Healthcare Education - CAN/HSO 40001:2026 (E)
About HSO Standards
HSO standards are the foundation on which leading-edge accreditation programs and evidence-informed public policy are built. Standards create a strong people-centred health care system that interest holders can rely on to enable people around the world to continuously improve quality of care.
HSO standards are formatted using the following structure:
- Section title. A section of the standard that relates to a specific topic.
- Clause. A thematic statement that introduces a set of criteria.
- Criteria. Requirements informed by evidence that describe what is needed by people to achieve a particular activity. Each criterion outlines the intent, action, and accountability.
- Guidelines. Additional information and evidence to support the implementation of each criterion.
HSO standards integrate gender responsiveness though three key mechanisms:
- Diverse representation. The Technical Committee for each standard includes a diverse range of genders and professional backgrounds. This composition supports the inclusion of lived experiences and clinical perspectives on gendered differences in care delivery that are central to the development process.
- Evidence-informed research. HSO Standards draw on research that explores gender-based differences in health issues and care delivery. This includes examining variations in prevalence, symptom expression, access to and experiences of care, treatment, outcomes and service standards.
- Inclusive language. HSO standards use inclusive gender-responsive language that respects diverse gender identities and reflects both physical and physiological as well as social and cultural dimensions of gender.
Refer to Annex A for additional equity-based principles integrated throughout all HSO standards.
About This Standard
CAN/HSO 40001:2026 (E) Healthcare Education is a new edition of the CAN/HSO 40001:2020 (E) (Allied) Health Education Program standard. This new edition incorporates and supersedes the content from CAN/HSO 40001: 2020 (E) (Allied) Health Education Program.
The standard was developed using published evidence and input from diverse interest holders, including people with lived experience. Gender-disaggregated data was considered during the literature review. Additionally, gender responsiveness was addressed through inclusive consultation and integration of equity, diversity, and cultural
safety principles. The technical committee included experts and users from multiple sectors, and the scope spans all populations and care settings, embedding gender equity throughout the technical content.
The published evidence used to inform this standard can be found in the bibliography.
This standard is intended to be used as part of a conformity assessment. This standard will undergo periodic maintenance. HSO will review and publish this standard on a schedule not to exceed five years from the date of publication.
Scope
Purpose
This standard provides guidance to healthcare entry-to-practice educational programs and the standard can be used for the approval and accreditation of these programs.
This standard does not describe the functioning roles of the Governing Body of the educational institution and the operational leadership accountabilities of the educational institution (e.g. emergency management).
Applicability
This standard applies to healthcare entry-to-practice educational programs.
The defined population for this standard is educational program leaders, student, educators, clinical preceptors and the workforce of an entry-to-practice healthcare education program.
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