CARB-TCMPA has completed an evaluation of the Pan-Canadian Examinations (PCE) Program, which was conducted over the summer of 2023. We are grateful for the stakeholders who came together to support this evaluation process, including our internal stakeholders—the TCM/A regulatory bodies, CARB-TCMPA Board of Directors, PCE Steering Committee, Examinations Committee, Chinese Examinations Committee, and Appeals and Accommodations Committee—and our external stakeholders, including practitioners, TCM/A schools and associations, examination service providers, and colleagues in the healthcare, regulatory, and high-stakes examinations communities.
The PCE Program Evaluation findings verified stakeholder interest in the continuation of a strong national examination program for the TCM/A profession in Canada. The evaluation recommendations are organized into the following roadmap to support the ongoing success of the program moving forward:
To achieve these aims, CARB-TCMPA’s implementation plan includes the following key activities:
- Conducting forensic data analysis of examination results and online monitoring to support the security and integrity of the examinations.
- Onboarding a new psychometric services provider early in 2024 and working with the new provider to streamline the examination program.
- Hiring a new internal staff position for CARB-TCMPA to support examination management and the long-term sustainability of the program.
- Conducting additional item and exam form development to reduce the risk of item exposure.
- Scheduling a wide-scale competency validation study to assess whether changes to the competency profile and examination blueprint are required.
- Exploring program changes, such as delivery methodologies, incorporating a practical assessment, streamlining the translation process, evaluating the program’s governance structure, enhancing program performance monitoring, and reviewing all examination policies and procedures.
- And lastly, developing a program communication and stakeholder engagement plan to ensure open, frequent, and transparent communication about the examination program.
View the CARB-TCMPA Executive Director’s presentation on the PCE Program Evaluation.