ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
A four-year Bachelor degree majoring in kinesiology OR an equivalent discipline (equivalency is determined during course review), including
- satisfactory completion of the seven (7) specified core courses (minimum grade requirement = C- (>60%) in each course):
- Human Anatomy,
- Human Physiology,
- Human Motor Control & Learning,
- Biomechanics of Human Movement.
- Exercise Physiology
- Exercise Prescription
- Research Methods, and
- satisfactory completion of sixteen (16) additional elective courses, covering five (5) course categories specific to the practice of kinesiology (elective course grade requirements = A maximum of 2 D (<60%) grades will be accepted towards the 16 elective course total):
- Knowledge of Special Populations and Disease Processes
- Knowledge of Assessment and Interventions
- Knowledge of Professionalism and Ethics
- Knowledge of Foundational Sciences
- Knowledge of Physiologic Processes and General Health
NOTE 1: Do not contact the office to determine whether you meet the elective requirements prior to applying. This determination is made by the membership committee during course review (the final step of the application process)
NOTE 2: Applicants with three or more D grades may have difficulty meeting this requirement.
These Core courses must contain specific course content. The majority of BC Universities and Colleges have defined core courses in these subjects.
Definitions of the elective categories and subtopics can be found here.
The BCAK's academic requirements are historically based on the CCUPEKA Accreditation Standards for Kinesiology Undergraduate Degree Programs in Canada.
SUPPORT DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS
Applicants for Practicing membership must provide documentation in support of their membership. These support document requirements are based on whether the applicant graduated from a kinesiology program in Canada and how long ago they graduated.
Proof of Graduation or Eligibility to Graduate in the form of:
- A legible quality image of your Degree certificate submitted in the proper orientation showing all signatures and seals
OR - A proof of graduation or eligibility to graduate letter that must include:
- Your name
- Your student number
- The program you are enrolled in
- Whether you have applied to graduate yet
- When the earliest conferral date will be.
- A list of courses in progress that impact eligibility to graduate
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
Proof of Course Completion in the form of:
- A comprehensive International Credit Evaluation Service (ICES)
OR - course by course - ICAP WES report for each international degree (or other Canadian issued equivalent).
OR - Professionally Translated and Notarized official transcripts.
(Contact office for additional information BEFORE requesting these documents)
Note: Due to the cost of obtaining an independent credit evaluation, BCAK makes available to applicants, the option, of writing the core course composite exam, prior to submitting other required documentation or submission of the required ICES/WES report (Detailed further down this page). Passing the BCAK composite exam does not guarantee membership will be granted, as all remaining requirements must also be met. Please email the office for additional details.
Proof of Course Content in the form of:
- Official Course Outlines
- A pdf of course descriptions obtained through your institutions website
- 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.
Proof of Good Moral Character in the form of:
- A Vulnerable Sector clearance letter sent directly to the BCAK office by the Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP)
- Online through the ministry website
OR - Manually through the BCAK (if the online process does not work for whatever reason)
- Online through the ministry website
More information on either process can be found here.
Explanation of Intent and declaration of practice Area
(For applicants who graduated over 5 years ago)
The Membership committee requires additional information for applicants applying over 5 years after graduation.
- A letter of intent detailing;
- The reasons for seeking membership with BCAK and why it is important to them.
- Evidence of relevant work and/or volunteer experience related to the field of kinesiology.
- The area(s) (see: Areas of Practice) 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.Proof of Continuing Education since Graduation
Continuing Education (CE) must be submitted by all applicants for practicing and non-practicing membership. The requirements increase for each year the applicant is out of school and cap at 5 year increments. The completion of a Masters, or PhD in Kinesiology resets the You will be told how much CE you owe after your application is submitted, but the general requirements are as follows:
- >2, but <5 years since graduation - 20 credits per year minus the year of and the year after graduation for the first 5 years
- e.g. Graduation in 2017, applied in 2021:
2017 - 0 CECs owed
2018 - 0 CECs owed
2019 - 20 CECs owed
2020 - 20 CECs owed
TOTAL = 40 CECS owed since graduation or ~1%* of someone's free time over 4 years.
- e.g. Graduation in 2017, applied in 2021:
- >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.
- e.g. Graduated in 2015, applied in 2021:
Owes 100 credits completed since 2016 or ~.2.3%* of someone's free time over 5 years
- e.g. Graduated in 2015, applied in 2021:
- >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.
- e.g. Graduated in 2008, applied in 2021:
Owes 100 credits and must successfully pass the Composite Exam.
- e.g. Graduated in 2008, applied in 2021:
- >15, but <20 years since graduation - NOT ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE ASSESSMENT.
Contact the office for information on how to proceed.
*- Calculation is an underestimate based on an 8 hour day which only include weekends and statutory holidays (i.e. total credits owed/114 days x 8 hours = 912 hours).
Demonstrate knowledge of Theory
BCAK Core Composite Exam
For all applicants applying from outside of Canada, you will be required to pass the BCAK Composite Exam. Exams can be written in BC with no need for BCAK board approval, but the board must approve to have the exam sent anywhere else in Canada. The exam cannot be written at any center outside of Canada.
Below are the steps for booking an exam
- Follow the link to the BC invigilation service and choose a date and invigilation centre.
- Once this exam is booked, provide them with our contact information or vice versa based on the testing centres policies .
- We will ensure the center can meet the invigilation standards for the BCAK and then we will send the exam.
- Once the exam is received, we will send you a link to pay the exam fee.
- After this fee is paid and you have completed the exam, we will mark it and let you know the results.
The BCAK office can provide practice problems and some information about content, but can't tell you the exact breakdown of topics covered on the exam or discuss specific questions. The Composite Exam can be written a maximum of 3 times. After this, the applicant must appeal to the board for any additional attempts.
Proof of English Language Proficiency
All internationally educated applicants who completed their training in a country where the national language is anything other than English must provide:
- Proof that the language of instruction was English via
- A signed affidavit from institution declaring the language of instruction
- Official untranslated outlines in English provided by the institution
OR
- Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- IBT (internet based test) (~$200 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
- IBT (internet based test) (~$200 depending on center)
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- In person ($319) & 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
- In person ($319) & Computer delivered ($335)