The Professional Members Committee (PMC) of the OHA recognizes that a Professional Member may need to take a short break from their practice while wanting to continue Professional Membership in the OHA. Accordingly, the PMC is recommending that Inactive Professional Membership status be available on the conditions set out below.

The PMC is requesting comments on this draft document before it is submitted to the Professional Membership for voting. Please email feedback to office@ontarioherbalists.ca

On the annual Professional Membership renewal form, before Oct 31, a Professional Member (PM) may choose Active Professional Membership and pay the full fee or Inactive Status and pay half the regular fee.

Inactive Status arrangements and fees must be paid in advance of renewal in order to continue OHA professional membership.

Inactive Status will be noted on the OHA Find-a-Herbalist page.

Educational requirements during time of Inactive Status will depend on length of Inactive Membership, i.e. one year of Inactive Status will not require Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits. If more than one year of Inactive Status is requested, the request and conditions of the Inactive Status will be considered by the Professional Members Committee (PMC) on a case-by-case basis.

If reactivating membership after 1, 2 or 3 years, a Reactivation fee of $50 will be required to be paid prior to reinstating active professional membership.

An extended period of Inactive Status (greater than three (3) years) will require reapplication for professional membership including an Application fee, an interview and two case studies from the OHA list, proof of education, two current references and a Letter of Intent.

As conditions of Inactive Professional Membership, an Inactive Professional Member (IPM):

• will continue to receive the OHA newsletter
• will continue to be given a discount at OHA events
• will be permitted to attend the OHA AGM and other OHA events and meetings
• will be permitted to stand for election as OHA Director but if elected, must become an active member within ten (10) days as set out in the OHA by-laws
• will continue to be entitled to discounts given to OHA PMs in good standing
• will continue to be bound by the OHA Code of Ethics
• if a complaint is received against an IPM, it will be treated the same as for a PM in good standing .
• will not see clients or practice as a PM
• will not receive a membership card which indicates active status
• will not be permitted to advertise in the OHA newsletter or on the website
• will not be permitted to vote on any OHA matters without reactivating membership and paying the reactivation fee

If an IPM continues to see clients in violation of their Inactive Status, a warning letter will be sent to remind them that a condition of Inactive Status is that they do not see clients, and the PMC will be reviewing the situation to determine whether further action will be taken.

If the IPM wishes to reactivate their membership before the end of the year of inactivity, they can do so upon payment of the Reactivation fee

Non-Renewal of Professional Membership

If a Professional Member does not submit all requirements for renewal of annual membership, including completion of CPD credits and the Mandatory Awareness Training, by October 31 of the year their current membership expires, they will be given a grace period of 30 days to do so.

If, at the end of the 30 day grace period, despite reminders from the OHA Administrator, they will be notified that they are no longer a professional member of the OHA, their payment of annual fee will be returned and they will be required to return their membership certificate and cease to use the RH designation. This means removing ‘RH’ from their letterhead, office signage, business cards, website, social media and any other location where it may appear. Their name will be removed from the Find-a-Herbalist page on the OHA website.