What is CHIPS?

The Canadian Hearing Instrument Practitioners’ Society (CHIPS) is the national professional organization for Hearing Instrument Practitioners who provide hearing healthcare services for hard of hearing people in Canada

How is CHIPS governed?

CHIPS is governed by a Board of Directors made up of one representative appointed by the provincial professional association from each of the ten provinces and a Canadian Governor who serves on the International Hearing Society (I.H.S.) Board of Governors. The CHIPS Board of Directors meets twice a year alternating meetings among the spring and fall conventions held in the various regions of Canada. The members Annual General Meeting is held at a Spring convention meeting.

How does CHIPS work with the provincial associations?

CHIPS is concerned with the collective interests of all Hearing Instrument Practitioners in Canada in their efforts to provide the highest level of professional competency, business integrity, and best clinical practices when working with the hard of hearing. Through its provincially appointed Directors, CHIPS works closely with the provincial associations on matters that affect the profession itself or the delivery of services nationally. All provincial or regional matters are handled by each respective provincial association. Membership in good standing with a provincial association is required for membership in CHIPS in order to strengthen the profession and the delivery of services both provincially and nationally.

How does CHIPS work with The International Hearing Society (I.H.S.)

CHIPS was formed in 1998 when the sitting Canadian Governor on the IHS Board of Governors recognized the need for Canada to have its own voice and its own national association to address Canadian issues. With the full support of the IHS Board of Directors and the many long standing Canadian members of I.H.S, CHIPS was born. As a significant international member of the I.H.S. community, CHIPS continues to work closely with I.H.S. as part of the global community of hearing healthcare service providers. CHIPS members continue to receive the many benefits of membership in I.H.S. and its 50+ years of working on behalf of Hearing Instrument Specialists® to be able to provide services to the hard of hearing community and to be recognized as professionals who are an integral part of the multi-disciplinary hearing health care team .

What are CHIPS goals?

• To promote rigorous standards of education and training, professional competency, best clinical practice, and ethical conduct for all hearing instrument practitioners in Canada.
• To ensure ongoing communication among provincial associations and their members in order to sustain and promote a consistent and excellent standard of care in Canada.
• To foster respectful working relationships with other professionals and their associations in the provision of hearing healthcare services for the benefit of hard of hearing people.
• To inform consumers about hearing loss, hearing instruments, and hearing healthcare services.
• To ensure Hearing Instrument Practitioners are represented at a federal and provincial level on all hearing healthcare matters.

Membership in CHIPS

Membership in CHIPS is voluntary. Membership in a provincial association is a prerequisite. Hearing Instrument Practitioners may qualify as a Full (voting) Member of CHIPS by meeting one of the following requirements, in keeping with provincial requirements: certified by the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences, a graduate of a college program in hearing aid dispensing, a member in good standing of his/her provincial association since 2001.