Institute of
Certified Healthcare
Access Planning
Certified Healthcare
Access Planning
A new risk has emerged in Canada: the growing gap between illness and timely access to care.
As healthcare access challenges continue to impact Canadians, the consequences increasingly extend beyond medical care itself. Delayed access can affect financial security, employment, quality of life, and long-term planning—creating new considerations for the financial, insurance, and benefits professionals who support Canadian individuals, families, and businesses.
Healthcare delays are reshaping how advisors and professionals must plan for the clients they support. This report explains why the time between illness and access to care has become a critical risk — and how those providing guidance can help protect both health outcomes and financial stability.
The Certified Healthcare Access Planner (CHAP™) designation is an educational program designed to help financial professionals expand their knowledge into the growing field of healthcare access planning.
Developed specifically for the Canadian market, the program incorporates insights from both industry and healthcare experts and consists of three courses completed in sequence. Participants gain a structured understanding of the Canadian healthcare system, access challenges, available solutions, planning considerations, and the evolving role financial advisors, insurance professionals, and employee benefits consultants can play in supporting clients within their existing scope of practice.
Upon successful completion of all three courses, participants earn the CHAP™ designation and demonstrate a commitment to advancing their expertise in this emerging area of professional practice. The designation is designed to complement and enhance existing professional credentials by providing specialized knowledge that supports a more comprehensive approach to client planning in today's evolving healthcare environment.
Learn more about the CHAP™ curriculum and begin your certification journey.
Stand out. Add value. Lead with strategy.
Influence the professionals who influence care.
As an ICHAP™ partner or sponsor, your brand gains national exposure to massive network of licensed advisors across Canada. Your products and services are integrated directly into the CHAP™ course — ensuring every advisor engages with your offering as part of their certification. These trusted professionals are often the first point of consultation when clients face healthcare challenges — making them powerful, organic advocates for the solutions they know, understand, and trust.
This is strategic marketing at its best — high-trust exposure that drives real-world influence.
The ICHAP™ program consists of three sequential courses that build upon one another and lead to the Certified Healthcare Access Planner (CHAP™) designation. Upon successful completion of the program, participants earn the CHAP™ designation, demonstrating their commitment to expanding their expertise and better supporting clients in today's evolving healthcare landscape.While each course can be taken independently and provides valuable knowledge and practical insights, the greatest benefit is achieved through completion of the full three-course program and attainment of the CHAP™ designation.
The CHAP™ designation is designed for LLQP-licensed insurance professionals across Canada who want to expand their practice to include healthcare access planning from a protection strategy perspective. It equips advisors with the skills to guide clients through today’s evolving healthcare system — addressing the modern risks of delay, gaps in care, and limited access with confidence and strategy.
By earning the CHAP™ credential, advisors gain specialized knowledge that deepens client relationships, opens new sales opportunities, and creates a unique niche in the marketplace. It positions advisors as trusted leaders who can address risks that most professionals overlook — becoming catalysts for change in how Canadians prepare for healthcare challenges. For clients, this means greater peace of mind, practical strategies, and the reassurance of working with an advisor who protects not only income but also outcome.
No. The CHAP™ course is not a financial or investment planning course. It is a specialized discipline focused on addressing the risks created by delays in public healthcare. CHAP™ Certified Advisors are licensed LLQP insurance professionals who work with clients to design accident and sickness protection strategies. These strategies may be developed within a broader planning framework, depending on the advisor’s credentials. If the advisor is a CFP® or also holds additional credentials in investments, the CHAP™ credential becomes a valuable component of broader, integrated planning strategies. On its own, however, it is not a comprehensive planning designation, but rather a focused discipline within the scope of insurance planning.
Yes. The CHAP™ education program is accredited by the Institute of Certified Healthcare Access Planners (ICHAP™) as the official pathway to the CHAP™ designation and has been designed and independently audited to meet FSRA CE guidelines. In addition, the program has also been submitted for CE accreditation with leading bodies (FP Canada, Advocis) to further broaden recognition. More details will be provided when the course becomes available.
