Template for Comparing Credentialing/Registration
Country Canada
Name of Credentialing Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors (CAGC) -
Body/Registration Board Certification Board Committee
Website/Address https://cagc-accg.ca/content/view/91/124/
Is there a separate Based on decision made by the CAGC, individuals who
credentialing/registration do not have a Master’s degree in Genetic Counselling
process for nurses? If yes, are not eligible to sit the CAGC certification exam. This
please give details of nursing includes nurses.
credentialing group
Eligibility criteria to apply for Graduation from a Master’s level Genetic Counselling
certification/registration training program.
Required criteria to apply for a This is institution-specific. Requirements generally
Masters degree in Genetic include an Honours Bachelor degree in either Biology
Counseling or Psychology, with specific prerequisite courses that
differ between schools.
If there is a Masters Degree in There are three ABGC-accredited Genetic Counsellinig
Genetic Counseling, is this programs in Canada; McGill University, University of
accredited? If so, by whom? British Columbia and University of Toronto. There is
also a Masters degree program at Universite de
Montreal that is not currently ABGC-accredited.
Minimum length of time Candidates must have completed their training
between completing the training program by the application deadline of the examination
requirements and applying for year. There is no minimum work experience required to
certification/registration apply to write the certification exam.
Number of cases used in Masters All of a candidate’s cases submitted in their application
in Genetic Counseling course for the CAGC exam can be collected during their
that can also be used in training program.
registration
Written examination on clinical Yes. The CAGC certification exam tests all areas of
issues? Yes/no, give details genetic counselling, and is based on the CAGC Scope of
Practice. The scope of practice is currently being
updated, with expected date of completion December,
2011. (https://cagc-
accg.ca/images/docs/committee_pages/Scopeofpractic
e%20Nov2005.pdf)
Portfolio of work submitted for Yes. Candidates must submit a logbook as a part of
certification/registration, yes/no their application to sit the CAGC certification exam.
This logbook must demonstrate a minimum level of
(n.b. this question relates to involvement with 50 cases in a variety of clinical
certification/registration and not settings (cancer, prenatal diagnosis, molecular
to a portfolio of work needed to genetics, pediatric genetics, etc).
complete a Masters degree in
Genetic Counseling)
Portfolio assessed by Yes. Each application is reviewed by a subcommittee
independent assessors, yes/no of the CAGC Certification Board Committee to ensure
that minimum requirements are met.
Portfolio ratified by the No.
Registration Board, yes/no
Candidate has an interview as No.
part of the
credentialing/registration
process, yes/no
What work is done for To be eligible to sit the CAGC certification exam,
certification/registration? candidates must be graduates of a Master’s in
Genetic Counselling training program. The
application pathway is slightly different, depending
on whether the training program is ABGC-
accredited. Graduates of non-accredited programs
must provide more detailed information about their
coursework and clinical placements. In addition,
all applicants must complete a logbook of 50
cases, which must demonstrate a minimum level of
case involvement in multiple areas of genetics.
Core competencies for practice The CAGC currently has a Scope of Practice, on which
as a genetic counselor, these are the certification exam is based (see link above). This is
the skills that are assessed in currently being revised into two broad areas of core
the certification/registration competencies: Knowledge-based competencies and
process Practice-based competencies. Moving forward he
CAGC certification exam will be based upon the
knowledge-based competencies, as the practice-based
competencies are evaluated through supervision and
submission of the logbook.
Is Genetic Counseling Yes. As part of their application to sit the certification
Supervision required in order to exam candidates must submit a logbook of 50 genetic
obtain certification/registration? counselling cases that have been supervised by a
genetic counsellor (CAGC or ABGC-certified) or a
Please see Clarke et al (2007) medical geneticist (CCMG or ACMG-certified).
for a definition of Genetic
Counseling Supervision.
Are certified/registered genetic No. Genetic counsellors in Canada are not regulated.
counselors regulated? If so, by
whom?
What requirements exist to Recertification is required every 10 years and there are
maintain two possible pathways to recertification. One pathway
certification/registration? How involves writing the CAGC certification exam. The
frequently is other pathway involves maintaining and submitting
certification/registration documentation demonstrating continuing education
maintained? and work experience in the field of genetic counselling.
Do you have an international No.
policy on registration of genetic
counselors trained outside your
country? If so, please provide a
link to this
Please briefly summarise what is Genetic counsellors who have trained through a non-
required of international genetic ABGC accredited genetic counselling program must
counselors wanting to apply to sit the CAGC certification exam through a
register/certify in your country separate pathway. This application pathway involves
more detailed descriptions of coursework and clinical
experience. Applicants from international training
programs have generally been approved to sit the
CAGC certification exam.