TOWARDS MUTUAL RECOGNITION AGREEMENTS

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TOWARDS MUTUAL RECOGNITION AGREEMENTS

• Accreditation Council for Canadian Physiotherapy
  Academic Programs

CQAIE May 31- June 2, 2006
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Outline

• AAAC / ACCPAP
• Continuum of Quality Assurance for Physiotherapy
  in Canada
• Links between accreditation regulation
• Considerations for Physiotherapy - Substantial
  Equivalency
• - Mutual Recognition Agreements
• Next Steps

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• Mission -Foster highest quality education of
  professionals by pursuing excellence in
  standards and processes of accreditation
• Focus -Best Practices
• -Networking/information exchange
• -Benchmarking
• -On-line Education Program for
  accreditation surveyors

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On-Line Education Program

• Member agency evaluators would complete the
  program before participating in an onsite
  evaluation
• Refresher for experienced evaluators
• Orientation for Board/Council members
• Foundation for profession-specific modules

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• Incorporated federally in 2000
• Mission
• To assure the quality of physiotherapy
  education in Canada through accreditation
• Vision
• ACCPAP is recognized for excellence and
  innovation in physiotherapy education
  accreditation

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ACCPAP

• Standards developed and piloted by 2002
• All programs reviewed by 2005
• Decision making by Council
• - 8 10 members
• - stakeholder representation

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Continuum of Professional Standards Quality for
Physiotherapy

• Essential Competencies for Physiotherapists
• Entry-Level Curriculum for Canadian Physical
  Therapy Programs
• Accreditation of Canadian Physiotherapy Academic
  Programs
• Physiotherapy Competency Examination Continuing
  Competency
• Membership in the Canadian Physiotherapy
  Association

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Links between Accreditation Regulation

• Common Focus Competency based
  assessment
• Consistency between entry-level education
  standards regulatory entry to practice
  standards

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Substantial Equivalency

• Education program content and educational
  experience are comparable
• Provides reasonable confidence that graduates
  possess the academic competencies to begin
  practice at the entry level

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Substantial Equivalency ACCPAP Considerations

• For physiotherapy education programs in other
  countries
• Evaluated against the ACCPAP accreditation
  standards criteria
• Decisions taken by ACCPAP

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Substantial Equivalency

• Benefits
• - Quality and content of education program
  meets an internationally recognized standard
• - Academic qualifications recognized in Canada
  for purpose of licensure

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Mutual Recognition Agreements

• Recognition that
• - each partys system for accreditation is
  substantially equivalent and
• - accredited programs satisfy the academic
  requirements for entry to practice

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Mutual Recognition Agreements - ACCPAP
Considerations

• Programs accredited by ACCPAP would be recognized
  as accredited by other country
• Accrediting agency in one country would not
  accredit programs in other country
• Each accrediting agency would share information
  attend each others meetings (programs,
  processes)
• Regulators of each party would accept graduates
  as equivalent for licensing

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Implications - Overall

• Costs
• - human resources
• - financial resources
• - discussion time at meetings

• Benefits
• - professional development
• - international recognition benchmarking
• - professional mobility

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Implications - Regulation

• Substantial Equivalency and Mutual Recognition
  Agreements simplify the review of academic
  qualifications for licensure
• Canadian physiotherapists would have simplified
  access to practice in partner countries

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Next Steps

• Complete environmental scan of international
  accrediting and regulatory issues
• Forum with all stakeholders to explore issues
  including government
• Develop understanding of issues
• Development of process related to
  internationalization of accreditation