JKAT Policies

Introduction

The Jurisprudence Knowledge and Assessment Tool (JKAT) is an education and assessment tool designed to improve the knowledge that Registered Dietitians have about the laws, ethics, standards and guidelines that affect the profession and to assess their application in theoretical situations.  The desired outcome of the JKAT is to protect the public by creating an applied awareness of ethics and law for registrants. The focus is on education and acquiring knowledge. 

Format

The JKAT is an online tool with resources provided through links. The process is open book and provides the registrant with the resources required to answer scenario-based questions. 

Use of a paper format will be considered on a case by case basis to accommodate special needs

Expectations of Registrants

All Registrants are required to complete the JKAT using their College Registration number and password.  Registrants agree to a statement of self-completion and confidentiality which outlines that certain forms of inappropriate assistance would defeat the purpose of self-evaluation and professional development and constitute professional misconduct.

Compliance

All Registrants will receive two reminders by email that the deadline is approaching along with the option to contact CDO if an extension is required. Once the deadline is reached, online access for registrants will be closed.  Those who have not made any attempts to complete the JKAT and who have not contacted the College will be referred to the Quality Assurance Committee for further action which may include referral to the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC).

Notification Timelines

Registrants eligible to complete the JKAT will be informed of their requirement to do so by CDO in February.  The JKAT opens in April and remains open for 90 days, during which time a registrant is required to complete the tool. Registrant have three attempts to achieve a 90%. After three attempts, failing to achieve the 90% will result in referral to the QA Committee for further action. (See Policy No. 5-40: Failure to achieve the set cut score for the JKAT).

Registrants may complete the JKAT at their own convenience and at their own speed from any computer that has access to the internet.  There is an automatic feedback from the assessment tool as to whether the cut score has been achieved.

Policy Statement

All General Registrants of the College of Dietitians of Ontario are required to successfully complete the JKAT within 1 year of joining the College and every five years thereafter. Registants are given three attempts to achieve the set pass score.

Procedure

Eligibility

1. General registrants of the College are required to complete the JKAT every five years.
2. All new general registrants who become registrants before the notification date is required to complete the JKAT in that year. New registrants joining after the notification date must complete the JKAT the following year. This also includes New Registrants who transfer to the College through Labour Mobility.
3. Returning registrants who transfer to the College from another province through Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009, prior to August 1 must complete the JKAT that year. Any returning registrants who transfer to the College from another province through the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009, after July 31 must complete the JKAT the following year.
4. A general registrant who resigned from the College and is applying for return to practice prior to August 1, and has not completed the JKAT within the last five years must complete the JKAT within the year of return. Applicants after August 1 who has not completed the JKAT over the previous five years must complete the JKAT the following year.
5. Returning registrant applying for a Temporary Certificate of Registration to practice dietetics must successfully complete the JKAT while waiting to write the CDRE.
6. Applicants in the Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR) stream may be directed to successfully complete the JKAT as part of their PLAR process.

Notification

Approximately ninety calendar days prior to the annual deadline for completing the JKAT, the College will notify eligible registrants of the completion process and due date.

Policy Statement

Registrants of the College may formally request an extension, exemption, or deferral for the completion date of their Jurisprudence Knowledge and Assessment Tool (JKAT). The Quality Assurance (QA) staff and Committee will consider the registrant’s circumstances when granting or refusing a request.

Extension: Providing additional time to complete the JKAT beyond the due date.

Exemption: Providing an exclusion from completing the JKAT in a given year.

Deferral: Providing a rescheduling of the start date to complete the JKAT in a given year.

Procedure

1. Filing of a Request for an Extension, Exemption or Deferral

A request to extend, exempt or defer the JKAT should be made by email (on the form provided by the College). The request may be made by someone else on behalf of the registrant if they cannot make the request themselves. Unless otherwise permitted by the College, request for extension, exemption or deferral must be received by the deadline indicated on the deferral form. If a registrant requires more time to file their request, they must give their reason for the delay.

2. Details of the Request for an Extension, Exemption or Deferral

The written request should include the following:

2.1 The registrant’s name and registration number.

2.2 Whether the request is for an extension, exemption or deferral.

2.3 An indication of current work status.

2.4 Any information/reason that may be pertinent and supportive of the request (e.g. amount of time being requested, doctor’s note).

2.5 In cases where a registrant is not residing or working in Ontario and does not have Ontario-based clients, they may request an exemption* from the JKAT.

The decision may be delayed or the request for extension, exemption, or deferral denied if there is insufficient information to make the decision.  In this situation, the registrant will be notified, in writing, and may choose to provide further information.

