Becoming a Canadian PGA Professional is an exciting and rewarding career path in which the steps to becoming one are designed to support and assist candidates in achieving his or her goals.
The following core belief statements were considered in developing and evaluating the future direction for professional advancement and recognition within the Canadian PGA:
- The Canadian PGA is an association of golf professionals who develop the business and sport of golf.
- The Canadian PGA is a knowledge-based association.
- The Canadian PGA supports the employability of members, not necessarily the employment of members.
- The Canadian PGA recognizes employment that supports and develops the business or sport of golf.
- The Canadian PGA views evaluation as an affirmation of competencies gained through life-long training and education.
- The Canadian PGA supports members at the entry, development and exit stage of their career.
The purpose of the Canadian PGA PACE Program is:
1. To ensure that all members of the Canadian PGA have standardized training and knowledge of the golf industry
2. To support the professional development of our members throughout their careers
3. To enhance career opportunities by offering a system that will improve and simplify the employment process
4. To encourage and celebrate continued development in a specialized field.
CANDIDATE FOR MEMBERSHIP
Individuals wishing to become a Candidate for Membership will register online at www.cpga.com. Once the registration is complete and the application fee paid, an individual is considered an Applicant and can access the Applicants Only Section of the website which will guide them through the requirements to become a “Candidate for Membership”.
Registrations are accepted between January 1 and June 1 of any given year.
Applicants will be placed in the appropriate zone according to their address of employment. The zone office will continue to have the first personal contact with the applicants.
To Register:
Click here for Applicant Registration
Prior to becoming a Canadian PGA PACE Candidate for Membership, applicants must successfully complete the requirements listed below:
The requirements to become a “Candidate for Membership” are:
- 18 years old
- High School Diploma or Equivalent
- Employment in the Golf Industry
- National Orientation
- Police/Background Check
- Playing Ability Test (PAT)
- Zone Orientation
Education, other than TCCP Instructor Beginner and Instructor Intermediate Golfers and Canadian PGA Core Competency Golf Modules, can be started before passing PAT.
Playing Ability Test
New applicants are required to successfully complete a Playing Ability Test comprising two 18-hole rounds meeting the standard of acceptance of 2 x course rating + 15 for males and females.
The Zones will be extended the flexibility to determine what constitutes an accepted PAT in their respective zone.
The Canadian PGA National Guidelines that must be adhered to include:
PAT may include 36 holes on the same day, 36 holes with 18 holes on each of two successive days, 36 holes with 18 holes on each of two non-successive days and may or may not include the using of the same course for the entire 36 holes.
Zone Responsibilities:
- Zones must host at least one Formal Zone PAT
- A minimum of five PAT opportunities must be designated (this could be four sanctioned events and one Formal Zone PAT) in each Zone
- There is no maximum number of events that may be designated as sanctioned PAT opportunities
- Zones must establish and register all current sanctioned PAT opportunities with the National Office before April 1st
Applicant Responsibilities:
- An Applicant will be permitted to attempt a maximum of five PAT opportunities per year
- An Applicant must inform the Zone Office in advance of attempting a qualifying PAT
- An Applicant will be permitted to play in sanctioned events in other zones but may only play the Formal Zone PAT in the home zone; however The PAT Fee is payable to the Zone in which the potential candidate is registered.
An Applicant will be given an exemption from the PAT based on the criteria as set out in the Canadian PGA PAT exemption list as approved by the National Board of Directors.:
Click here to view Tips from the National Coaches regarding how to prepare for your PAT
Playing Ability Test Exemptions
In recognition of demonstrated playing ability, a Candidate will be awarded an exemption from the Playing Ability Test requirement based on the following criteria:
- Canadian Men & Women's Amateur Champions for the past 10 years, 2009 Canadian Junior Boys & Girls Champion, 2008 Canadian Junior Boys & Girls Champion, 2008 Canadian Men & Women’s Mid/Amateur/Mid-Master Champion, 2008 Canadian Men & Women's Senior Champion, Playing members of the 2009 Willingdon Cup Teams ('09 Prov. Quota), Current provincial Men & Women's Amateur Champions (Part of provincial quota), Top 5 Men & Women players on the 2008 CN Future Links Junior Order of Merit, 2009 Barrett East Coast Amateur Champion, 2009 British Men & Women’s Amateur Champion, 2009 Australian Men & Women’s Amateur Champion, 2009 New Zealand Men & Women’s Amateur Champion, 2009 Glencoe Invitational Champion, 2008 Western Amateur Champion, 2008 Porter Cup Champion, 2009 Monroe Invitational Champion, 2008 US Men & Women’s Amateur Champion, 2008 Men & Women’s North South Amateur Champion, 2008 US Men & Women’s Public Links Champion, 2008 Men & Women’s Players Amateur Champion
- Documented qualifying PAT score from a foreign PGA within the past three years that meets the current Canadian PGA Playing Ability Test standard
- Shooting a 36 hole score in a recognized tour event within the past year that meets the current Canadian PGA Playing Ability Test standard (incl. Canadian PGA Women's Championship)
- Past Canadian PGA National Champions
Please note: It is the responsibility of the Candidate to apply for a PAT Exemption by forwarding the appropriate documentation to the local CPGA Zone Office. These candidates must complete and meet all other PAT requirements, i.e. payment of the PAT Fee and meeting all deadlines, and regulations from their local CPGA Zone Office.
