This pathway is for applicants who received their education in Canada and graduated within the last 5 years.
STEP 1 - Complete Self-Assessment
Before you submit a membership application, you are required to complete a self-assessment to determine if you have completed the required courses and work experience.
Confirm Academic Requirements
To review the BCAK Academic Requirements for Professional Membership, click here.
You are required to complete a self-assessment of your post-secondary institute(s) Official Transcripts to confirm that you meet academic requirements. The BCAK provides a Course Assessment Chart to assist in your self-assessment, which can be found on this page. Directions for completing this chart are found on the document.
Also provided by the BCAK are Academic Assessment Grids, which outline the specific courses from each BC post-secondary institution that meet the course content of the required subjects and elective courses.
BCAK has assigned courses to the core subjects based on course outlines or syllabi from 4-year undergraduate degree programs offered at BC post-secondary institutions. The assignment of courses has been completed as of the release date of this guide. If there are new or other courses you have completed, they will be assessed by the BCAK and assigned based on the course syllabi that you provide when you submit your application.
You will be required to submit your completed Course Assessment Chart in STEP 2 of the application process.
Confirm 100 hours of Work Integrated Learning (WIL)
To review the Work Integrated Learning Requirements for Professional Membership, click here.
You will be required to submit a completed BCAK Work Integrated Learning Record (found on this page) for each internship, professional practice and/or Cooperative Education (Co-Op) placement that you complete; both paid and volunteer.
STEP 2 - Open Application and Submit Documents
Create User Account
Membership application starts with creating a BCAK User Account - the information required includes your name, contact information and preliminary educational information, including when, where and what degree(s) you have completed.
Pay Application Fee
To initiate your application process, you must pay the Membership Application Fee.
When you start your application process you will be prompted for online payment. The BCAK accepts secure online payment by credit card only.
You are required to read, sign and agree to a Statement of Good Moral Character. This statement will be found on the application page. You will not be able to continue your application process until this statement is agreed to by you.
Submit Documents
You have 120 calendar days from the Application Date (see Terms and Definitions) to ensure that all required supporting documents are submitted. Should you not submit documents in this 120 calendar day period, your application will expire and you must pay another application fee to reactivate your application. If the BCAK member standards or application procedures change during that period, you must apply under the new standards and procedures.
The following documents must be completed / submitted:
Proof of Degree Completion
You must submit one of the following for each kinesiology related degree you have completed.
- A legible image (resolution not less than 300 dpi) of your Degree certificate(s) submitted in the correct orientation showing all signatures and seals, OR
- A proof of graduation or pending graduation letter which includes:
- Name and address of the PSI
- Your full legal name
- Your student number
- Degree program completed
- Confirmation you have applied and been approved to graduate
Self-Assessment
You must submit the Self-Assessment grid that you completed in STEP 1
Official Transcripts
You must submit official transcripts for all relevant degree programs and courses. Request your official transcript(s) from all post-secondary institutions where relevant degree program courses have been completed and have them sent by the institution directly to the BCAK by email or postal mail.
Applicants may submit original sealed copies of official transcripts by postal mail provided they have not been opened and the University seal has not been tampered with. Unsealed transcripts received will not be accepted.
Applicants who have completed multiple degrees or attended multiple post-secondary institutions are required to submit official transcripts from each institution where kinesiology related coursework was completed.
Proof of Course Content
You must submit course outlines/ descriptions/ syllabi for:
- Courses that are not included in the BCAK PSI Assessment Grid,
- Courses described as practicums, seminars and directed studies, and
- Courses where the course prefix (and/or name), course number, or both have changed since completing your degree. Contact your PSI for assistance in requesting descriptions if you did not retain the original description(s). BCAK does not accept BC transfer Guide assessments.
Proof of Work Integrated Learning
You must submit a completed BCAK Work Integrated Learning Record for each internship, professional practice and/or Cooperative Education (Co-Op) placement that you complete. Volunteer hours may be considered if they meet BCAK work experience standards.
Request Criminal Record Clearance Letter Through Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP)
You must have a Criminal Record Clearance Letter allowing you to work with children and vulnerable adults under the Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA). The Criminal Record Clearance Letter must be completed upon initial application and every five years thereafter. Under the Province of BC's Criminal Records Review Act, any health practitioner who is required to have a review, who does not have a valid Criminal Record Clearance Letter and works with a vulnerable member of the public, is subject to severe consequences.
Fees for obtaining your Criminal Record Clearance Letter through the CRRP are your responsibility and are in addition to the BCAK membership application fee.
Typical processing times for the CRRP to process a Criminal Record Clearance Letter request average 2-6 weeks. Applicants have the choice to start the CRRP process at any point in their BCAK membership application process, however, applicants will not be approved for membership without their Criminal Record Clearance Letter.
