There are four foundational registration principles set out in the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 (FARPACTA) and Schedule 2 of the Regulated Health Professions Ac, 1991 (RHPA), which are collectively described as a general duty.
These four principles are summarized below:
Transparency
To be transparent means that a regulator's instructions and guidelines for its registration processes are clear, accurate and straightforward. This degree of clarity is necessary to enable applicants to easily follow the required steps in the process. Transparency also demands the availability of information that can be easily understood with clear milestones to allow applicants to monitor their progress in completing the registration process.
Objectivity
To be objective means that a regulator's tools, assessment criteria, procedures and training processes are designed to enhance the consistency of decision-making across applicants. Such results should be achieved regardless of the individual rendering the decision, the particular factual context, and/or whether the decision is made by a regulator or a third-party service provider. Decision-making systems should also invest in well-trained and qualified adjudicators to promote sound, valid and reliable decisions.
Impartiality
To be impartial means that a regulator must make its decisions through a process that is free of bias that, if present, could produce subjective or tainted assessments or decisions. Sources of bias could include actual or perceived conflicts of interest, preconceived notions, or a lack of cultural competency. Each regulator is responsible for identifying sources of bias and for taking appropriate steps to address such bias and ensure impartiality, which would normally include enhanced training and the adoption of standard procedures to follow where an issue of bias is suspected.
Fairness
Fairness must sit at the heart of the registration process for applicants who wish to join a profession, health college, or compulsory trade. Fairness comprises several dimensions. It is often contextual in nature and not always amenable to precise definition. It can also overlap with the first three principles discussed.
At its core, fairness means that a regulator needs to identify the steps necessary, and the documentation required, for a candidate to complete the registration process. The assessment must be rational and above-board, and not place unnecessary and ill-conceived obstacles in the way of success. Everyone should have the same prospects irrespective of their country of training or background.
The process needs to be expedient, and there must be a chance for an arm's-length review if the individual disagrees with a decision. Those running the processes should embrace their responsibilities with a spirit of purpose, wisdom, and empathy.
