Information for foreign-trained physiotherapists
(3142) Verified: 2007 02 07
Information on requirements to practise
Physiotherapists may be generalists or they may focus their practice in a specific area, for example, pediatrics or geriatrics, sports injuries or cardiovascular disorders. The profession of physiotherapist is regulated in Canada, which means that it is illegal to practise if you are not licensed by the regulatory body for the jurisdiction in which you work. The provincial/territorial regulatory bodies set the standards for entry into the profession.
Each provincial/territorial physiotherapy regulator in Canada is responsible for issuing a license/registration to practice physiotherapy in their own province or territory. All the provincial/territorial regulatory bodies are members of the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (The Alliance), which administers the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE). The PCE is described as the national entry-to-practice standard for physiotherapists (see http://www.alliancept.org/exams_resources.shtml).
The process of licensure/registration is a multi-step process which involves both the national organization and the provincial/territorial regulatory organizations: the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators provides an opinion on educational equivalencies and administers the Physiotherapy Competency Examination. The individual provincial/territorial regulators make a decision about registration.
First, all provinces and territories in Canada except Quebec require applicants educated outside of Canada to have their educational credentials and qualifications assessed by The Alliance to determine if their education and qualifications are substantially equivalent to that of a Canadian educated physiotherapist for the purpose of eligibility for the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE).
Second, all provinces and territories except Quebec require applicants educated outside of Canada to complete the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE), an examination administered by The Alliance. This is a two-part examination and includes a written and a clinical examination.
Third, applicants must meet any additional licensing/registration requirements in the province or territory they choose to practice in. These requirements may include the completion of other language fluency tests, a jurisprudence examination or evidence of good standing. Applicants must contact the regulatory College in the province/territory in which they would like to practice to receive detailed information about their provincial/territorial requirements.
For specific information about practising in Quebec, consult the PDF document prepared by that province/territory, or contact the appropriate regulatory body (see list below).
For more general information, you can contact the Alliance at:
- Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR)
- 1243 Islington Avenue, Suite 501
- Toronto ON M8X 1Y9 Canada
- Phone : (416) 234-8800
- Fax : (416) 234-8820
- Email : cscl@alliancept.org
- http://www.alliancept.org/
In addition to the Alliance, there is the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA), a national professional organization that has branches across Canada. For more information about the profession, contact the CPA at:
- Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA)
- 2345 Yonge St., Suite 410
- Toronto ON M4P 2E5 Canada
- Phone : (416) 932-1888
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-387-8679
- Fax : (416) 932-9708
- Email : information@physiotherapy.ca
- http://www.physiotherapy.ca/
When you know where you will settle and work in Canada, you should contact the appropriate provincial regulator (see list below) for specific information about your jurisdiction.
Information on assessment of qualifications
In the on-line document, "Educational Equivalence for Physiotherapists Educated Outside Canada," the Alliance offers answers to most questions about how to have your educational qualifications assessed for equivalency and for eligibility to apply for the Physiotherapy Competency Examination. The Alliance also provides an online Frequently Asked Question document that includes answers to over 120 questions. Note that the evaluation does not guarantee employment and that the Alliance charges a fee for their service. You can also consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada", for more information.
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada regarding:
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
You may also be interested in the CICIC information page for:
List of provincial regulators
Alberta
- College of Physical Therapists of Alberta (CPTA)
- 1350 Weber Centre, 5555 Calgary Trail
- Edmonton AB T6H 5P9 Canada
- Phone : (780) 438-0338
- Fax : (780) 436-1908
- Email : info@cpta.ab.ca
- http://www.cpta.ab.ca/
British Columbia
- College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC)
- 1765 West 8th Avenue, Suite 302
- Vancouver BC V6J 5C6 Canada
- Phone : (604) 730-9193
- Fax : (604) 737-6809
- Email : registration@cptbc.org
- http://www.cptbc.org/
Manitoba
- College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba (CPTMB)
- 211 - 675 Pembina Highway
- Winnipeg MB R3M 2L6 Canada
- Phone : (204) 287-8502
- Fax : (204) 474-2506
- Email : registrar@manitobaphysio.com
- http://www.manitobaphysio.com
New Brunswick
- College of Physiotherapists of New Brunswick (CPNB)
- 82 Germain St., Suite 2C
- Saint John NB E2L 2E7 Canada
- Phone : (506) 642-9760
- Fax : (506) 642-9770
- Email : physionb@nb.aibn.com
- http://www.cptnb.ca/
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland and Labrador College of Physiotherapists
- P.O. Box 21351
- St. John's NL A1A 5G6 Canada
- Phone : (709) 753-6527
- Fax : (709) 753-6527
- Email : collegept@nf.aibn.com
Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists (NSCP)
- 7105 Chebucto Rd., Suite.356
- Halifax NS B3L 4W8 Canada
- Phone : (902) 454-0158
- Phone (alternate): 1-866-225-1060
- Fax : (902) 484-6381
- Email : office@nsphysio.com
- http://nsphysio.com/
Ontario
- College of Physiotherapists of Ontario
- 375 University Avenue, Suite 901
- Toronto ON M5G 2J5 Canada
- Phone : (416) 591-3828
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-583-5885
- Fax : (416) 591-3834
- Email : info@collegept.org
- http://www.collegept.org
Prince Edward Island
- Prince Edward Island College of Physiotherapists (PEICP)
- P.O. Box 20078
- Charlottetown PE C1A 9E3 Canada
- Phone : (902) 894-2063
- Fax : (902) 894-2490
- http://www.peicpt.com/
Quebec
- Ordre professionnel des physiothérapeutes du Québec (OPQ)
- 7101, rue Jean-Talon Est, bureau 1000
- Anjou QC H1M 3N8 Canada
- Phone : (514) 351-2770
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-361-2001
- Fax : (514) 351-2658
- Email : physio@oppq.qc.ca
- http://www.oppq.qc.ca
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan College of Physical Therapists (SCPT)
- 320 21st Street West, Suite 102
- Saskatoon SK S7M 4E6 Canada
- Phone : (306) 931-6661
- Fax : (306) 931-7333
- Email : contactus@scpt.org
- http://www.scpt.org/
Yukon
- Dept. of Consumer Services, Government of Yukon, Professional Licensing
- Professional Licensing
P.O. Box 2703, (C-5)
- Whitehorse YT Y1A 2C6 Canada
- Phone : 867-667-5111
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-661-0408, local 511
- Fax : 867-667-3609
- Email : consumer@gov.yk.ca
- http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/consumer/pl.html