Panel

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Panel 3College/Institute with Diploma Programs

• Presented by Ellen Hughes, Dean
• School of Health Sciences
• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)

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NAIT Health Sciences Programs

• Two-Year Diploma Programs
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Medical Radiologic Technology, Magnetic Resonance
  Imaging, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Combined
  Lab X-Ray
• Diagnostic Laboratory
• Medical Laboratory Techhnology, Cytotechnology
• Community Care
• EMT-Paramedic, Animal Health Technology
• Dental Health Sciences
• Dental Lab, Denturist

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NAIT Health Sciences Programs

• Three-Year Diploma Program
• Respiratory Therapy
• Certificate Programs
• Medical Laboratory Assisting, Dental Assisting

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Degree Options at NAIT

• In Alberta, all post-secondary institutions can
  offer applied degrees (terminal, include one-year
  of paid internship)
• NAIT has not been able to offer regular
  baccalaureate degrees
• Legislation will likely be passed in the fall of
  2003 allowing all post-secondary institutions a
  mechanism for degree approval
• NAIT could then offer a Bachelor of Technology if
  approved by a provincial committee
• Funding issues there is no mechanism to access
  funds for new programs

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Current Articulation Options at NAIT

• Athabasca University (Post-Diploma B.Sc. In Human
  Science) 22 model in the past this was not
  accepted by CAMRT
• MLT graduates receive almost two years of credit
  towards B.Sc. (MLS) program at the University of
  Alberta
• Usually some advanced credit towards degrees such
  as adult education

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Alberta Government Position in MRT

• Alberta Learning and Alberta Health Wellness
  support the diploma as entry-to-practice and not
  the degree
• They would only increase the provincially
  legislated entry-to-practice requirements if the
  increase is required for safe and competent
  practice
• Majority of employers in Alberta have not
  indicated dissatisfaction with the current
  diploma standard
• All stakeholders support educational options for
  students such as degree completion articulation

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Repercussions

• NAIT diploma graduates will not be able to access
  the CAMRT national certification examination in
  2005
• Regulatory body (AAMRT, soon to be the College
  for Medical Radiation Technologists and
  Therapists) will have to develop an Alberta
  licensing process
• Other provinces, through the Agreement on
  Internal Trade, will have to evaluate the Alberta
  diploma for equivalency and set up mechanisms for
  Alberta graduates if it is not deemed to be
  equivalent

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CMA Accreditation

• CAMRT has developed a national competency profile
  and has a conjoint partnership with CMA
• Regulatory college in Alberta would need a
  separate partnership with CMA and permission to
  use the national profile
• Will this occur given the national partnership?
• Will CMA accredit programs for which students
  cannot write the national certification
  examination? Is CMA accreditation in jeopardy
  for the NAIT MRT program?

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• Any province which maintains a diploma exit for
  entry-to-practice even if CAMRT accepts
  articulation options will face the same issues

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Future Options for Educational Programs with
Diploma Exits

• Pursue relevant degree-completion options with
  universities (ex. Adult Education, Management) so
  that graduates can eventually challenge national
  certification examinations
• According to CAMRT, the diploma portion of the
  program still has to be eligible for CMA
  accreditation even if there are acceptable
  articulation options
• Apply for degree implementation extension from
  CAMRT

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Student Issues

• High costs of post-secondary education often lead
  to a high debt load
• If they take time between diploma and degree
  completion
• At a disadvantage in writing a profession-specific
  content-based examination
• May find it hard to secure employment outside of
  training province
• If they dont break between diploma exit and
  degree articulation
• Their radiology-specific skills will diminish
  without work experience
• Without work experience, they will find it
  difficult to choose most appropriate degree
  completion option

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Recommendation

• That the CAMRT grant a blanket extension to all
  provinces for up to five years beyond the 2005
  deadline until all implications are understood,
  provincial government and employer consultation
  has occurred, and the requirements of the degree
  are more clearly articulated

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Recommendation

• That professions in future who decide to pursue
  degree as entry-to-practice consult with
  governments, educational institutions, and
  employers to ensure that this is the best option
  and to understand all the ramifications of
  decisions

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Questions

• Should a change in credential be driven by a
  change in the scope of practice?
• Do all members of a profession need a degree
  credential?

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Questions

• Is entry into a profession the best time for
  students to learn skills such as management?
• How will degree as entry-to-practice affect
  projected workforce shortages? Salaries?