Please note: The BCAK is not permitted to accept Criminal Record Clearance Letters that come directly from the applicant, or that were obtained through a local police detachment, or any document that is NOT sent from CRRP directly to the BCAK.
Upon receipt of all required documents, the BCAK will assess whether you meet academic and work experience requirements for membership.
If it it is determined that you do not meet requirements, you will be informed which requirements were identified as not having been satisfied and you will be provided additional information on how these outstanding requirements can be achieved and the time period in which they must be completed.
If it is determined that you meet requirements, you will move to STEP 3.
STEP 3 - Write Professional Competency Exam
If the BCAK determines that you have met the academic and other requirements, you will receive an invitation to register for the Professional Competency Examination.
Pay Examination Fee
The invitation email you receive will provide a link to pay the Examination Fee. The BCAK accepts secure online payment by credit card only.
An exam sitting may be deferred once. Requests for deferral must be emailed to the BCAK at least fourteen (14) days prior to the scheduled exam date. The exam fee will be credited in full toward the next exam sitting. The deferred exam must be rescheduled within thirty (30) days. If you do not complete the exam booking by this date, the exam fee credit will be forfeited.
Book the Examination
Upon BCAK’s receipt of your Exam Fee, you will receive an email from the BCAK with instruction on how to book your exam.
Exams are written at BC Invigilation Centres that have been approved by the BCAK. You will receive a link to these approved Invigilation Centres.
Invigilation Centres will charge you a fee at the time of booking. This fee is your responsibility, and you are subject to their payment and refund policies. This fee is not part of the BCAK Exam Fee.
Once you have selected your preferred Invigilation Centre and booked your exam, you must email the BCAK with your scheduled exam date, time and Invigilation Centre contact information. This information must be received by the BCAK a minimum of twenty-one (21) business days prior to your scheduled exam date. Upon receipt of the booking information, BCAK will send the exam link to the invigilation centre.
Prepare for the Exam
BCAK Professional Guiding Documents and study resources, including a Jurisprudence Guide and a Clinical Record Keeping and Charting Guide can be found here. The information in the resource documents may be tested in the exam.
Write the Examination
The online (electronically delivered) exam consists of 175 (TBC) multiple-choice questions comprised of single answer and case study questions. The BCAK requires a minimum score of 60% to receive a pass.
You have 365 calendar days (1 year) to successfully complete the exam and are permitted a maximum of three (3) attempts / sittings. The initiation of the 365 day period is the date that the BCAK sends you the email inviting you to write the exam.
If you do not successfully pass the exam with your first two attempts, BCAK will provide guidance for pathways to upgrade your professional practice competencies. Upon successful completion of upgrading, and approval by the BCAK, you will be invited to write the exam for your third and final attempt. Each exam sitting is subject to the full exam fee. You are also responsible for paying invigilation centre fees associated with each exam writing.
You will receive the results (pass or fail) of your exam within five (5) business days of writing your exam. These results will come to you by email from the BCAK website. Exam results are final and cannot be appealed.
Testing Accommodations
Requests for testing accommodations must be submitted to the BCAK a minimum of forty-five (45) days prior to the exam date. This written request must include Testing Accommodations Forms found here – one to be completed by the applicant, the other to be completed by a qualified healthcare practitioner who is currently treating you. This may include a family physician, nurse practitioner, clinical counsellor, or psychologist. Applicants requiring testing accommodations will be required to find the invigilation centre that can accommodate their needs – after the BCAK approval for accommodation.
Missing a Scheduled Examination
No-shows to scheduled exams are considered a failed attempt.
There are some unforeseen circumstances that may justify a “day of” deferral of the exam date. You must provide written information to the BCAK office within 24 hours of your scheduled exam time outlining the unforeseen circumstances that caused you to miss your exam. Communication must include corroborating evidence (e.g. if a major transportation route is closed due to weather or accident, provide proof of that closure from media sources and/or BC Ministry of Highways, etc.)
STEP 4 - Activate Membership
Upon meeting all membership requirements, you will receive an email from the BCAK inviting you to activate your Professional Membership: Practicing or Non-Practicing.
Pay Professional Membership Fees
You must activate your membership by paying the applicable membership dues within thirty (30) days of approval. Activation of the 30-day period starts one (1) day after the BCAK sends the email confirming that you have successfully passed the exam and have met the standards to become a Professional Member.
If you do not plan to activate your membership within the 30 days of approval, you must submit a written request for extension. Extension requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are at the sole discretion of the BCAK.
Insurance Requirements
As a Practicing Member with the BCAK you are required to have appropriate insurance coverage. See Practicing Member Insurance Requirements for guidance. Non-Practicing Members are not required to have insurance.