Am I Practising Kinesiology?
COKO frequently receives questions from kinesiologists and prospective kinesiologists about whether they are practising kinesiology and if they should register or maintain registration.
Practising kinesiology is not strictly limited to providing direct patient/client care. To practise kinesiology means that in the course of your work, you are applying the knowledge, skill and judgement obtained in your undergraduate kinesiology degree, and the essential competencies of practice for kinesiologists.
Scope of Practice of Kinesiology
The Kinesiology Act, 2007 defines our scope of practice as “the assessment of human movement and performance, and its rehabilitation and management to maintain, rehabilitate, or enhance movement and performance.” This scope was designed to be broad, and it gives Registered Kinesiologists the flexibility to work in many different settings and provide a wide range of services.
Clinical, non-clinical, or mixed practice?
At annual renewal, you are asked to identify whether the nature of your practice is clinical, non-clinical or mixed. You must also notify COKO of any change to the nature of your practice within 30 days.
Clinical practice
Clinical practice means that you are using the essential competencies of kinesiology to provide direct service/care to patients/clients. Generally, this includes conducting assessments, managing cases, performing treatment, making referrals to other health professionals, recommending and/or selling products, and providing counseling or professional advice. For example, kinesiologists performing functional assessments are in clinical practice.
Non-clinical practice
Non-clinical practice involves using the essential competencies of kinesiology outside the provision of direct service/care to patients/clients. Kinesiologists working as academics, managers, researchers and program developers are in non-clinical practice.
Mixed practice
Mixed practice means that you work in a non-clinical role and provide direct service/care. Even if your practice is predominantly non-clinical but you provide direct service/care to even one patient/client, you fall within this group. For example, kinesiologists who perform functional assessments, develop exercise programs, and teach part-time at a college are considered to be in mixed practice.
If your practice falls into any of these categories, you are practising kinesiology and must be registered in the General Class. Kinesiologists in non-clinical and mixed practice sometimes feel that they should be registered in the Inactive Class because they may not be seeing patients/clients. It’s important to remember that your class of registration is determined based on whether or not you are practising kinesiology, and that practice transcends providing direct patient/client care. The Inactive Class was designed for kinesiologists who wish to temporarily not practise kinesiology at all. If you are registered in the Inactive Class, you cannot practise.
To better understand the nature of your practice, view the Essential Competencies of Practice for Kinesiologists in Ontario. The document defines the knowledge, skill, judgement and attitude requirements for kinesiologists in all practice settings. It also provides performance indicators and practice illustrations to help you determine if you are meeting the essential competencies.