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 Canadian PGA's philosophy is to provide the Canadian golf industry with the highest quality professional administrators, teachers, players and promoters of the game, through superior training, education and member development.
The Canadian PGA believes it takes time and focus to develop the type of Professionals who are the best, most effective and productive in the golf industry. That is why it sometimes takes a Canadian PGA Apprentice many years to achieve their Canadian PGA Class 'A' status.
The Canadian PGA ELITE (Enhanced Learning and Innovative Training and Education) is the Canadian PGA's Apprenticeship Program. It involves an intensive eight stage process, that will provide aspiring Canadian PGA Professionals the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the golf industry through formal education studies, teaching certification, professional development and golf-specific workshop studies.
Candidates
Prior to becoming a Canadian PGA ELITE Apprentice, applicants must first successfully complete the following Candidate requirements and Player Ability Test. Anyone wishing to register as a Candidate must do so at their local CPGA Zone not later than June 1 of each year. No applications are accepted after this date. Click here for a complete listing of the nine CPGA Zone Offices. Candidate requirements:
a) the person must be at least 18 years of age;
b) have a grade 12 education or a provincially recognized equivalent (GED) or proof of acceptance into a community college business program or university;
c) be employed by a Canadian PGA Class "A" Head Professional or Head Teaching Professional in Canada,
d) submit a Candidates Application and Employment Verification Form, and;
e) attend a Candidates meeting held by the local CPGA Zone.
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 or 30% of the field, whichever is greater, providing the field has a minimum of 10 participants. (who may be asked to present an official handicap card of eight, or less, signed by the presenting Head Professional).
The tests will be organized and supervised by the local CPGA Zone Office. Candidates may not attempt a playing ability test outside of their own Zone. Failure to successfully meet the standard will result in the applicant not being accepted. If a candidate tries all available tests in their Zone in the fall and fails and the Zone is having a spring playing test, those candidates may try again at the spring test and if successful will be accepted into the ELITE program.
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
- 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.
ELITE Apprenticeship Program - 8 Step Process
1. Employment
Individuals must be employed on a full-time basis by a CPGA Class “A” Head Professional or Head Teaching Professional in Canada for a minimum of three seasons. At least one of the minimum three seasons must be at a Canadian PGA-Approved Golf Course. After completing three years, the Apprentice is able to write their Class "A" Examination. If an Apprentice should choose to not write their Class "A" Exam after three years, the Apprentice must remain eligibly employed until they choose to write their Class "A" Examination. The Apprentice must stay eligibly employed to remain in the program, even if they have completed the minimum three year requirement.
2. Education
A three-year community college business diploma, Canadian PGA-endorsed Professional Golf Management Program or a university degree in Business is necessary to complete the program. Any applicant that has obtained a university degree in a faculty other than business will be required to obtain additional business courses (click here to obtain a list of additional business courses).
The Canadian PGA currently endorses eight Professional Golf Management Programs (PGM). It is important to note that ELITE requirements #6 and #7 are included in the program content of CPGA-endorsed PGM Colleges. Students attending these programs do not need to repeat these steps. See below for a list of CPGA-endorsed PGM Colleges. Students attending not-endorsed programs will not obtain credit for ELITE requirements #6 and #7.
3. Teaching & Coaching Certification Program
The Canadian PGA, in partnership with the Royal Canadian Golf Association and the Coaching Association of Canada, offers world class training in the area of Instruction and Coaching. All Apprentices must obtain “Certified” status in both Instructor Beginner Golfers & Instructor Intermediate Golfers contexts of the Canadian PGA's Teaching and Coaching Certification Program to be eligible for Class “A” status. All Apprentices must obtain “Trained” status in the Instructor Beginner Golfers context before they are eligible to provide golf instruction. This program is administered by the Canadian PGA’s national office in conjunction with the Coaching Association of Canada.
Please note:
- Instructor Beginner Golfers must be completed by April 30 in the year following successfully passing the PAT
- Instructor Intermediate Golfers must be completed by April 30 two years following the Instructor Beginner Golfers deadline
4. Specified Seminars
Apprentices must participate in a minimum of thirty-six (36) hours of seminars from the Canadian PGA Specified Seminar List. (Click here for Approved Seminar List)
5. Rules of Golf Seminar
All Canadian PGA Apprentices must complete their Level 2 Rules of Golf online through the RCGA.
Therefore, it is mandatory that all Apprentices complete the online Level 2 rules seminar through the RCGA and complete all online assignments and examinations before they are eligible to write their Class “A” exam as this is now the National standard requirement that everyone must complete.
This seminar can be taken at any point throughout the year and is being offered to Canadian PGA Apprentices at a 30% discount through the RCGA at a cost of $34.95. The course enrolment fee also includes the Rules of Golf and Decisions Book.
To register please Apprentices should go to www.rulesofgolf.ca and use their Canadian PGA Identification Number to register.
6. Club Fitting Seminar
Apprentices must successfully complete the Canadian PGA-recognized club fitting seminar.
7. Class “A” Examination
Upon Completion of all ELITE Program requirements, Apprentices will be subject to a final written exam. The exam is four hours in length. Successful completion is necessary to become a Class “A” Member.
Professional Golf Management Program Contacts
Camosun College
Troy Dunning
4461 Interurban Road,
Victoria, BC
V9E 2C1
PH:250-370-4168
FX: 250-370-4104 |
Lethbridge Community College
Dave English
3000 College Drive South
Lethbridge, AB
T1K 1L6
PH: 403-320-3343
FX: 403-380-2832 |
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Grant MacEwan College
South Campus
7319-29 Avenue.
Edmonton. AB. T6K 2P1
Tel. 780-497-5257
Fax. 780-497-5269
rileya@macewan.ca |
Humber College
Ray Chateau
205 Humber College Boulevard
Etobicoke, ON
M9W 5L7
PH: 416-675-6622 x 3220
FX: 416-252-0689
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Georgian College
Brad Doey
825 Memorial Avenue
Orillia, ON
L3V 6S2
PH: 705-325-2740 x 3075
FX: 705-329-3104 |
St. Clair College of Applied Arts & Technology - Thames Campus
Kevin Corriveau
1001 Grand Ave. West
Chatham, ON N7M 5W4
PH: 519-354-9714 x 3391
FX: 519-354-5496
kcorriveau@stclaircollege.ca |
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Holland College
Paul Murnaghan
Tourism and Culinary Center
4 Sydney Street
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 1E9
PH: 1-877-475-2844 or (902) 894-6805
FX: (902) 894-6801
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Niagara College
Mike Santoro
Niagara College Canada, Glendale Campus
135 Taylor Road R.R. #4
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON LOS 1JO
PH. 905-641-2252 ext. 4146
FX: 905-988-4307
msantoro@niagarac.on.ca
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For More Information.. Contact the National Office of the Canadian PGA at (519) 853-5450, or the Zone Office for your area. |