Timelines for the credentals process in Canada by the Allaince.

[khushi ji]

Welcome to Canada!

Pleas go to Alliance website you will get all the info you need.

Incase you need to to take exam preparation classes then feel free to contact me, at email [email protected]
or call 647- 824-4481

Im just new here in this forum and I am from Philippines. Im here now in Manitoba for about 5 weeks as Permanent Resident and in the process on getting ready for my Credentials Assessment. Hope i can get more information here. Thanks!

[Crystal R. Westergard]

Well folks, the written exam for May 2013 results just went up on the Alliance website. Take a look.
Anyone want to tell us how they did?

[elseohjay]

I passed! 2nd time lucky.

Now to start the preparation for the clinicals.

[emad]

I passed! 2nd time lucky.

Now to start the preparation for the clinicals.

Hi Else,

As you managed to pass the exam second time, why was it difficult to pass it from first time ? was the time enough for the exam questions 200 ?

[elseohjay]

Hi Else,

As you managed to pass the exam second time, why was it difficult to pass it from first time ? was the time enough for the exam questions 200 ?

Hi emad,

In my case, a few factors I would think may be responsible. I'll summarise them under these headings:

1) Timing.
2) knowledge about the exam.
3) Study Approach
4) Exam taking strategies

All of these are interlinked, so let me see if I can break them down

Timing: I sat my first attempt in November 2012. That was a few months after I got my eligibility letter. In hindsight, I don't think I had enough time to prepare to the extent I should. In between that, we had to travel to Canada for a few weeks to complete our immigration landing process and return back to base here. So there were periods of interruption in my study schedule. I also don't think the choice of Winter month for the exam suited me. I currently live in the UK and we don't have anything near the extent of freezing cold they had in Edmonton where I sat my first exam. Though, I had been around for a few weeks prior to the exam hoping to do some sort of acclimatization - Ah well, I know better now - laugh! So what did I do differently this time? Of course, I sat this one in May which meant I had 5 additional months to study. I also sat the exam in Toronto this time as it meant less travelling for me. It wasn't quite a glorious summer day in Toronto in May either, but coming from the UK, we have berbeques outside on similar days here, so yeah, I felt a lot more at home this time.....lol.

Knowledge of the exam: Most of the knowledge base with which I approach the first exam was based on strategies and approaches recommended for the American licensing exam. Also the relative focus areas and content structures of the US exam influenced my study strategy. In my opinion, there are slight but potentially significant difference between the two exams. The question format is an obvious one. The American exam questions tend to be shorter and direct whereas in my opinion the Canadian vignettes for the most part are more longer and can be complex. Candidates are required to demonstrate applied knowledge. It is my opinion as well the above factor has an implication for time management during the exam. If one had used the US exam format as practice questions, it may get a bit challenging facing a slightly different format for the first time and in an exam situation with all the other attending pressures. So what did I do differently? I got to know about the exam preparatory programme by the University of British Columbia, so I applied for that. The written exam programme is largely web based so it suited me perfectly. I'll explain a bit more about this below. Also I paid more attention to the Alliance blueprints and contents areas. It helped to streamlined my study focus to areas where the alliance focus the exam and helped to cut out wasted time studying areas that are not relevant.

Study Approach: As highlighted above, my study strategies were largely biased by the us exam prep guide as those were the only study materials I had at the time. Don't get me wrong, they really helped and I've heard from applicants who prepared exclusively with them and aced the exam, but I just think in my case, I could have done with the time spent studying content areas to relevant to the PCE. So to what was different this time: I can't give too much details about the contents of the UBC programme as it will potentially undermine the integrity of the programme, but suffice to say it helped in having better understanding of the curriculum content relevant to the PCE. We were also able to practice sample questions on each module areas. These questions are similar to the PCE questions so it helped in familiarizing us with the vignette format and the thought process needed to tackle them. One the most beneficial part of doing this program for me was being able to join a study group. We had a skype based group and we met quite regularly. It was huge motivating factor as everyone of us had to come prepared for each study session. So no room for 'slacking' - lol. We 'pushed' and motivated each other all the way.

Exam taking strategies: This is another area where I had to learn from experience. I must say prior to preparing fr the PCE I had very limited knowledge of MCQ as an exam format. So it took awhile to grasp the necessary skills needed particularly to the type of vignette format used in the PCE. Also, the UBC programme had a module on exam taking skills which was helpful. After the first exam I was familiar with the content format of the PCE. For example I knew that the last 20 or thereabout questions are usually stand alone vignettes, which means we may potentially spend shorter time answering them. This helps in term of time management, should one finds oneself stuck with some of the longer vignettes in the middle of the 'pack'.


Caveat Emptor: The above is presented based on my personal experience and as per my personal opinion only. They are not based on any research or proven analysis. Hence it should not be taking as a guide to preparing for the exam or a recommended approach. Each applicant's situation is different and different strategies may be required for each cases - Thanks

[emad]

Hi Else,

First of all, congratulations for passing the PCE written part. It is great information what you wrote in the last post regarding your experiences with the first written part of the PCE.

That is right American licence exams are different basically from the Canadian PCE. I think the American one is sort of theortical questions even containing anatomy questions, on the other hand the Canadian PCE exam is kind of practical case studies what is called vigenettes with several questions regarding every case. Actually, I printed the blueprints of the PCE to keep them beside me while studying. However, I will recieve the eligibility letter this week from the Alliance to apply for the PCE exam, I am hoping to take it next November.

