Your feedback is important!
Please review the draft General Regulation and provide your feedback by
Friday, June 6, 2025. If you have any questions, please email consultation@collegept.org
About the Proposed Changes to the General Regulation
Background
The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario welcomes your feedback on proposed updates to its General Regulation (O.Reg 532/98) under the Physiotherapy Act, 1991.
The key changes focus on Part III: Registration and are being considered as the Board of the College has indicated an intention to adopt a new, single entry-to-practice exam for physiotherapists in Ontario. This new exam would replace the current two- exam model that includes the Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE) and the Ontario Clinical Exam (OCE).
Why are we proposing regulation changes?
On March 24, 2025, the Board approved, in principle, the use of a single entry-to-practice virtual exam developed by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR), pending the development of appropriate service contracts and transition plans. This exam consolidates the written and clinical components of the current two-exam model and is intended for use across Canada.
For more information, read the Board materials on this decision.
This decision follows years of work by CAPR to modernize entry-to-practice assessment through its Evaluation Services Re-Envisioned (ESR) project, which was informed by extensive consultation and expert guidance. A single, integrated exam was the outcome of this project, designed to improve efficiency, reduce barriers, and ensure competency while supporting faster transitions to practice.
Changes are needed to the General Regulation to reflect this new exam pathway. Specifically, the proposed revisions affect Part III: Registration, the section of the General Regulation that outlines the requirements for becoming and remaining registered with the College as a physiotherapist.
You can review the draft regulation amendments with tracked changes, and a table comparing the changes side-by-side.
What’s changing?
Removal of the Provisional Practice Certificate Class
Currently, to qualify for an Independent Practice Certificate with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, applicants must successfully complete two separate exams – a written exam and a clinical exam.
To bridge the time gap between the two exams, applicants that have successfully completed the written exam can obtain a Provisional Practice Certificate. The Provisional Practice Certificate allows them to practice under supervision as a Physiotherapy Resident while they wait to take the clinical exam at the first available opportunity.
If an applicant is unsuccessful on their clinical exam, their Provisional Practice Certificate expires, and they cannot reapply or continue practicing until they pass.
With the implementation of a single-exam model, the Provisional Practice Class would be phased out as there would no longer be a waiting period between the two exam components.
To support this, the College is proposing the following changes to Part III:
- Removing the “Provisional Practice” section from the General Regulation.
- Updating the definition of “examination” to highlight the flexibility in how the College’s entry to practice exams may be structured, should any other changes to the exam structure occur in the future.
- Adding transition rules to accommodate Provisional Practice Certificate holders who are in the process of completing the current two-exam model. These individuals can keep practicing under supervision as a Resident until either:
- 12 weeks after registering for the clinical exam, or
- 15 days after they have been notified that they have been unsuccessful in completing the clinical exam, during which time they can no longer provide care but may assist with patient transfers.
Other Changes to the General Regulation
The College is also proposing more general, housekeeping updates to ensure the Regulation is clear, accurate, and relevant. This includes:
- Introducing a rule that will automatically cancel a registration if it has been suspended for non-payment of fees or compliance with the professional liability insurance requirements for clinical practice for five years.
- This would address a gap that makes it possible for registrants to be suspended indefinitely.
- Registrants will be given fair notice of a pending revocation and can reapply for a new certificate at any time.
- Providing more guidance on assessing competence to support the College’s “good character” requirement.
- Improving language and structure for clarity.
- Removing references that are out of date and no longer applicable.
View the draft changes to the General Regulation
We Want to Hear from You
The College welcomes your input. Please review the proposed amendments to the General Regulation and provide your feedback by Friday, June 6, 2025. The current General Regulation is available on the Ontario website.
Please note:
- The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) requires proposed regulation amendments to be circulated for a 60-day consultation period.
- After the consultation period closes, the Board will carefully review all feedback and determine if any revisions, and potentially further consultation, is needed before submitting a final proposal to the government who would ultimately approve and enact the regulatory changes.
- Feedback will be presented in summary form. Feedback from individuals will be kept anonymous. Feedback on behalf of organizations will include the name of the organization, unless you would prefer otherwise.
