Membership Requirements

Application Submission Date: (further referred to as the "Application date")

An application for membership is deemed to have been submitted to the BCAK at the date and time which all of the following have been received from the applicant by the BCAK:

1. Payment of the applicable application fee
2. Receipt of a copy of your degree certificate, or if you are just finishing your degree program, receipt of a letter from the kinesiology department representative at the post secondary institution where you have completed your degree indicating that (1) you have met all the requirements to graduate from the program and (2), you have applied for graduation, and (3) you have submitted your current unofficial transcripts to the BCAK.

Important Notice: The requirements indicated below apply for applications submitted by 5:00 pm on December 31, 2024. Applications received after this date and time are considered to be received on January 1, 2025 and the 2025 standards apply. see 2025 standards

Application Expiry Date - applications remain active for a maximum of 365 days from the date of payment and are not eligible for extension. The 365 days is inclusive of document submission, BCAK review and if determined by the BCAK, meeting any outstanding membership requirements. Applicants may reapply upon expiry of an existing application, subject to meeting the membership requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

1) Practicing Membership* - Is for qualified kinesiology professionals who work or plan to work in clinical or community based healthcare settings.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• a) Have received a four-year degree in kinesiology from a post-secondary educational institution in Canada where the degree and institution meet the standard set by the BCAK, or
• b) Have educational qualifications from a post-secondary educational institution in another country that are deemed by the Board to be substantively equivalent to the requirements in (a), or
• c) Have educational qualifications that are in part equivalent to a four-year degree in kinesiology, and successfully complete an examination, and/or have work experience, acceptable to the Society,

and,

d) Be employed or practice in British Columbia as a kinesiologist, or who wishes to become so employed or practicing,

e) Be of good moral character and uphold the BCAK's Professional Standards, and

f) Meet the continuing professional development requirements set by the BCAK.

*Professional Practice Liability (PL, also known as E&O) and Commercial General Liability Insurance (PL and CGL) are mandatory

2) Non-Practicing Membership - Is for qualified kinesiology professionals who work or plan to work in healthcare management or other roles where the kinesiologist does not provide direct client care services.

Applicants must meet the requirements specified above for Practicing Membership.

Professional Liability Insurance is not required for membership and access to BCAK member group coverage is not available

Note: Non-Practicing and Practicing membership applicants complete the same application process and must meet the same requirements for approval.

The application process and required documentation depend on the criteria listed below. Select the one which applies to you from the options below to determine your requirements.

For Recent Graduates

I completed all of my kinesiology education (coursework/degrees) at Post-Secondary institutions in Canada, and

• I am applying within five (5) years after graduation Click here

• I am applying five (5) or more years after graduation Click here

I completed some or all of my kinesiology education (coursework/degrees) at Post-Secondary institutions outside of Canada, and

• I am applying within five (5) years after graduation Click here

• I am applying five (5) or more years after graduation Click here

3) Academic Membership

Is for

a) Students enrolled in a course of studies leading to a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in kinesiology from a post-secondary educational institution in Canada that is recognized by the BCAK, or

b) A professor, instructor, or member of the faculty of a post-secondary educational institution in Canada that is recognized by the Board, in a faculty or department which offers courses in kinesiology, human kinetics, and related subjects.

Academic member must:

• Be of good moral character,
• Abide by the BCAK's Code of Ethics,
• Not be working in a professional (practicing or non-practicing) capacity as a kinesiologist, excepting for their capacity as a post-secondary student in a work integrated learning (WIL) placement or co-operative education placement/course, or as a post-secondary educator as detailed above.

*Professional Practice Liability Insurance is not available through the BCAK member group insurance program for Academic members

Notes:

• If you are a student and are within 60 days of graduation, it is recommended you begin your application for Practicing (professional) membership. Call the office if you wish to discuss your options further.
• Academic-student membership is designed for students in the final 2 years of their undergraduate degree program or completing their professional practice graduate degree program - membership provides access to job postings and other resources to help prepare you for a career in professional kinesiology.

To determine the requirements for academic membership, select the option below which applies to you.

• I am a full time Kinesiology student at a BC Post-Secondary Educational Institution, but will not be graduating within 60 days Click Here
• I am employed (faculty/professor/instructor) in a Kinesiology department at a BC Post-Secondary Institution Click here

Create a BCAK user account through the BCAK's website. Once a user account is created, follow the links on the welcome page to begin your application.

Tips for creating a user account

• Name - Enter your 'full legal name', as it appears on your government issued identification or transcripts. This ensures support documents received by the BCAK for your application are correctly allocated. There is the option to enter a 'preferred' first name if you use something other than your legal name on a day to day basis. (Do not capitalize every letter in your name.)
• Contact information - ensure all contact information entered is accurate and kept up to date. You are responsible for maintaining current contact information and can complete this quickly and easily through your online account - begin by logging into your account through the BCAK website, select 'Edit Info" under the 'My Account' tab, and make the necessary changes. Tip - Use a personal email address that you check regularly, and not a corporate or institution email address provided by your employer or post-secondary institution you are attending. School and corporate accounts are controlled by the institution/employer, are not personal, and can be closed by the organization, cutting off your access.
• BCAK communication - The BCAK will communicate with you by e-mail. If your email address is not correct or you no longer have access to the email on record, you will not receive important communications from the BCAK.

Note: Password Reset and Two Factor Authentication (2FA) are available for increased security. If you do not receive a password reset or 2FA email when requested, please ensure emails received from the 'bcak.bc.ca' domain are added to your safe sender list. If you continue to experience delays or do not receive these emails please contact the BCAK office. This situation is most frequently encountered for the following domains:

• @live.ca/.com
• @hotmail.ca/.com
• @outlook.ca/.com

Click here to CREATE a user account

Once you have created a user account on the website, you can initiate the application process.