Oh, yes, I can imgaine how it is diffcult to fly from UK then take the exam. I think you needed some sort of rest before taking the exam and good sleep. That is right some sample and questions similar to the test can be helpful. However, you got experienced with the exam after the first trial. If we have 4 hours for 200 questions then every question has 1 minute and some seconds however there should be sometime devoted for reading the vigenette itself, so basically every question has 1 minute time.

I am interested in asking you what books or resources did you study ? Of course different from the Ameican licencure resources because they are worthless in the PCE exam. I am reading through the Orthopedic assesssment Mageee.... however, I am thinking about studing or reading through the diseases by disease according to the blueprint and I know myself I need to study well the Cardiopulmonary part because it is long time I did not go through it since undergarduate and I did not practise it through work.

best wishes
EMAD

[Amtobi]

Hi emad,

In my case, a few factors I would think may be responsible. I'll summarise them under these headings:

1) Timing.
2) knowledge about the exam.
3) Study Approach
4) Exam taking strategies

All of these are interlinked, so let me see if I can break them down

Timing: I sat my first attempt in November 2012. That was a few months after I got my eligibility letter. In hindsight, I don't think I had enough time to prepare to the extent I should. In between that, we had to travel to Canada for a few weeks to complete our immigration landing process and return back to base here. So there were periods of interruption in my study schedule. I also don't think the choice of Winter month for the exam suited me. I currently live in the UK and we don't have anything near the extent of freezing cold they had in Edmonton where I sat my first exam. Though, I had been around for a few weeks prior to the exam hoping to do some sort of acclimatization - Ah well, I know better now - laugh! So what did I do differently this time? Of course, I sat this one in May which meant I had 5 additional months to study. I also sat the exam in Toronto this time as it meant less travelling for me. It wasn't quite a glorious summer day in Toronto in May either, but coming from the UK, we have berbeques outside on similar days here, so yeah, I felt a lot more at home this time.....lol.

Knowledge of the exam: Most of the knowledge base with which I approach the first exam was based on strategies and approaches recommended for the American licensing exam. Also the relative focus areas and content structures of the US exam influenced my study strategy. In my opinion, there are slight but potentially significant difference between the two exams. The question format is an obvious one. The American exam questions tend to be shorter and direct whereas in my opinion the Canadian vignettes for the most part are more longer and can be complex. Candidates are required to demonstrate applied knowledge. It is my opinion as well the above factor has an implication for time management during the exam. If one had used the US exam format as practice questions, it may get a bit challenging facing a slightly different format for the first time and in an exam situation with all the other attending pressures. So what did I do differently? I got to know about the exam preparatory programme by the University of British Columbia, so I applied for that. The written exam programme is largely web based so it suited me perfectly. I'll explain a bit more about this below. Also I paid more attention to the Alliance blueprints and contents areas. It helped to streamlined my study focus to areas where the alliance focus the exam and helped to cut out wasted time studying areas that are not relevant.

Study Approach: As highlighted above, my study strategies were largely biased by the us exam prep guide as those were the only study materials I had at the time. Don't get me wrong, they really helped and I've heard from applicants who prepared exclusively with them and aced the exam, but I just think in my case, I could have done with the time spent studying content areas to relevant to the PCE. So to what was different this time: I can't give too much details about the contents of the UBC programme as it will potentially undermine the integrity of the programme, but suffice to say it helped in having better understanding of the curriculum content relevant to the PCE. We were also able to practice sample questions on each module areas. These questions are similar to the PCE questions so it helped in familiarizing us with the vignette format and the thought process needed to tackle them. One the most beneficial part of doing this program for me was being able to join a study group. We had a skype based group and we met quite regularly. It was huge motivating factor as everyone of us had to come prepared for each study session. So no room for 'slacking' - lol. We 'pushed' and motivated each other all the way.

Exam taking strategies: This is another area where I had to learn from experience. I must say prior to preparing fr the PCE I had very limited knowledge of MCQ as an exam format. So it took awhile to grasp the necessary skills needed particularly to the type of vignette format used in the PCE. Also, the UBC programme had a module on exam taking skills which was helpful. After the first exam I was familiar with the content format of the PCE. For example I knew that the last 20 or thereabout questions are usually stand alone vignettes, which means we may potentially spend shorter time answering them. This helps in term of time management, should one finds oneself stuck with some of the longer vignettes in the middle of the 'pack'.


Caveat Emptor: The above is presented based on my personal experience and as per my personal opinion only. They are not based on any research or proven analysis. Hence it should not be taking as a guide to preparing for the exam or a recommended approach. Each applicant's situation is different and different strategies may be required for each cases - Thanks

I think we were at the same exam venue when are you doing the practical exam?

[nilsej]

[QUOTE=elseohjay;71076]I passed! 2nd time lucky.

Now to start the preparation for the clinicals.[/QUOT

Hi Else,
congratulations.. Did u start studying for clinical?
I am taking clinical in nov 2013. So do you have any study plan or tips ?
When r you taking clinical?

- - - Updated - - -

I think we were at the same exam venue when are you doing the practical exam?

Hi Amtobi,

R u taking clinical this year??