Entry-to-Practice Credentials Assessment Process

Federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Health approved a process for managing proposals to change an entry-to-practice credential for medical and health professions in October of 2004. The process helps governments determine whether a proposed change in credentials for entry-to-practice serves the interests of patients and the health care system. It contributes to the ability of the supply of medical and health professionals to provide timely and high quality care in Canada.

Mandate

To provide policy advice on entry-to-practice issues through the ACHDHR to the Conference of Deputy Ministers of Health and Conference of Deputy Ministers of Post-secondary Education;

To address proposed changes in entry-to-practice credentials for medical and health professions through a coordinated federal/provincial/territorial process approved by the Conference of Deputy Ministers of Health;

To ensure that these credentials are reflective of good public policy, responsive to the needs of the population and the health care system;

To implement and coordinate the approved process for managing proposed changes in entry-to-practice credentials;

To examine entry-to-practice issues in relation to changes in curricula and Scope of Practice;

To ensure consistent distribution of information on entry-to-practice developments to all jurisdictions, including the analysis of results arising from the coordinating committees review of proposed entry-to-practice changes.

Process

The process involves the collaboration of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministries of Health and Ministries of Post-Secondary/Advanced Education. The province of Quebec will not be participating in this process; however, it will continue to collaborate with this initiative by supporting an ongoing exchange of information between the pan-Canadian system and the Quebec system.

The process is comprised of two stages:

Stage One

• A letter of intent from a provincial/territorial/national, educational, regulatory or professional organization is submitted to one Provincial or Territorial Deputy Minister of Health or Deputy Minister of Post-Secondary/Advanced Education to commence the process. The receiving province/territory will coordinate a review for each letter of intent and determine whether or not to support a full assessment. The applicant will be requested to complete the Assessment Application if it is determined that the proposal will move to stage two for the pan-Canadian process.
• The proposing organization submits the Assessment Application for Changes to Entry-to-Practice (ETP) Credentials for Medical and Health Professions to the province/ territory where it is reviewed for completeness.
• Specific information regarding this process can be obtained by contacting your provincial/territorial representative.

Process for Stage One - Provincial/Territorial Activity

Stage Two

• The pan-Canadian Coordinating Committee will utilize a team of experts appropriate for the application to conduct a review and analysis of the proposal.
• Once the analysis is complete, the resulting information will be disseminated to all provincial/territorial jurisdictions.

Process for Stage Two - Coordinating Committee Analysis

Advisory Committee on Health Delivery and Human Resources and Coordinating Committee on Entry-to-Practice Credentials