The CHAP™ education program is governed by the Institute of Certified Healthcare Access Planners™ (ICHAP™), a not-for-profit professional body. The program itself is delivered by Care Path Education Group, an ICHAP™ authorized education provider, through a secure online platform.
ICHAP™ sets the standards, ethics, and certification requirements for the CHAP™ designation. CarePath Education Group is the authorized provider that delivers the educational program, assessments, and student support. This separation ensures independence, quality, and credibility.
All tuition is collected securely by CarePath Education Group. Upon successful completion, certification is granted by ICHAP™.
The CHAP™ designation requires ongoing professional development to remain active. An annual refresher course and renewal process will be available through ICHAP™ to ensure advisors stay current with healthcare access trends.
ICHAP™ is a not-for-profit organization established to define and uphold the standards, ethics, and certification requirements of the CHAP™ designation. Governance is provided by a cross-disciplinary body of professionals representing healthcare, insurance, and related fields, ensuring that the designation remains both relevant and objectively administered. The Institute is committed to maintaining the highest level of educational rigor in order to safeguard credibility, while guiding the continuing advancement of the CHAP™ designation as the recognized national standard in healthcare access planning.
Dr. Vu Kiet Tran, MD, FCFP(EM), MHSc, MBA, CHE, ICD.D
Dr. Tran has over 25 years of clinical experience spanning emergency medicine, family practice, and long-term care. He now focuses on improving the financial wellness of healthcare professionals. He serves as Staff in Emergency Medicine at the University Health Network and also works as a healthcare and business consultant, as well as an executive, leadership, and personal coach.
Dr. Tran assists ICHAP in advancing healthcare access education by contributing frontline clinical perspectives and healthcare system expertise.
Dr. Raymond Rupert, MD, MBA, CEO
Dr. Rupert is the founder of RCM Health Consultancy and has more than 40 years of experience in medicine. For the past 30 years, he has led RCM Health in supporting patients with complex healthcare needs through a global network of 4,000+ specialists, 3,000 healthcare suppliers, and hundreds of local providers. RCM Health delivers advocacy, concierge care, and advisory services — expediting access to public healthcare in Canada while also connecting clients to timely private care both domestically and internationally. The firm serves corporate and individual clients alike with a focus on quality and outcomes.
As a contributor to ICHAP, Dr. Rupert provides guidance and real-world healthcare access expertise that help inform the organization's educational programs and professional development initiatives.
John Vamvakidis, Legal Consultant
With more than 40 years of legal experience in Ontario, John Vamvakidis has built a career spanning corporate law, real estate, and litigation. He has advised individuals, businesses, and institutions on complex legal matters and guided clients through transactions, disputes, and growth strategies. Today, John applies his expertise in a professional capacity as a consultant in the international digital banking sector. As a Consultant and Director at Xlentpay, he plays a key role in expanding the company’s global reach and enhancing its innovative financial solutions. A seasoned professional recognized for his insight and integrity, John brings a unique perspective at the intersect of law, business, and emerging financial technologies.
Ingrid Gahsner, Risk Protection Consultant
Ingrid Gahsner is a licensed insurance professional and published author with more than 30 years of experience in insurance, investments, and corporate benefits. As founder of IMI Canada, she focuses on designing protection strategies that address healthcare access risk.
As a specialist and author, she has been instrumental in developing ICHAP’s educational programs and continues to shape course content across the curriculum. A strong advocate for smarter healthcare solutions and meaningful reform in Canada, Ingrid brings both expertise and vision to the advancement of healthcare access planning.
Marcelle Demontigny, Conference & Event Coordinator
As part of ICHAP's event planning team, Marcelle supports the coordination and delivery of educational conferences and industry events. Her responsibilities include venue and vendor coordination, registration management, event logistics, and attendee communications. She plays an active role in the planning and execution of ICHAP's advisor focused educational initiatives.
Have questions about ICHAP™ education pathways, course options, certification, or partnership opportunities? Email us or connect with us on social media — we’re happy to help guide you to the information or program that best fits your goals.Have questions about the CHAP™ designation, course details, or partnership opportunities?
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