3. Decisions Regarding a Request for Extension, Exemption or Deferral

3.1 All requests for extensions, exemptions and deferrals will be reviewed by the QA Staff on behalf of the Committee.

3.2 The QA Staff will grant extensions and deferrals on behalf of the Committee based upon consideration of extenuating circumstances such as the following:

3.2.1 Current hospitalization

3.2.2 Major Illness or self/family crisis

3.2.3 Bereavement

3.2.4 Personal hardship

3.2.5 Current leave of absence, including parental leave

3.3 Request for extensions or deferrals from completing the JKAT will also be considered for:

3.3.1 Repeated Requests for extensions or deferrals due to Long-Term Disability.

3.3.2 Registrants who have been granted, as a result of a long-term disability, extensions or deferrals totalling more than 12 consecutive months will be required to:

i) Sign an agreement requiring written notification to the registrar & ED within ten working days after return to work; and

ii) Complete the JKAT at the next administration period.

3.4 Registrant may be granted an exemption if they are not currently residing in Ontario, nor do they provide care or work with clients* in Ontario.

3.4.1 Registrants are required to sign and complete the Acknowledgement and Undertaking Form for Out of Province/Country.

4. Requests for extension or deferral for reasons other than those mentioned in 3 (ii) will be referred to the Committee. Decisions will be made on an individual case-by-case basis. 

5. If a request for an extension or deferral of a specific time frame is made, the Committee and Staff may consider this time frame but will not be limited by it. 

6. The registrant will be notified by email of the decision.  This notification will be emailed to the registrant, usually within five business days of the decision. 

7. When an extension is granted, if the registant requires an additional extension, they are required to submit a subsequent written request. 

*Registrants who live outside Ontario may complete an Acknowledgement and Undertaking which will exempt them from writing the JKAT until such time as they notify the College that they will be returning to practice in Ontario or providing care to Ontario clients.

Policy Statement

Registrants who are unable to achieve the set pass score for the Jurisprudence Knowledge and Assessment Tool (JKAT) after a third attempt will be notified of the next steps to ensure that the registrant acquires the Jurisprudence knowledge necessary for practicing dietetics in Ontario.

Procedure

Registants who have not demonstrated satisfactory professional development in jurisprudence after the third trial will be given an opportunity to complete questions from JKAT which cover the areas which revealed in knowledge of the laws and regulations governing dietitians in Ontario. If the Registrant fails to achieve the passing score in this attempt, the Committee will consider next steps such as:

1. Directing the Registrant to take a course or workshop in jurisprudence.
2. Directing the Registrant to work with a mentor who has successfully completed the JKAT.
3. Directing the Registrant to work with the College’s Practice Advisors or Director of Professional Practice to improve knowledge in jurisprudence.

Policy Statement

Registrants of the College may appeal their JKAT results after the third attempt only if they do not meet the set pass score. 

Procedure

1. Filing of an Appeal

Any registrant of the College who believes that their JKAT results do not accurately reflect their professional development in the area of jurisprudence and wishes to formally appeal the results of their JKAT should do so in writing.  The College should receive the request 14 business days from the date of notification of their results.  The request may be emailed or faxed to the College. The registrant will receive an immediate feedback generally within five business days of receipt of their formal appeal.

2. Details of the Appeal

The written request should include the following:

2.1 The registrant’s name and registration number identified.

2.2 The reason for appeal of the results.

2.3 An indication of current work status.

2.4 Any documentation such as medical certificates, notes or letters that may be pertinent and supportive of the appeal and would assist the Committee in making its decision.

3. Committee Decision Regarding an Appeal

3.1 The Committee will consider appeals on an individual case-by-case basis. The appeal process will include a review of documents sent in by the registrant as well as the registrant’s JKAT results. 

3.2 The Committee may choose between three options when considering an appeal: 

3.2.1 Do nothing and continue with the process

3.2.2 Require the registrant to complete the JKAT again; or

3.2.3 Any other remedy within the authority of the Committee.

3.3 The Committee’s decision regarding the appeal will be communicated by email to the registrant generally within five business days of the decision’s date. 

Policy Statement

All registrants required to complete the Jurisprudence Knowledge and Assessment Tool (JKAT) can request an accommodation, including accommodation for a disability, temporary disability, or a particular condition for an accommodation. 

The College will endeavour to meet those special needs to the point of undue hardship to ensure successful completion of the JKAT. Registrants will be able to review all JKAT questions in both English and French.

Procedure

An accommodation request should be received at least 30 business days before the due date of the JKAT. Requests received later will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The request from the registrant must include documentation of the relevant nature of the disability and a description of the accommodation requested. The documentation should be from a regulated health professional specializing in assessing the registrant with the type of disability or special condition.

• The College will work with the registrant to accommodate their needs and ensure that they have a fair opportunity to demonstrate competence.
• Temporary or permanent measures may be necessary to ensure that the registrant can participate in the JKAT in a timely manner.
• The College will assume any costs incurred due to accommodating a registrant’s special need.