This handbook is designed to provide the information for individuals interested in applying for the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors (CAGC) Certification Board Examination. The CAGC reserves the right to alter these policies as necessary for future cycles of the examination. Please read this handbook carefully. The specific application forms for each exam are contained in separate and individual documents and will be posted on the website well in advance of an exam. The forms specific to the exam year must be completed.  

1. Pathway A:

Candidates who are graduates of an American Board of Genetic Counselling (ABGC) accredited Masters program in Genetic Counselling or candidates who will have graduated from an ABGC accredited program by June 1st of the exam year.  

2. Pathway B (Special Consideration):

Candidates who are graduates of a Masters program in Genetic Counselling that is not ABGC accredited may consider requesting Special Consideration. This includes students who will have graduated from one of these programs by June 1st of the exam year. 

3. Rewrite:

Candidates who were unsuccessful or deferred in the last exam cycle and are applying to rewrite the exam. 

4. Recertification by re-examination:

Certified counsellors whose certification will expire before the next exam cycle and who have chosen to write the exam in order to recertify. (See Recertification Protocol). 

Candidates are responsible for completing the correct application forms in order to be considered.

Credential Review and Exam Eligibility

Upon receipt of the completed application and the application review fee, all credentials will be reviewed by the Certification Board Committee. Final eligibility cannot be determined until all supporting documents and the application review fee has been received. The Certification Board Committee will approve candidates for admission to the examination at its discretion. Once applications have been approved, individuals will receive a letter confirming that they are eligible to sit for the examination. Upon receipt of the eligibility letter, applicants will be required to submit the examination fee by deadline indicated.   
 
Information regarding the examination time, date and location will be forwarded by mail following receipt of the examination fee.

Exam information

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1.  PATHWAY A

Pathway A candidates have a Masters degree from an ABGC accredited program or will graduate from an ABGC accredited program. Candidates who have completed their training in other programs must apply though Pathway B.

Pathway A candidates are required to submit the following documentation along with the application review fee by the application deadline: 
 
1.  Completed Application Form (Form 1A)  
 
2.  Photo Form (Form 2) with a photograph taken within 12 months of the exam date. 
 
3.  Case Logbook: A case logbook listing 50 genetic counselling cases and the roles the candidate performed in each case. All cases must have been undertaken in the 4-year period prior to the examination date. For a candidate who is unsuccessful or who has requested a deferral on the first certification examination attempt, their logbook may then be used for ONE subsequent re-examination attempt. Thus (for these candidates) all the cases will have been undertaken within the 6-year period prior to the examination date.  
 
The logbook should reflect a breadth of experience and must be signed by the individual directly supervising the candidate for each case. For candidates in a Masters in Genetic Counselling Program, the Program Director’s signature on the logbook forms is allowed only if they have been directly involved in the supervision of the case. The case supervisor must be certified by the CAGC, ABMG, CCMG, ABGC, CSPQ (Medical Genetics), The Royal College of Physicians - FRCPC (Genetics), have the designation of “UK Board Registered GC” or FHGSA. The logbook form is part of the application forms package. 
 
4.  Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of support from the candidate’s clinical supervisors or individuals familiar with the candidate's credentials and abilities in a clinical medical genetics setting, stating their belief that the candidate is a competent genetic counsellor. These individuals must be certified by the CAGC, ABGC, ABMG, CCMG, CSPQ (Medical Genetics), The Royal College of Physicians - FRCPC (Genetics), have the designation of “UK Board Registered GC” or FHGSA. 
 
5.  Official transcript: An original and official transcript from the University where the Genetic Counselling program was undertaken.

If the candidate is enrolled in a genetic counselling program at the time of the application, the transcript must be sent by the deadline indicated on the form. The candidate must have their application signed where indicated by their Program Director confirming that the candidate will have completed the requirements of the Program by June 1st of the examination year. 
 
6.  Application Review Fee

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2.  PATHWAY B: Special Consideration Category

Pathway B candidates have a Masters degree from a program established for the training of genetic counsellors that is not ABGC accredited. For candidates who have graduated or are graduating from non-ABGC accredited programs, each application to write the CAGC Certification Board exam will be assessed on an individual basis.  
 
Candidates who are applying through Pathway B are required to submit the following documentation along with the application review fee by the application deadline:   
 
1.  Completed Application Form (Form 1B). 
 
2.  Photo form (Form 2) with a photograph taken within 12 months of the exam date. 
 
3.  Special Consideration Supplement (Forms 3 & 4). 
 
4.  Case Logbook: A case logbook listing 50 genetic counselling cases and the roles the candidate performed in each case. All cases must have been undertaken in the 4-year period prior to the examination date. For a candidate who is unsuccessful or who has requested a deferral on the first certification examination attempt, their logbook may then be used for ONE subsequent re-examination attempt. Thus (for these candidates) all the cases will have been undertaken within the 6-year period prior to the examination date.  
 
The logbook should reflect a breadth of experience and must be signed by the individual directly supervising the candidate for each case. For candidates in a Masters in Genetic Counselling Program, the Program Director’s signature on the logbook forms is allowed only if they have been directly involved in the supervision of the case. The case supervisor must be certified by the CAGC, ABMG, CCMG, ABGC, CSPQ (Medical Genetics), The Royal College of Physicians - FRCPC (Genetics), have the designation of “UK Board Registered GC” or FHGSA. The logbook form is part of the application forms package. 
 
5.  Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of support from the candidate’s clinical supervisors or individuals familiar with the candidate's credentials and abilities in a clinical medical genetics setting, stating their belief that the candidate is a competent genetic counsellor. These individuals must be certified by the CAGC, ABGC, ABMG, CCMG, CSPQ (Medical Genetics), The Royal College of Physicians - FRCPC (Genetics), have the designation of “UK Board Registered GC” or FHGSA. 
 
6.  Official transcript: An original and official transcript from the University where the Genetic Counselling program was undertaken.

If the candidate is enrolled in a genetic counselling program at the time of the application, the transcript must be sent by the deadline indicated on the form. The candidate must have their application signed where indicated by their Program Director confirming that the candidate will have completed the requirements of the Program by June 1st of the examination year. 
 
7.  Application Review Fee 

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3.  APPLICANTS SEEKING RE-EXAMINATION

Candidates who were deemed eligible to sit the exam in the previous exam cycle and who did not achieve certification may repeat the examination in the next available cycle. Eligibility is therefore valid for a total of 2 attempts. Candidates who do not successfully achieve certification within two consecutive attempts must re-apply for eligibility, submitting a complete new application (including logbook) with supporting documentation and fees.  
 
Candidates who seek re-examination are required to submit the following documentation by the application deadline: 
  
1. Application form (Form 1C) 
 
2.  Photo form (Form 2) with photograph taken within 12 months of the exam date. 
 
*   No application review fee is required. However, the examination fee must be submitted by the examination fee deadline.

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4.  APPLICANTS SEEKING RECERTIFICATION BY RE-EXAMINATION

Certification is valid for 10 years. Those individuals choosing to recertify by writing the examination instead of collecting Continuing Practice Credits (CPCs) and Continuing Education Credits (CECs) will be required to pass the Certification Board examination before their certification expires. (See Recertification Protocol on website for further details).  

Individuals who allow their certification to expire must apply for certification as a new candidate (Pathway A or B).  

Applicants who seek recertification by examination are required to submit the following documentation postmarked by the application deadline: 

1.  Application form (Form 1D) 

2.  Photo form (Form 2) with a photograph taken within 12 months of the exam date. 

*   No application review fee is required. However, the examination fee must be submitted by the examination fee deadline.

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