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:


 toc / tdmList 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 

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