Application Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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You can use one of these available tools to confirm whether your browser and operating system are up to date and if not you should update them following the instructions provided. Occasionally this does not resolve the issue and we then suggest you retry using a different device. Out of date browsers and operating systems can cause other issues during the renewal process, so it's important to address this prior to beginning the process.

If these options do not solve the issue please contact the BCAK office by email or telephone for further assistance.

If you forgot to include any required documents when submitting your application, you may email them to the BCAK office email (office@bcak.bc.ca). This excludes transcripts, which must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the BCAK or to the foreign credit evaluation service (ICES or WES).

Documents you submit must be of reasonable quality, in colour and proper orientation (meaning that in order to view the documents no modification is required by the BCAK). Submitting illegible, out of focus or improperly oriented documents will result in a request for re-submission and slow down your application review process.

Degree Certificates

PDF format is preferred for documents that do not require additional modification.

There is no required order for submission, however the application fee must be paid before you submit the application and for the BCAK to add any documents sent directly from post-secondary educational institutions or other service providers. Submitting support documents prior to paying for and setting up an application may result in processing delays. The following steps constitute a standard sequence for submitting the application and accompanying support documents:

1. Review - Confirm the requirements for membership, ensuring you meet all the individual requirements to the best of your ability. If you are unsure, please email the office for a detailed response to questions you may have.
2. Open an Application - Upload any required documents in your possession that are to be submitted by you (the applicant). The first document to be uploaded is the Good Moral Character declaration, other documents typically include course descriptions, proof of graduation/certificate, work experience forms reference letters, language proficiency test results, as may be required.
3. Payment - Submission of your application requires that you pay the required application fee (does not apply to Academic membership) prior to your application entering the review phase.
4. Confirm Receipt of Payment - Ensure that you have received confirmation email from the BC "Your application has been submitted" (Check your spam/junk email folder if it is not in your inbox). If you do not receive this email within 24 hours of submitting your payment, please email the BCAK office.
5. Apply for a CRC Vulnerable Sector Clearance Letter - Follow the instructions on the BCAK website explaining how to obtain a criminal record check through the BC governments Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP). The criminal record review letter will be sent directly to the BCAK and attached to your application once received and you will be notified via email.
6. Request Official Academic Transcripts - Follow the instructions provided on your post-secondary institution website(s) where you completed your education to request that official transcripts be sent directly to the BCAK office (if educated in Canada) or to the Foreign Credit Evaluation Service you have selected (WES/ICES as per their instructions) or have WES/ICES send a copy of your already completed review when applicable. These documents will be added to your application documents folder once they are received and you will be notified via email.

Review Timelines

Following receipt of all required support documents, BCAK will begin the review process. The estimated time required for the committee to review your application can vary as indicated below. (Note: these estimates do not include the time required for delivery/receipt of the support documents indicated below the review timelines)

• BC educated applicants ~ 30 days
• Other Canadian educated applicants ~ 30 to 60 days
• Internationally educated applicants (full or partial) ~ 45 to 60 days

Estimated Support Document Delivery Timelines

Delivery of Canadian Issued Academic Transcripts

• By mail - 7 to 14 business days
• By email - 3 to 5 business days

Delivery of Criminal Record Check Vulnerable Sector Clearance Letter (must be issued by the CRRP)

• 7 to 21 days after payment and submission (clear record)
• 30 to 90 days after payment and submission (offense record or secondary check required to confirm identity)

ICES comprehensive evaluation - OR - WES Course-by-Course + ICAP evaluation - 7 Weeks following receipt of all required documents from educational institutions

English Language Proficiency Exam Results - 1 to 2 months, depending on the time required for you to prepare and complete the test.

Canadian educated applicants - No, transcripts must be sent directly from the institution(s) where you completed your education. You should request sealed official transcripts be sent from your post-secondary institution to BCAK.

Internationally educated applicants - No, transcripts for international education must be sent directly to the foreign credential evaluation service (ICES or WES) and verified by them. Only in situations where an applicant is applying after being granted refugee status or asylum, where there is no formal relations between Canada and the country of origin, such that documents are not available, will documents held by the applicant be considered for application. These documents must be notarized by a lawyer/notary public verifying they are true original documents or copies of true original documents. These documents are then provided to the foreign credential evaluation service for review.

Yes. Instead of a submitting a copy of your degree/diploma, you are required to submit a signed proof of degree completion and verification of application to graduate letter from your educational institution. The letter must be uploaded by you to your online application. If your application has been submitted, you may send this to (office@bcak.bc.ca) with the subject line "Proof of Graduation/Program Completion Letter".

