This instalment of Tips for Professional Conduct focuses on how licensees can avoid revocation and its consequences.
Revocation is one of the most serious disciplinary measures a College licensee can face. While it often follows serious misconduct, revocation may also result from a failure to meet licensing requirements.
A licence may be revoked for failure to:
- Pay fees, fines and/or penalties
- Complete Annual Renewal
- Maintain professional liability insurance
- Maintain a client account or applicable exemption
- Designate a Responsible Person or Authorized Representative pursuant to the Planned or Unplanned Absence Regulation
- Correct any breach of regulation
- Meet Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements
- Comply with a discipline order
- Respond to the College
- Complete the Practice Management Education (PME) courses
Consequences
A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA) whose licence has been revoked is:
- No longer authorized to provide Canadian immigration or citizenship advice or services to the public.
- No longer permitted to use the College’s professional designations RCIC or RISIA for any purpose.
- Reported to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
- Listed on the Public Register as having a revoked status.
Revocation is a permanent status. Former licensees may apply for re-licensing, but reinstatement is not automatic. Such applications are subject to the licensing requirements in effect at the time of application for reinstatement, which may include the recent completion of a College-approved education program and the successful re-take of the Entry-to-Practice Exam.
Any former licensee who continues to practise after revocation risks prosecution as an unauthorized practitioner (UAP). Licensees must meet all regulatory and administrative requirements to remain in good standing. Even routine requirements play an important role in upholding professional conduct and protecting the public.
RCICs and RISIAs must abide by the Code of Professional Conduct, which sets out the required standards of professional conduct and competence.