Send Us Your Comments
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I fully support the proposed change by CAPR to conduct a single-day exam where all candidates complete the written exam in the morning and the clinical exam immediately afterward. This approach would streamline the process, allowing students to finish both components in one day, reducing prolonged stress and the need for extended preparation over several months.
Additionally, having both results available together would give students immediate clarity. If they pass, they can move forward with employment; if not, they can plan their next steps without unnecessary delays.
The current system, with a significant gap between the written and clinical (OCE) exams, creates confusion. During this gap, students are allowed to work under supervision. However, if they later fail the OCE, they must stop working — which raises the question: how can a student’s competence suddenly change overnight after months of supervised work?
This inconsistency in the system does not make practical sense. Reducing or eliminating this gap by conducting both exams on the same day — or consecutively on two days — would be more efficient, less stressful, and more aligned with real-life practice and employer expectations. It would also reduce the burden on both examiners and students.
I am in support of the recent decision by the Board to streamline the qualifying examination process for physiotherapy candidates in Ontario. This is undoubtedly a bold and commendable step in the right direction.
By reducing the time and resources expended by both the Board and candidates between the two qualifying examinations, this change represents a meaningful improvement in both efficiency and effectiveness. It also has the potential to dispel the longstanding perception of subpar competence among “physiotherapy residents,” thereby enhancing public confidence in the profession.
Most importantly, this initiative supports a more timely transition to independent practice—an outcome that is especially critical in addressing the growing demand for physiotherapy services in Ontario’s increasingly aging and diverse population.
I commend the Board for taking this progressive step and trust that the implementation will continue to be guided by a commitment to high standards, transparency, and collaboration with stakeholders.
1.Regarding the Single Entry-to-Practice Exam:
Potential Benefits: This aligns with national efforts (CAPR’s ESR project) and could streamline the path to registration. Reducing the process to one exam could lessen the burden, stress, and cost for new graduates and internationally educated candidates, potentially allowing them to enter independent practice sooner. A virtual format might increase accessibility.
Concerns/Questions: The most significant concern is ensuring this single exam rigorously assesses both foundational knowledge and practical clinical competency to the same standard as the previous two-part system. How will the virtual format adequately evaluate hands-on skills and clinical reasoning in real-time scenarios? What safeguards are in place to ensure exam integrity? Crucially, what is the transition plan for candidates currently in the existing system (e.g., those who have passed the written component but not the clinical)? Clarity on this is essential to avoid disadvantaging current applicants. We need more details on the structure and evaluation methods of this new exam.
2.Regarding the Elimination of the Provisional Practice Certificate:
Rationale: This makes logical sense if the single-exam model works efficiently. The provisional class served as a bridge which is no longer needed if there isn’t a gap between exam components.
Concerns/Questions: This raises a critical question: What happens if a candidate is unsuccessful on the new single exam? Does this mean they have no pathway to practice, even under supervision, while they prepare to retake it? The provisional class, despite its challenges, allowed new grads to gain valuable experience and income under supervision. Removing this pathway entirely without a robust, quickly accessible single exam could create significant barriers and hardship for candidates who don’t pass on the first attempt. It could potentially lead to workforce gaps if candidates face long waits or multiple attempts without being able to work in their field. Is there consideration for any supervised practice mechanism for those challenging the exam?
Regarding Administrative/Housekeeping Updates:
3. Five Year Suspension Limit: This seems like a reasonable administrative change to prevent indefinite suspensions and provide clarity. Allowing reapplication seems fair. This likely has minimal impact on most actively practicing PTs.
4. ‘Good Character’ Guidance: Enhanced clarity is welcome, provided the guidance is fair, transparent, and relevant to protecting the public interest without being overly burdensome.
Updated ‘Examination’ Definition: This appears to be a pragmatic change for future flexibility.
5. Overall: The move towards a single exam is a significant shift. While potentially beneficial for efficiency, the primary focus must remain on ensuring entry-level competence and public safety. The elimination of the Provisional Practice class is a major consequence that requires careful consideration, particularly regarding support for candidates who may not pass the single exam initially.
As a physiotherapist, I would urge the College to provide detailed information on the new exam’s structure, validation, and the transition plan for current candidates. Furthermore, serious thought needs to be given to the potential gap created by removing the provisional pathway entirely, ensuring fairness and support for future PTs entering the profession in Ontario.