Please note that your proof of graduation letter must indicate that you have completed all the required coursework for your degree and have applied to graduate on a specific date. The letter must also clearly state what degree and program you will be graduating from, including concentration/specialization/stream. (i.e. Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology - Exercise Science Specialization).

For core (Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics, Motor Control, Exercise Physiology, Exercise Prescription and Research Methods) courses:

• BCAK normally only accepts letter grades or percent grades for elective courses. 
• Special Pandemic Measures - "P" grades require the following additional support documentation;
  • Provide a copy of the policy from the college/university and proof that this policy was in place for the post-secondary institutional, departmental, or course level covering the time of enrolled in the course(s) in question.
  • If possible, contact the professor or academic advisor to determine what percent or letter grade would have been anticipated based on the marks received for previous assignments and exams and request this be provided for submission as support to the BCAK. Documentation provided by the educational institution will be verified by the BCAK office. 

For Elective Courses:

• The BCAK membership committee can accept two (2) borderline pass/fail grades (less than 60%, i.e. 55 to 59%), towards the elective course requirements without special consideration. 
• Applicants who have received 3 or more pass/fail grades for the affected semesters; the BCAK board of directors has the ability to accept additional pass/fail grades for the applicant upon appeal, with the decision determined by:
  • Cumulative GPA of the applicant,
  • Academic history,
  • Previous coursework completed,
  • The graduation requirements for the undergraduate program in question,
  • Additional certifications held by the applicant,
  • Whether an applicant's core course requirements have been met.

Common situations encountered by applicants are detailed below.

1. If you have not met the core course requirements, you can complete the necessary course(s) at an approved BC educational institution (a grade of 60% or higher is required), or challenge and pass the BCAK's core course equivalency examination(s) for the individual subject(s) that you received less than 60% grade. Passing the individual exam requires a score of 65% or higher. Passing the core composite exam (all core courses) requires a score of 60% or higher.
2. If you have been advised you are missing fewer than 5 of the 16 required elective courses, you can complete these at an approved educational institution in Canada, either in person or by distance education (a maximum of 2 D grades (<60%) will be accepted across all elective courses, including other courses already allocated. No additional courses with D grades will be accepted in the total 16 courses above the permitted total of 2.
3. If after reviewing your application, the BCAK determines the number of outstanding requirements could not reasonably be completed within 1 year, your application will be declined and you will be provided with a list of the outstanding requirements that have not been met. You may reapply again after one (1) year and must meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication. No equivalency exams or course substitutions will be made available in these circumstances.

Professional development (PD) credits must be logged for the previous calendar year in order to complete registration. The system is not able to distinguish a first time registrant from a returning member looking to renew their membership. As a workaround, new members will be required to enter a PD credit waiver. Following approval and during completion of the payment and registration process, newly approved applicants will be asked to confirm the "First year of membership PD credit waiver". This must be completed manually by you following the steps below.

1. Click the blue edit button next to the draft credit waiver as indicated below

2. A pop-up window will appear. Scroll to the bottom of this popup and check the box next to the text that reads "I hereby confirm the activity submitted complies with the BCAK's Continuing ..." and click SUBMIT.
DO NOT ALTER THE DATE OR ANY OTHER FIELD

3. Once the waiver has been applied, CREDITS EARNED in the previous year will show 20/20 credits and you will be able to proceed to the next step of registration process.

Yes!

The annual Continuing Professional Development CPD requirements are pro-rated for first year members renewing their membership in the second year, based on their membership start date.

The Pro-rated requirements are as listed:

• Start Date in Quarter 1 (Jan – Mar) – 15 credits
• Start Date in Quarter 2 (Apr – Jun) – 10 credits
• Start Date in Quarter 3 (Jul – Sep) – 5 credits
• Start Date in Quarter 4 (Oct – Nov 15) – 0 credits required (New members after November 15th receive a 12+ month membership and when this first membership term expires, 20 credits are required to renew)

Prior to renewal you must manually enter the adjustment credits. To complete this process perform the following steps:

1. Navigate to the My CPD credits page. (This link will not work if you are not logged in to your account or you are not a current member)
2. Click the green add a credit button. (A pop up window will appear)
3. Under categories select "Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit waiver" from the drop down menu.
4. Under activities, select the appropriate date range based on when you joined.
5. Enter/Select the date you paid your membership dues as the completion date.
6. In the notes indicate "Joined in ______ (Month)"
7. Check the box to verify this is true and accurate, and submit the credit.

Click here for more information on our continuing professional development program.

For applicants who initiated their Practicing Membership application in the previous calendar year and are completing the membership purchase now, please select "First year of membership CE waiver".

Yes, official transcripts are required for all kinesiology related courses completed, whether at one or more institutions. See the core course content and elective category definitions for help determining this. If you are still unsure, contact the office.