Policy Name: 6-10 Eligibility for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
Established: September 2015
Reviewed:
Revised: May 2016, August 26, 2016, January 2017, March 17, 2017, October 23, 2017, November 9, 2018, March 8, 2019, May 6, 2019; October 7, 2019, March 16, 2020, November 23, 2020, January 25, 2021, April 16, 2021, May 17, 2021, August 24, 2021, April 4, 2022.
Policy Statement
The Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) process is designed to assess the current knowledge, skills, and competence of internationally educated applicants against the national entry to practice standards for Canadian graduates. The College’s PLAR process is not designed as a “challenge” process, where a person with no formal education could self-study and complete the assessment(s) to demonstrate that they have the required knowledge and skills.
To be deemed eligible to initiate the PLAR process, an applicant must demonstrate completion of:
- A degree at the Bachelor level reasonably related to dietetics, with evidence of completed courses in the three core areas of dietetic practice: nutrition care, population & public health, and food service management;
- A degree in sciences at the Bachelor level, followed by a university-level program reasonably related to dietetics, with evidence of completed courses in the three core areas of dietetic practice: nutrition care, population & public health, and food service management; of at least two years in duration; or
- A degree at the Bachelor level, plus a verification statement of equivalence from a United States-based Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited academic (didactic) program.
An applicant must also demonstrate completion of supervised practical training, and English language proficiency. An applicant who was previously deemed eligible for the PLAR process must continue to meet the current eligibility requirements to continue the process.
This policy also permits applicants to complete the PLAR process to fulfill the upgrading requirements as outlined in Policy 3-30 Assessing Currency for Applicants, for applicants who completed their training or last practised dietetic 10 or more years ago.
Procedure (see Flowchart below)
- An applicant who wishes to write the Knowledge and Competency Assessment Tool (KCAT) must submit the KCAT application form to the College of Dietitians of Ontario.
- The Director of Registration, will review the application form to determine the applicant’s eligibility.
- Table 1 below describes the eligibility criteria and lists the documents that an applicant must provide as evidence of meeting the eligibility criteria. Acceptable alternatives to the required documents are also indicated.
- An applicant must demonstrate that they have made attempts and are unable to access the required documents before acceptable alternative documentation will be considered.
- As language skills can degrade over time, a more recent English proficiency test result takes precedence over a letter indicating the primary language of instruction was English.
- In some cases, upon review of the totality of training, an applicant may be counselled about the probably that they may not be successful in the PLAR process.
- Unsuccessful applicants will be advised of the right to appeal the eligibility decision.
- An applicant may attempt the KCAT a maximum of three times.
- An applicant who has previously attempted the KCAT will be eligible to register for a second or third attempt of the KCAT providing they continue to meet all eligibility requirements and they have not exceeded the maximum number of attempts.
- An applicant is eligible to complete the Performance-Based Assessment (PBA) if they:
- Have received a Level I result on the KCAT within the past 3 years, or
- Have received a Level II result on the KCAT and have successfully completed Ryerson University’s Internationally Educated Professionals in Nutrition (IEPN) Certificate in Canadian Dietetic Knowledge Competencies program (Certificate), within the past three years.
- An applicant may attempt the PBA a maximum of three times.
- An applicant who has previously attempted the PBA will be eligible to register for a second or third attempt of the PBA providing they continue to meet all eligibility requirements and they have not exceeded the maximum number of attempts.
- An applicant who has successfully completed the PBA must attempt the Jurisprudence Knowledge & Assessment Tool (JKAT) and apply to the College within three years after passing the PBA.
- An applicant is deemed to have successfully completed the PLAR process if they:
- Receive a Level I result on the KCAT, pass the PBA and successfully complete the JKAT;
- Receive a Level I or II result on the KCAT, followed by successful completion of the IEPN Certificate and the IEPN Practicum (or PDEP or ACEND accredited practicum);
- Receive a Level I or II result on the KCAT, followed by successful completion of the IEPN Certificate, pass the PBA and successfully complete the JKAT;
- Receive a Level I result on the KCAT, followed by successful completion of the IEPN Practicum or Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) accredited practical training program;
- Receive a Level I result on the KCAT, successfully complete an ACEND accredited practical training program and pass the JKAT; or.