Professional (Practicing and Non-Practicing) Membership Applicants

• A non-refundable application fee applies to all Practicing and Non-practicing application submissions. This fee does not include BCAK membership dues, which will become due and payable if your application is approved.
• Two (2) year associate and three (3) year undergraduate degrees do not meet the BCAK standard for Practicing or Non-practicing membership. You must have completed a 4-year undergraduate degree (typically 120 credit hours) or equivalent.
• Processing timelines for membership application tasks/steps are estimated below:
  • Degree(s) (diploma/s) submission - Online upload through the application portal. Typical BCAK received time, < 2 min for digital document
  • Course Descriptions submission (when required*) - online document upload of course descriptions, or list of links to course descriptions (*applies to those who have completed directed studies courses in BC/Canada and for all internationally educated applicants). Time required, > 1 hour
  • Official Transcripts (applies only to Canadian educated applicants - see below for International requirements) - Request official transcripts from your post-secondary educational institution(s) and have them sent directly by the institution to the BCAK - Typical BCAK received time, Postal mail: 10 to 30 business days, Email: 1 to 2 business days
  • Request your criminal record check through BC's Criminal Records Review Program - Completion time: typically less than one hour. Typical BCAK received time: Online - 7 to 30 business days after payment; Manually ~30-45business days after payment and submission.

Internationally Educated Professional Membership Applicants

• Foreign Credential Evaluation - ICES comprehensive evaluation, or WES Course-by-Course with ICAP evaluation - Delivery time, approximately 7 Weeks following receipt of all required documents by the review agency.
• English Language Proficiency Exam (required for those not educated in the English language) - Completion time, 1 to 2 months, not including your required preparation time.
• Work Experience and/or BCAK Core Course Composite exam - Invigilation centre examination booking ~ 2 weeks, not including your required study/preparation time.

Academic Membership Applicants

• A user account must be set up and the required documents must be submitted for review. No application fee applies. Payment of the academic membership fee is required prior to activation of membership or access to benefits.

Review Process & Timelines

Following BCAK's receipt of the required supporting documents, your application will enter the review phase. Your application and support documentation will go through a peer review process completed by the Membership Application Review Committee. The time required for the committee members to review your application will vary depend on whether you completed your education in Canada, Internationally (whole or in part), work experience review requirements, references and other factors (such as the number of applications in the review queue).

Estimated timeline - Practicing/Non-Practicing Applicants

• Approximately 30 days for BC educated applicants graduating within 5 years of application.
• Approximately 45 days for other Canadian educated applicants graduating within 5 years of application.
• Approximately 60 days for Canadian educated applicants graduating more than 5 years prior to application.
• Approximately 60-90 days for all remaining applicants.

Estimated timeline - Academic Applicants

• Approximately 7 business days.

Once your application review is completed and a decision made, you will receive notification by email as to the outcome of your review.

• If your application is approved, you will have 30 days to activate and pay your membership dues. Additional requirements may apply if you do not complete membership activation and payment within 30 days of approval.
• If your application is postponed, you will be informed which requirements were identified as not having been satisfied during the review process and you will be provided additional information on how these outstanding requirements can be achieved the time period in which they must be completed. Time periods are as follows:
  • If you applied prior to November 1, 2024, and receive your 'Notice of Application Review" prior to December 31, 2024, you will have a maximum of 365 days from the date BCAK sends you the 'Notice of Application Review' to satisfy any outstanding requirements and provide proof to the BCAK,
  • If you applied prior to November 1, 2024, regardless of when you receive your 'Notice of Application Review' you will have until December 31, 2025, to satisfy any outstanding to requirements and provide proof to the BCAK,
  • If you applied between November 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, you will have 365 days or until December 31, 2025, whichever first occurs, to satisfy any outstanding requirement and provide proof to the BCAK. The 365 day limit is inclusive of the time required for you to submit the required documents, BCAK review of your application submission, receiving the 'Notice of Application Review' and the time you take to meet the outstanding requirements.
  • Once an application expires, you may submit a new application (and fee) subject to meeting the requirements in effect on the date the new (reapplication) is received, should you wish to continue to pursue membership.
• If your membership application is refused (declined), you will be provided details as to which requirements have not been met, informed of the mandatory waiting period (90 days from receipt of the 'Notice of Application Review') until you can reapply and the membership requirements that will apply after 90 days should you choose to reapply.

Practicing and Non-Practicing Member Guiding Documents

As a condition of membership in the BCAK you are responsible for, and agree to abide by, the standards set by the BCAK for conduct and professional practice. You must read and understand the standards and guidelines related to professional conduct, including ensuring you remain competent in the the Essential Competencies of Practice, and otherwise act in accordance with the professional practice standards and code of conduct.

Members and applicants who breach these standards can be suspended or expelled from the BCAK in accordance with the society's bylaws depending on the severity of the breach. If you have questions on the terminology or expectations, please contact the BCAK office for clarification.

• Guiding Documents Page

Academic Member Guiding Documents

• Code of Ethics
• Good Moral Character Standard

Applies to all Members

• All memberships expire on December 31st of the year to which the membership applies. (Memberships do not run continuous for 365 days from the date of membership purchase)
• Memberships which are not renewed by the due date become not in good standing (Must be renewed by December 31st to continue uninterrupted for the next year).
• Membership Fees

Applies to Practicing and Non-practicing Members

• If you allow your membership to expire (lapse), additional fees may apply. If you allow your membership to lapse for more than 30 days you will need to apply for reinstatement (note: reinstatement is only available for up to 3 years after last year of membership).
• If you allow your membership to lapse for 3 or more years, you will need to initiate a new membership application and meet the current admission standards.

Reinstatement Policy