Information for foreign-trained physiotherapists
(3142) Verified: 2009 12 01
Information on requirements to practise
The profession of physiotherapist is regulated in all Canadian provinces and territories (except the Northwest Territories and Nunavut), which means it is illegal to practise if you are not licensed by the regulatory body for the jurisdiction in which you work. Only registered physiotherapists are eligible to use the terms "physiotherapist", "physical therapist" and the professional designation "PT".
The provincial/territorial regulatory bodies set the standards for entry into the profession and license or register physiotherapists to practise. An applicant must meet all the licensing or registration requirements of the province or territory where they will work. When you know where you will settle and work in Canada, contact the regulatory organization in that province or territory (see list below) about their requirements to practise.
The regulatory bodies in all provinces and in the Yukon are members of the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (The Alliance).
- Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (The Alliance)
- 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/
The process of licensure/registration involves both the provincial/territorial organization and the national organization (the Alliance). The Alliance assesses the educational credentials and qualifications of physiotherapists educated outside Canada on behalf of the Yukon Territory and all the provincial regulators (except Quebec). This assessment determines if your education and qualifications are substantially equivalent (similar) to that of a Canadian educated physiotherapist, and if you are eligible to write the "Physiotherapy Competency Examination" (PCE). Most provincial and territorial physiotherapy regulators require applicants educated outside of Canada, as well as most Canadian graduates, to take the PCE. For specific information about practising in Quebec, consult the PDF document prepared prepared by the Quebec government, or contact Quebec's Ordre professionnel on the list below.
Once you have passed the written and clinical parts of the PCE, and fulfilled all of the requirements of the provincial or territorial regulator, you can apply to that regulator to become a fully licensed or registered physiotherapist.
If you are interested in the organization that promotes the profession, the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) is a national professional organization with branches across Canada. For more information, 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
The Alliance's on-line document, "Educational Credentials and Qualifications Assessment for Physiotherapists Educated Outside of Canada," provides information on the assessment of credentials and qualifications and for eligibility for the Physiotherapy Competency Examination. Note that this 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
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