“Assessing Skills through Competency-Based Approaches” Nuzhat Jafri, Executive Director Workforce One-Stop 2012, Conference Board of Canada Metro Toronto Convention Centre April 25, 2012

Office of the fairness commissioner2 Office of the Fairness Commissioner: Introduction Regulatory agency of Government of Ontario Opened 2007 Ensures that regulated professions have transparent, objective, impartial and fair licensing Oversees 40 regulatory bodies for professions Commissioner is Hon. Jean Augustine, PC, CM

Office of the fairness commissioner3 Office of the Fairness Commissioner: Introduction Regulatory bodies –Health and non-health –790,000 members –14 percent internationally trained Commissioner’s role –Assess licensing practices –Recommend changes –Monitor improvement

Office of the fairness commissioner4 Assessments Types –Degree equivalency –Occupation-specific –Prior learning –Examinations –Competency

Office of the fairness commissioner5 Competency Assessment Definition: A competency based assessment process determines what an individual knows and can do. Used by post-secondary institutions, regulatory bodies for professions May be useful to understand expertise of internationally trained people Research shows that competency assessment often refers to the same process as ‘prior learning assessment’

Office of the fairness commissioner6 Competency Assessment Purposes –To help identify educational/learning needs –To provide feedback on how a person is progressing –To assess performance –To decide whether someone has achieved competency through informal or formal means

Office of the fairness commissioner7 Competency Assessment How does it work? –Does not necessarily replace assessment of credentials –May include: Written exam Portfolio Self-assessment Demonstration Oral questioning –Must include more than one tool –Should involve comprehensive training for assessors –Must include clear communication with applicants

Office of the fairness commissioner8 Competency Assessment Ontario regulatory bodies –20 of 38 professions report they use it –Use a variety of approaches: Single examination Verified practice in the profession Formal program, e.g., residency or bridging program –May or may not be competency assessment

Office of the fairness commissioner9 Competency Assessment Alberta example –‘Substantially Equivalent Competency’ (SEC) Assessment –For internationally educated nurses –At Mount Royal University, Calgary Steps –Nurse applies to regulatory body for initial assessment of transcripts –Regulator refers 75 % of internationally educated nurses to SEC –SEC uses multiple assessment tools in a comprehensive and structured approach

Office of the fairness commissioner10 Competency Assessment Research themes –The literature cites a need for more research. –Multiple assessment methods should be used. –Assessors must be highly trained. –Clear, timely communication with applicants is necessary. –Organizations must assure the quality of their assessments. –Competency assessment is costly for organizations and lengthy for applicants.

Office of the fairness commissioner11 Competency Assessment More information –Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment. Assessing the Skills and Competencies of Internationally Trained Immigrants: A Manual for Regulatory Bodies, Employers and Other Stakeholders ISBN

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