Applying for Practicing Membership - International Applicants (Delayed)

For applicants who have completed all or part of their kinesiology degree outside of Canada, applying more than 2 years after graduation

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Academic Requirements

A four-year Bachelor's degree majoring in kinesiology OR an equivalent discipline meeting the following requirements (equivalency is determined during course review)

1) Core Courses

and

2) Elective Courses

  • Satisfactory completion of a minimum of sixteen (16) additional elective courses (there are category minimums as well) as specified below, relating to the practice of kinesiology.
  • Elective course grade requirements = A passing grade is required for all 16 elective courses and 14 of 16 elective courses must have minimum C- (60%) grade/score or greater (maximum of 2 D (<60%) grades will be accepted towards the 16 elective course total).
  1. Special Populations, Disease Processes and Health Conditions (minimum 1 course)
  2. Professional Practice, Assessment and Interventions (minimum 7 courses)
  3. Foundational Sciences (no minimum but at least 1 course in this category is desirable; maximum of 2)
  4. Physiologic Processes and General Health (minimum 5 courses)

NOTE: Do not contact the office to determine whether you meet the elective requirements prior to applying. The membership committee will assess each course on its merit during the course by course review phase of the assessment.

Full details on the elective categories and subtopics can be found here.

Supporting Documents

Applicants must provide the following documentation. Additional requirements exist for those who graduated from an educational institution outside of Canada and in situations where more than 2 years has passed since graduation from their degree program.

1-Proof of Kinesiology (or Equivalent) Degree Completion

Submit one of the following during the online application process for each kinesiology related degree you have completed or directly to the BCAK office by email if your application has already been submitted.

  • A legible, high quality image of your Degree certificate(s) submitted in the correct orientation showing all signatures and seals
    OR
  • A proof of graduation or eligibility to graduate letter which includes:
    • Your name
    • Your student number
    • Degree program and any sub-category you were/are enrolled in
    • Confirmation you have applied to graduate if you have not already done so
    • Date of degree conferral
    • A list of courses in progress that impact eligibility to graduate, if you have not yet graduated

NOTE: Any courses in progress must show as completed on any official transcripts the BCAK office receives, otherwise you will need to order new transcripts once the final grades for the courses in progress are available.

2-Assessment of Degree Program and Coursework

Consisting of:

NOTE 1: If percent grades are provided, the review committee will be assessing percent grades rather than letter grade equivalents - in these cases a C- starts at 60%.

3-Proof of Course Content

Submit course outlines to the BCAK by email for all relevant courses in English.

  • Official Course Outlines, or
  • PDF course descriptions obtained through your educational institution's website, or
  • Course descriptions prepared by the applicant*

NOTE 1: Official outlines and institutional descriptions are given more weight than applicant written descriptions.
NOTE 2: Course outlines need only be submitted for the 7 core and 16 elective courses.
NOTE 3: Course descriptions are typically not required for new BC graduates. However, if a seminar/special topics course or a semester abroad was completed, then this should be submitted along with your application.

4-Proof of Good Moral Character

Complete a criminal record check (CRC) and a declaration form on past criminal convictions and regulatory discipline

  • A Criminal Record Check (CRC) clearance letter obtained through the BC Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP) - note the BCAK does not accept CRCs from other jurisdictions or local police departments, please follow the guidelines in the requirements link here: Requirements can be found here - please read.
  • Effective January 2022, all practicing and non-practicing applicants are required to sign, scan and upload the Practicing/Non Practicing Member Applicant Declaration on Past Criminal Convictions and Regulatory Discipline. Click here for the form.

5-Proof of Continuing Education since Degree Completion/Graduation

Continuing Education support documents are required for applicants who graduated more than 2 years prior to their application date. The requirements are dependent on the number of years since graduation and explained below. If a Master's degree or PhD in Kinesiology has been completed, in addition to the undergraduate kinesiology degree, the date of the most recent kinesiology specific degree applies for continuing education requirements. Applicants needing to provide proof of continuing education (CE) are encouraged to submit at the time of application. Otherwise, they will be informed of the CE requirements upon completion of the review and after meeting all other requirements. Please note that continuing education must support professional development in the field of kinesiology.

Consisting of:

Course receipts or certificates of achievement issued by the course/education providers which confirm the date the coursework was completed and the number of contact hours.