CLASS “A” MEMBER
The identified core competencies that are required to become a Class “A” Member of the Canadian PGA are as follows:
- Successful completion of the Rules of Golf component
- Successful completion of the Club Fitting component
- Successful completion of Instruction Beginner Golfers and Instruction Intermediate Golfers contexts from the Canadian PGA's Teaching & Coaching Certification Program (TCCP)
- Successful completion of the Canadian PGA Core Competency Golf Modules
- Successful completion of the required Canadian PGA formal education component
- Successful completion of hours in golf industry
- Successful completion of the Class “A” Evaluation process.
Rules of Golf
Must successfully complete the level II online RCGA Rules of Golf (www.rulesofgolf.ca )
Club Fitting
All Candidates for Membership must complete the recognized club fitting program.
Canadian PGA TCCP Instructor Beginner and Intermediate Golfers
All Candidates for Membership must obtain certified status in Instructor Beginner and Instructor Intermediate Golfers contexts to obtain their Class “A” status. Instructor Beginner “Trained” status is required before a Candidate can begin to instruct golf for compensation.It is mandatory that all Candidates obtain Instructor Beginner “Trained” status by April 30th of the following year that they became a candidate for membership or their candidacy will be terminated = restart program.
It is mandatory that all Candidates obtain Instructor Intermediate “Trained” status by April 30th two years after playing in or their candidacy will be suspended and placed in an inactive state for disciplinary reasons in accordance with Canadian PGA bylaws, policies, and procedures. As a result, they must return current Canadian PGA Membership card by June 1 to the National Office. Should you decide to rejoin the Canadian PGA, you will be required to reinstate your membership and complete TCCP Instructor Intermediate by the following April 30. Upon completion of TCCP Instructor Intermediate your membership will be returned to good standing. Consequences for non-fulfillment of the requirements listed above by April 30 will result in termination.
Example:
- PAT Completed- 2010
- Instructor Beginner workshop by April 30th, 2011
- Instructor Beginner Portfolio and Video submission must be submitted for Evaluation by November 30th, 2012
- Instructor Intermediate workshop completed by April 30th, 2013
- Instructor Intermediate Portfolio and video submission must be submitted for Evaluation by November 30th, 2014
Canadian PGA Core Competency Golf Modules:
The Canadian PGA PACE program modules will consist of formal learning experiences covering industry based competencies. All Candidates for Membership will be required to achieve standardized learning outcomes as defined by the Canadian PGA. Recognized PGM programs will fulfill this requirement.
The Canadian PGA Core Competency Golf Modules will cover the following
- Golf Operations & Club Services
- Turf Management
- Tournament Operations & Event Planning
- Retail Management
- Food & Beverage
Working in the golf industry:
Work experience component must be obtained by working within the Golf Industry. A Candidate for Membership must obtain a minimum of 3,000 hours of relevant workplace time during their training. Current Canadian PGA categories will be accepted. All other positions must be approved by the National “Membership Committee”.
***ALL Candidates for Membership & Applicants are required to work within the “golf Industry” until Class “A” status is obtained***
Formal Education
All Candidates for Membership will be required to work in the golf industry until Class “A” status is obtained.
Path “A” - Eligible for Class “A” membership and Certified in “Golf Operations”
1. 3 year PGM diploma from a recognized college and 2 seasons of employment under a Canadian PGA Class “A” member or a Class “A” member from a recognized PGA2 at an approved golf course.
2. 3 year Business diploma from a recognized college or a University degree with a business major and the completion of the Canadian PGA Core Competency Golf Modules with 2 seasons of employment under a Canadian PGA Class “A” member or a Class “A” member from a recognized PGA at an approved golf course.
Path “B” - Eligible for Class “A” membership
1. A 3 year Business Diploma or PGM diploma or a University degree with a Business major and Canadian PGA Core Competency Golf Modules.
2. University degree other than Business or 2 year diploma in any discipline and 1 year business certificate from an accredited college or the Golf Management Institute of Canada online diploma and Canadian PGA Core Competency Golf Modules.
Prior Learning Assessment:
Prior Learning Assessments are available from all post-secondary institutions and are the sole responsibility of the individual to complete in order to meet the formal education requirements of the Canadian PGA.
Progress Update
Upon becoming a Candidate for Membership in the PACE program, the Class “A” requirements can be completed in a minimum of three years and must be completed in a maximum of six years. The deadline is November 1st; six years after the year the applicant becomes a Candidate for Membership. Should a Candidate for Membership fail to complete the program in the maximum six year period, they must wait two years before they can re-apply to begin the program. The PACE program must be completed in its entirety.
Canadian PGA Core Competency Golf Modules will be administered by Golf Management Institute of Canada (GMIC). Each Canadian PGA core competency module will be offered throughout the year, with four months to complete a module.
Class “A” Evaluation
After successfully completing the Core Competencies of the Canadian PGA, a candidate is now eligible to participate in the Class “A” evaluation process.
Each eligible candidate will be required to submit a written presentation on each of the identified topics
These submissions are then distributed to each of the committee members
At the time of the defence there is a Q&A discussion via conference call between the candidate for membership and the committee on each of the topics.
The Golf Management Institute of Canada will work with candidates in preparation of their Class “A” Evaluation.
Topics covered will include:
- Rules of Golf - www.rcga.org
- TCCP Instructor Beginner Golfers and Instructor Intermediate Golfers - www.cpga.com
- Club Fitting – Nike Club Fitting
- Golf Development Programs
- Business Competency Areas
- Golf Specific Competency areas
Professional Golf Management Program Contacts