Appeals Procedure

A full copy of the Appeals Procedure is available in the Candidate Handbook. Below is a summary of the Appeals Procedure, including excerpts from the Procedure.

What is an appeal?

An appeal is a request for review of submitted to the Appeal Council for the reconsideration of either an adverse decision related to certification (including the granting, suspension, and withdrawal of certification), a perceived misapplication of the certification scheme policies and/or procedures, or a decision letter resulting from the formal complaint process.

Who handles appeals?

The CCPO Certification Manager is responsible to receive, register, and validate the appeal before it is reviewed by the CCPO Appeals Council. It is also the responsibility of the CCPO Program to ensure those decision-making personnel involved in the appeals-handling process differ from those involved in the decision being appealed.

How do I initiate an appeal?

An appeal is initiated in writing using the Appeal Submission Form (PDF) to be emailed to ccpo@bccsa.ca, or to be printed and mailed. The Appeal Submission Form must be received by the CCPO Program within ninety (90) calendar days of the date of the appealable decision to be considered by the Appeals Council.

What happens after an appeal is initiated?

The CCPO Program Manager will register the appeal as Received and assign it a sequential Appeal Number. They will review the appeal for relevance, completeness, and validity before it is passed to the Council Chair or, if the Council Chair was involved in the original decision, to the Vice Chair. The Council Chair will review the working copy of the appeal, and if the materials are complete enough for consideration by the full Council, a confidential working copy will be distributed to the Council. The Appellant will receive written notice of a registered appeal no more than thirty (30) days after the date on which the written appeal is determined to be complete enough for consideration by the full Council.

The Council will review all evidence submitted by the Appellant and conduct a preliminary investigation no more than fifteen (15) calendar days from the date the Appeal Registered notice is sent to the Appellant. The Council will then call an Appeal Hearing and notify the CCPO Program Manager, who will issue an invitation to the Appellant to participate in the hearing. The hearing is conducted remotely via teleconference. The Appellant will have fifteen (15) calendar days from the receipt of the invitation to confirm participation.

What happens if the Appellant does not participate in the hearing?

The Council will deliberate and make a decision using the information and evidence already available. The Council will include prior relevant appeals and effects of prior relevant corrective actions in its review.

If during the hearing the Council does not uphold the appeal and finds it without merit, the original certification decision stands.

What happens if an appeal is withdrawn?

If the Appellant withdraws the appeal before the appeal decision is issued, the appeal proceedings will cease and the CCPO Program Manager will confirm in writing the changed status of the appeal and issue a Withdrawal Confirmation notice to the Appellant. The Appellant may request a withdrawal of the appeal, in writing, at any time during the Appeal Process until an appeal decision is issued.

Are appeal decisions final?

Yes. The final Appeal Decision rendered by the Council and implemented by the CCPO Program is final and shall not be subject to further review once finalized.