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


 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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