APPLICATION FOR CREDENTIAL AND PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT

Credential and Prior Learning Assessments are required for applicants trained internationally or in a non-regulated Canadian Province.

Applicants that have not graduated from a BC accredited institution or are not transferable to BC from another regulated province, must prove to the satisfaction of the Registration Committee that they have educational and clinical qualifications that are substantially equivalent to those of a graduate from an Accredited Education Program. The CMTBC requires Credential and Prior Learning Assessment (CPLA) to determine if you have knowledge and skills equivalent to those acquired through education in BC. The CPLA fee is $160.00, payable upon remittance of the application. Processing of the CPLA may take up to eight weeks from receipt of completed application and all support documentation.  Note that the Candidate Application for CPLA is a two-page form that you fill in and submit to the CMTBC. The Request for Educational Documentation, consisting of a covering letter and a transcript request form (3 pages) should be submitted to your training institution and they are to fill it in and return it to the CMTBC. Following the CPLA process applicants will be referred to one of three steps towards obtaining Registration to practice massage therapy in BC.

1. Direct Access to the College's Registration Examinations
Applicants whose knowledge, skills and clinical qualifications are assessed as equivalent to the standards required for entry to practice in BC will be referred directly to the CMTBC's Registration examinations.

2. Further Training to Meet Educational Standards for Entry to Practice
Applicants whose knowledge, skills and clinical qualifications are assessed as NOT equivalent to the standards required for entry to practice in BC, and the assessment indicates they require minimal to moderate BC specific upgrading, will be required to undertake further training or clinical practice. A list of providers of required courses (within the BC curriculum) will be made available to those applicants needing to undertake upgrading. Upon successful completion of the upgrading courses the applicant is then referred to the CMTBC's Registration examinations.

3. Further Training and Diagnostic Assessment
Applicants whose knowledge, skills and clinical qualifications are assessed as NOT equivalent to the standards required for entry to practice in BC, and the assessment indicates they require moderate to extensive BC specific upgrading, will be required to undertake a Diagnostic Assessment. The Diagnostic Assessment is a both a written and a practical evaluation of your knowledge, hands-on, critical thinking, and clinical application skills. The Diagnostic Assessment fee is $1100.00. Once an applicant has completed the diagnostic assessment, a comprehensive report will be created with an overview of the assessment results, with notification of any additional study, further training or clinical practice to be completed before you can take the Registration examinations.

The Diagnostic Assessment consists of two components:

- Health Studies Written Examination
This examination will include topics such as Anatomy and Physiology, Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Pathology, Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology, Nutrition, Pathology, Orthopedic Pathology, Pharmacology, Research and Kinesiology.

- Oral Practical Examination
This examination will consist of a two-hour objectively structured clinical examination consisting of practical evaluation of skills such as health history taking, palpation or structure identification, patient handling, assessment, application of techniques, prescription of remedial exercise and hydrotherapy

application_for_credential_and_prior_learning_assessment.pdf