.

Neither the Autism Funding Program nor the family will be responsible for any payment for supervision costs. It is up to the professionals to decide if and how the supervisor will be financially compensated.

The applicant must submit the following:

• A new RASP application form (PDF)
• The Supervision Verification Record form (PDF) signed by their supervisor

The hours of service working with the child who is over the age of six will not count towards the hours of supervision.

Both the supervised professional and the supervisor have the right to discontinue the supervisory relationship. The two professionals must collaborate to ensure that the child continues to receive an appropriate quality of service without significant interruption.

The supervisory relationship is not the responsibility of MCFD. Autism Information Services BC must be notified of the change in this relationship and will give the supervised professional a short period of time to find another supervisor.