What is a Professional Home Economist?

Member Home Economists (approximately 300 members in Ontario) work in all areas of the public and private sectors. We utilize our specialized education and training to assist people in enhancing their daily lives. A provincial Act respecting the Ontario Home Economics Association recognizes the right of individuals who have met the membership qualifications to use the designation Professional Home Economist (PHEc). This registered status provides for self-regulation of member home economists by their peers via an established code of ethics, rules of professional conduct and standards of practice.

OHEA CODE OF ETHICS:  

Each member of the Ontario Home Economics Association will:
1)       Discharge professional duties with integrity;
2)       Observe standards of personal ethics which bring credit to the profession;
3)       Claim only those professional qualifications possessed;
4)       Use appropriate channels to ensure proper conduct of criticism, should criticism of another member's professional reputation or status be deemed necessary;
5)       Support the Association and further its aims;
6)       Observe the spirit as well as the letter of this Code of Ethics to avoid questionable conduct.

As professionals we are committed to empowering individuals and families with the knowledge and skills to achieve and maintain a desirable quality of life.

We are educated and knowledgeable in such areas as:
Food Production & Preparation
Clothing
Child Development
​Family Relationships
Family Resource and Development
Housing
Consumer Issues
Reciprocity agreements have been established with:
These agreements make it possible for the transfer of PHEc status if an OHEA member moves to one of these provinces.
"Who are Ontario Professional Home Economists? - What Do They Do?"

An OHEA publication compiled by Mary Carver, P.H.Ec. and several Ontario Professional Home Economists in response to a question posed by Clarence Lochhead, Executive Director of the Vanier Institute of the Family at OHEA's recent conference in Ottawa.  
Home Economists in Action

A home economist may choose to specialize in one home economics study area or may be a generalist in many facets of home economics. Examples of the fields in which home economists are active include:
Community Service/Development
Advertising
Marketing and Sales
Product Research
Food Writing / Editing
Promotion and Public Relations
Consumer Consulting
Media Relations
Recipe Development
​Food Styling
Co-op Housing
Teaching
International Development
Journalism
Resource Management
Textile Design
Financial Counselling
Fashion/Craft Editing