Resources

VRA has an elected Board of Directors. The association's day-to-day operations are handled by an external association management firm. VRA also purchases external services to provide communications such as bulletins as well as stakeholder development, marketing and relationship-building. VRA operates under a five-year Strategic Plan which is reviewed yearly by the board.

In the 1980s several Assessment professionals opted to form their own professional association, the Canadian Association for Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment (CAVEWA). Although CAVEWA was highly successful and respected, the membership voted to reunite with the VRA to enhance its operations through economies of scale and to focus more on outcomes and less on administration. CAVEWA became the first functionally based Society of the VRA and remains so to this day under the name CAVEWAS.

VRA Canada - originally the Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Personnel, and later the Canadian Association of Rehabilitation professionals - was incorporated on May 7, 1970. In May 2020, VRA Canada celebrated its 50th anniversary.

VRA Canada is governed in accordance with the Canadian Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, the VRA Articles of Incorporation and Continuance documents, and VRA by-laws. Due diligence reporting is conducted through Industry Canada.

VRA Canada's new framework for CEUs to support designations was introduced in January 2022, along with a new database that allows members to, on the honour system, enter and manage their own CEUs. Categories were streamlined. To learn more, you can download the new CEU Framework Guide here.

VRA Canada members were asking for a more streamlined CEU process. At the same time, administration support staff were spending too much time uploading information into member profiles. It was determined by the Board that CEUs should reflect the needs of members' individual learning objectives and also give more autonomy to members to determine their own personal learning needs and goals. After several months of work, the committee developed thenew framework for CEUs for those VRA members maintaining their VRA Canadadesignation(s). The outcomes of the committee’s work are:

●      CEUs can be earned in 4 distinct categories

●      The program is on anhonour system

●      Members are encouraged to develop their own self-directed learning plan

●      Audits will be completed randomly to ensure accuracy and integrity

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Here is a review of the four categories and what is included in each.

CATEGORY A

Professional Skill Development directly relating to the field of vocational/employment/career services & training (includes technology skills development, report writing and communication)

●      Earned by attending conferences, webinars, seminars, online, courses from university and collegesetc.

CATEGORY B

Professional Ethics

●      Earned by attending courses, seminars, webinars, conferences, online or in person relating to professional ethical conduct, ethical dilemmas/decision making, and the values and principals that guide the moral behavior of the vocational rehabilitation professional

CATEGORY C

Contribution to the Association/Society or the Vocational Rehabilitation Profession

●      Earned through research, publishing, presentations, teaching, volunteer activities on an association committee or Board

CATEGORY D

Self Care/Personal Growth/Activities that meet personal health needs, as per our Code of Ethics thus allowing us to ultimately improve our ability to serve our clients.

●      Earned by attending courses on such topics as meditation, time management, effective communication, personal fitness, etc.

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The Association is about supporting the membership through services such as education, networking and advocacy, while the College's focus is on protecting the public through practices such as supporting designations. Both parties are careful of interaction so as to maintain independence and impartiality. However, VRA and CVRP collaborate to ensure their roles remain unique and that areas of overlap are eliminated.

Vocational rehabilitation is self-regulated through an independent College of Practice, the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals. Registration with CVRP is not mandatory but is highly encouraged.

If you work within the VR Scope of Practice, you can be a VRA Canada member. This includes Disability Managers, Career Counselors, Career Developers, Life Care Planners, Ergonomists, et cetera - basically anyone working with people with disabilities with a focus on employment and/or community engagement for quality of life, or those supervising or educating individuals who provide such services. Researchers are also welcome to join.

Memberships are non-transferable. New members should apply via the website.

Membership must be renewed annually. Renewal typically begins after October 31 and ends December 31 each year. A late fee is applied for memberships received after December 31.

See Member Benefits for a list of benefits and services VRA Canada provides.