Certification Based Upon Work Experience


By Monika Gal Registrar, CCPA


The summer months tend to be a time for travelling, family and time spent relaxing at a cottage. This usually means that the num- ber of applications for certification diminish over the summer months as practitioners would rather enjoy the sunshine than com- plete applications for certification and track down the required documentation. This summer, however, has been an exception; it seems that the increase in applications is due to a greater number of experienced practitioners applying for certification.


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Not all members are aware that they can apply for certification based upon their work experience. This is the alternative option #2 on CCPA’s website and called the “Challenge of Competency”. CCPA is looking into clarify- ing this application procedure, but until then I’d like to offer a bit of guidance for expe- rienced practitioners looking to apply for certification.


In order to qualify for the Challenge of Com- petency option, applicants must have gradu- ated prior to the 2002/2003 academic year and hold a minimum of three years of full- time counselling work experience within the past ten years. Their work experience will be evaluated in lieu of the practicum require- ment as evidence of their direct client coun- selling skills and experience. Applicants will also be required to provide two additional references, with one being from a quali- fied clinical supervisor. Please see below for a list of the documentation required in a Challenge of Competency (work experience) certification application:


- Application form, located on our website VOL. 44 NO. 4 | FALL 2012


under the Membership tab, and Forms sec- tion


- Official transcript, sent directly to CCPA from the University


- Course descriptions, which must be from an official source (course syllabi or program calendar are generally submitted). For prac- titioners who completed their training some time ago, these can be difficult to locate, but the archives department of your university can usually provide copies. The program’s course codes and titles may have changed since the time of your studies so please en- sure that those on your course descriptions match those on your transcript.


- Documentation of work experience, in the form of letters from employers. Please pro- vide one letter per employer/position. The letter must attest to a total of three-years of full-time practice within the past ten years, which is the equivalent to 4,500 hours of practice.


- Four Professional Reference Forms, com- pleted by graduate-level counsellors, coun- sellor-educators, or clinical supervisors. At least one of these Reference Forms must be completed by a clinical supervisor who has engaged in formal supervisory activities ac- cording to CCC criteria and can speak to the applicant’s skills.


- Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector / Abuse Registry Screening, complet- ed within the past 12 months.


Applicants who have less than the 4,500 hours of practice required can obtain a quali- fied supervisor and begin obtaining formal supervised practice from the time of the application. The number of hours of super- vision required is based on the number of hours of work experience that the applicant holds; please see CCPA’s website for a table of the required hours of supervision based upon the years of attested experience. Ap- plicants must submit a proposed schedule for completing these hours.


Do you have any lingering questions about applying for certification through the Chal- lenge of Competency option? Send me your thoughts and questions by email at registrar@ccpa-accp.ca.


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