The requirements are:

  • >2 but <5 years since graduation - 20 credits per year minus the year of, and the year after, graduation
    • Example: Degree completion in spring of 2017, application in spring of 2021:
      2017 - 0 credits required
      2018 - 0 credits required
      2019 - 20 credits required
      2020 - 20 credits required
      TOTAL required = 40 credits (hours) required, since 2017
  • >5 but <10 years since graduation - 100 Credits completed in the last 5 years for any applicant who graduated over 5, but under 10 years ago.
    • Example: Degree completion in 2015, applied in 2021:
      Total required = 100 credits completed since 2016
  • >10 but <15 years since graduation - 100 Credits completed in the last 5 years AND a 60% grade on the Composite Exam for any applicant who graduated over 10, but under 15 years ago.
    • Example: Graduated in 2008, applied in 2021:
      Total required = 100 credits
  • 15 years or greater since graduation and employed full time in the profession for the previous 5 years - Special Application Process Required
  • 15 years or greater since graduation, not employed or marginally employed in the profession for the previous 5 years - INELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP
     Contact the office for additional information on eligibility or on how to proceed.

6-Letter of Intent and Declaration of Practice Area

(Applies only to applicants who graduated greater than 5 years ago)

Consisting of:

  • A letter of intent detailing;
    • The reasons for seeking membership with BCAK and why it is important to you.
    • Evidence of your relevant work and/or volunteer experience related to the field of kinesiology.
    • The area(s) (see: Areas of Practice) in which you intend to practice, which may include explaining subjectively how you meet the scope of practice, including coursework and experience.
  • A maximum of two professional reference letters from persons known by the applicant for more than 1 year, who can attest to the applicant's professional acumen, clinical knowledge and interpersonal skills.

7- Proof of English Language Proficiency

Internationally educated applicants who completed their education in a country where the national language is other than English must provide proof of English language proficiency

Either

  • Proof of English language of instruction including:
    • A signed affidavit from your educational institution declaring English as the language of instruction
    • Official course outlines in the original English format as provided by the institution

OR

  • Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
    • IBT (internet based test) (~$225 depending on center)*
      • Listening - Minimum score of 20
      • Writing - Minimum score of 20
      • Reading - Minimum score of 20
      • Speaking - Minimum score of 20
      • Overall - Minimum score of 80
    • Paper delivered
      • Listening - Minimum score of 20
      • Writing - Minimum score of 20
      • Reading - Minimum score of 20
      • Overall - Minimum score of 60
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    • In person ($320) & Computer delivered ($335)*
      • Listening - Minimum score of 6.5
      • Writing - Minimum score of 6.5
      • Reading - Minimum score of 6.5
      • Speaking - Minimum score of 5.5
      • Overall - Minimum score of 6.5

*Note: fees posted for testing English proficiency are estimates and may be changed by the testing facility at any time without notice

8- BCAK Core Courses Composite Exam Completion (Demonstrate Mastery of Kinesiology Core Academic Knowledge)

  • Applicants completing their undergraduate kinesiology education outside of Canada are required to pass the BCAK Composite Examination. The BCAK will provide a limited number of sample questions in addition to the information and study resources indicated.
  • Steps 1 through 7 listed above must be completed and approved by the BCAK prior to writing the exam.
  • Please note that the Composite exam tests only 4 of the 7 core courses - applicants must be able to demonstrate mastery of the other 3 courses or be prepared to take those course subjects at an approved university program.
  • Exams must be written at an approved invigilation centre in BC.
  • The Core Course Composite Exam can be written a maximum of 3 times. If you do not pass the exam after 3 attempts, you must complete an approved course in the subjects for which a mark of 65% has not been achieved in the applicable exam section.

Below are the steps for booking an exam

  1. Follow the link to the BC invigilation service (Only in-person invigilation services may be selected) and choose a date and invigilation centre.
  2. Once your exam date and time are booked with the invigilator, provide the invigilator (service) with the BCAK's contact information or vice versa based on the testing centres policies, so that contact can be initiated between the centre and BCAK.
  3. We will confirm the invigilator meets the standards set by the BCAK following initial contact and advise you if there are any concerns.
  4. We will send you an exam payment (invoice) link to complete payment of the exam fee.
  5. Upon receipt of payment we will send the exam to the invigilator.
  6. Following completion of an exam sitting, the invigilator will return the exam to the BCAK for grading.
  7. BCAK will mark the exam questions and report the results to you. (This process can take 5 to 7 business days following receipt of the exam from the invigilator).

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