Below are descriptions of the documents that may be required, depending on the application Pathway. Refer to the detailed description of each Pathway to determine the required documents for that Pathway.
1. Official Transcript (and Program Director Statement for student applicants): An official electronic transcript from the University where the Genetic Counselling program was undertaken. Transcripts will be accepted electronically via the University Registrar's Office. Transcripts will not be accepted from the candidate directly.
For candidates who are enrolled in a Genetic Counselling program at the time of the application:
2. Letters of Recommendation: 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. The referees must be certified by the CBGC (or previously the CAGC Certification Board), ABMG, CCMG, ABGC, CSPQ (Medical Genetics), RCPC (Genetics), GCRB (UK), or HGSA (Australia).**
Letters should be submitted by email to CBGCoffice@cbgc-cccg.ca. Letters must be sent by the referee and must come from an academic/profession email address. Reference letter from personal email addresses or from candidates will not be accepted.
*** Effective as of 2023: exam applications must include a minimum of two referees certified by either the Canadian Board of Genetic Counselling (CBGC) or the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC). The referee for a third letter (if required) may be a genetic counsellor certified by GCRB (UK), HGSA (Australia), or a physician with the following credentials: ABMG, CCMG, CSPQ (Medical Genetics) or FRCPC (Genetics).
Last update January 2022
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 5-year period prior to the application date deadline. The logbook may be used for every eligible examination attempt within a given examination pathway. Both virtual (video conference) and in-person counselling sessions can be counted towards the logbook. Telephone counselling sessions will not be accepted.**
**Given the ongoing pandemic, telephone genetic counselling sessions that occur between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2024 may be included in the required logbook cases. Updates will be posted here as they become available. Last update January 2022.
The logbook should reflect a breadth of experience and must be signed by the individual directly supervising the candidate for each case. The Masters in Genetic Counselling 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 CBGC (or previously the CAGC Certification Board), ABMG, CCMG, ABGC, CSPQ (Medical Genetics), RCPC (Genetics), GCRB (UK), or HGSA (Australia).** The logbook form is available online. Please complete as many pages as necessary and scan into a single pdf for uploading to the online application form. Please retain the originals as the CBGC reserves the right to review the original document and signatures.
For more information, please refer to the Logbook Instruction document on the CBGC website.
**Effective as of 2023, requirements for case supervisors (logbook) will change. See details in logbook instructions.
4. Request for Special Consideration: Candidates are asked to provide a detailed explanation of their motivations for requesting special consideration to sit for this examination, and why they believe that they should be declared eligible. Requests should be one page or less. There is no dedicated “Request for Special Consideration” form on the CBGC website and candidates have to create their own document and save it as a pdf document for uploading to the online application form.
5. Descriptions of Course Content: For each course of the Master’s degree listed on the transcript, please provide a one-paragraph description of course content. Links to websites will not be reviewed, but enclosed descriptions from websites and course catalogues are acceptable. Descriptions longer than one paragraph will not be reviewed. Please save as a pdf document for uploading to the online application form.
6. Description of Clinical Training: Using the Description of Clinical Training form (available on the CBGC website), candidates must describe in detail the clinical training and supervision they have received in genetic counselling (other than coursework). Candidates must use one copy of the form per type of clinical training/rotation. Candidates are asked to complete as many copies of the Description of Clinical Training form as necessary and to scan into a single document for uploading to the online application form.
7. List of Professional Activities: List professional activities and continuing education (i.e. professional meetings attended in the past 5 years, current professional memberships, etc.) relating to Genetics/Genetic Counselling. There is no dedicated form on the CBGC website and candidates have to create their own document and save it as a pdf document for uploading to the online application form.
8. One page CV/Resume. Please save as a pdf document for uploading to the online application form.
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