EXTERNAL SPORT CREDENTIALS

Setting the Record Straight on the External Sport Credentials Program

We field a steady stream of questions about the External Sport Credentials Program (ESCP). The program is often misunderstood. Here is a clear breakdown of what it actually offers.

What the ESCP Is

The ESCP is jointly run by the Ministry of Education and Child Care, the Sport Branch of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, and viaSport. It allows B.C. high school students to earn elective credits toward graduation by reaching approved standards as an Athlete, Official, or Coach. Since 2009, more than 31,000 students across all sports have taken part.

What It Is Not

• Not a substitute for required courses. Physical and Health Education 10 and other mandatory courses still need to be completed on their own.
• Not automatic. Students have to request a verification letter. Once confirmed, BC Athletics sends it directly to both the athlete and their school counselor.
• Not stackable. A student can only receive credit once per level, even if they meet that same level again in a later year or a different sport.
• Not available at every level for every sport. In athletics specifically, there is no Level 2 standard. Athletes move straight from Level 1 to Level 3.

What the Credits are Worth

Athlete stream (4 credits per level; since athletics has no Level 2, the actual maximum for our sport is 8 credits, from Levels 1 and 3)

• Level 1 (UXSA 10): Regional/Zone Select Team, competing at a provincial-level competition
• Level 3 (UXSA 12): Provincial U18, U20, or Senior team (Track & Field, Cross Country, Race Walk, Road Running, or Mountain & Ultra Running), a U18/U20 Canadian National Team, or the National Senior Team, competing at a national level or higher

All athlete levels also require a training diary, a training plan, and a minimum of 100 hours of training per year.

Official stream (2 credits at Level 1, 4 credits each at Levels 2 and 3; maximum of 10 credits across all three levels)

• Level 1 (UXSO 10, 2 credits): Provisional or Level 1 Introductory status, plus 25 hours of practical experience
• Level 2 (UXSO 11, 4 credits): Level 2 Technical status, plus an additional 50 hours of practical experience
• Level 3 (UXSO 12, 4 credits): Level 3 Junior/Student status, plus another 50 hours of practical experience

Coach stream (2 credits per level; maximum of 4 credits, there are only two levels)

• Level 1 (2 credits): NCCP Athletics Sport Coach, plus 2 hours of multi-sport modules and the Make Ethical Decisions training and evaluation
• Level 2 (2 credits): NCCP Athletics Club Coach, through Competition Introduction Sport Technical Training

How to Get Credit

Students need to confirm they meet the standard for their level and request a verification letter using our External Sport Credentials request form. Once confirmed, BC Athletics sends the letter directly to both the athlete and their school counselor.

Full program details, including the complete list of approved sports across the province, are available on the Government of B.C. website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need ESCP credits to graduate? No. B.C. graduation requires 80 credits total: 52 from required courses and at least 28 from electives. Those elective credits can come from any approved source, a regular elective class, an external credential, or otherwise. ESCP is one option among many for meeting a requirement students already have to meet somehow, not an extra requirement on top of it.

Does a zone team count the same as a BC team? No. A regional or zone select team earns Athlete Level 1. A full BC or national team competing at nationals or higher earns Athlete Level 3. There is no Level 2 pathway in athletics, so the jump is directly from Level 1 to Level 3.

Is the credit based on my results or times? No. For athletes, credit is based on being selected to an eligible team and meeting the training requirements (training diary, training plan, and a minimum of 100 hours per year), not on race results or personal bests.

How do coaches and officials earn credit if it's not about team selection? Through certification and hours instead. Coaches need the relevant NCCP level plus practical coaching hours. Officials need their certification level plus a minimum number of logged practical hours officiating.

Can I earn the same level twice in different sports? No. Credit for a given level is only awarded once, even if a student reaches that same level again later or in a different sport.

Who do I contact for a verification letter? Students request their letter directly from BC Athletics using our External Sport Credentials request form. BC Athletics then sends the letter directly to both the athlete and their school counselor.

What happens after I get the letter? Nothing further on the student's end. BC Athletics sends the letter directly to both the athlete and their school counselor. Documentation can be earned at any time, but the Ministry recommends doing this after entering Grade 10.