- Receive a Level I result on the KCAT and successfully complete an Independent Practicum that has been assessed to be equivalent to an accredited program of practical training by a panel of the Registration Committee.
- An applicant deemed to have successfully completed the PLAR process under section 14 is deemed eligible to write the Canadian Dietetic Registration Examination (CDRE). The applicant may apply for a Temporary Certificate of Registration while waiting to write or receive the results of the CDRE.
KCAT for Demonstrating Academic Currency
- Applicants who have completed an accredited academic degree in Canada or the United States more than three years ago may write the KCAT to demonstrate academic currency.
- Third-party accredited practical training programs in Ontario will accept a KCAT Level I result as a demonstration of academic currency from an applicant who completed an accredited academic degree more than three years ago.
- The results of the KCAT written by applicants to demonstrate academic currency will not form part of the College’s registration process.
Required Documents to demonstrate eligibility to write KCAT for Demonstrating Academic Currency
Criteria being evaluated |
Required Document |
1. Undergraduate degree accredited by the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) in Canada or the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) in the United States, completed more than three years ago.
|
- Official Transcript (sent directly to CDO by the University)
- A verification statement of program completion from ACEND, as applicable
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Table 1. Required Documents and Acceptable Alternatives for Demonstrating Eligibility to Write the KCAT
Criteria Being Evaluated |
Required Documents |
Acceptable Documentation Alternatives |
1. Academic Training
• A degree at the Bachelor level reasonably related to dietetics, with evidence of completed courses in the three core areas of dietetic practice: nutrition care, population & public health, and food service management;
• A degree in sciences at the Bachelor level, followed by a university-level program reasonably related to dietetics, with evidence of completed courses in the three core areas of dietetic practice: nutrition care, population & public health, and food service management; of at least two years in duration; or
• A degree at the Bachelor level, plus a verification statement of equivalence from an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited academic (didactic) program.
|
- World Education Services (WES) Assessment (sent directly to CDO) confirming that the transcript/degree is authentic and that the level of the degree is at least equivalent to a bachelor’s (undergraduate) degree in Canada.*
AND
- Official Transcript (send directly to CDO by the institution or WES)
|
- Proof that the applicant was accepted into a Canadian graduate degree if the admission requirements for the graduate degree include completion of an undergraduate degree.
- In exceptional circumstances the applicant may make a declaration about their education.
|
2. Practical Training
• Practical training in dietetics; or
• Completion of required education/training qualifies the applicant to practice and/or be officially recognized as a dietitian in the country of training.
|
- Official Transcript or letter (sent directly to CDO by the institution or WES) showing practical training was completed as part of the degree.
OR
- Official Letter from the University, Regulatory Body or Hospital (sent directly to CDO by the institution) which confirms that applicant’s degree qualifies them to practice as a Dietitian in the country where the institution is located.
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- In exceptional circumstances, proof of dietetic practice in another jurisdiction may be accepted as an alternative for proof of practical training.
- In exceptional circumstances, the applicant may make a declaration about their practical training or dietetic practice.
|
3. English Language Proficiency
|
- TOEFL iBT report with overall Score of 79. The report must be sent directly to CDO from the institution and be valid (not expired) on the date the candidate writes the KCAT or PBA, as applicable.
- IELTS (Academic) overall band score of 6.5. The report must be sent directly to CDO from the institution and be valid (not expired) on the date the candidate writes the KCAT or PBA, as applicable.
|
- Proof (sent directly from the institution to CDO) that English was the primary language of instruction in the applicant’s primary, secondary or post-secondary schooling.
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* Applicants who completed education in the United States (US) are not required to submit a WES assessment if the degree was from a university with Regional Accreditation. Education from US universities without Regional Accreditation must be assessed by WES Canada.
Procedure-Flowchart for PLAR