Pathways to Independent Practice in Ontario
On January 12, 2022, the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) announced that they would be discontinuing the administration of the clinical component of the Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE).
What does this mean for Physiotherapy Residents, Physiotherapy Students, and other candidates who want to practice in Ontario?
Anyone who has not yet completed the written component of the Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE) should plan to complete it as they normally would. Once you successfully complete the written exam, you can apply for a Provisional Practice Certificate with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, and work under the supervision of a registered physiotherapist.
In 2022, the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario introduced the Ontario Clinical Exam. All candidates must successfully completed the Ontario Clinical Exam to apply for Independent Practice with the College. The Ontario Clinical Exam is available in French and English.
Université de Sherbrooke Final Comprehensive Exam (in French)
On December 16, 2021, the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario’s Council approved the Université de Sherbrooke Final Comprehensive Exam as an entry to practice clinical exam in Ontario. The College now accepts the Sherbrooke exam results as an approved clinical exam.
Anyone who passes the Université de Sherbrooke Final Comprehensive Exam will be eligible to apply for an Independent Practice Certificate at the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.
If you are interested in taking this exam in French, please carefully review the information below.
You will be required to sign and date Université de Sherbrooke Final Comprehensive Exam Interest Form document, confirming that you understand its content, and return it to the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario by email to registration@collegept.org with a subject line that includes:
- Your first name and last name
- Registration number (if you have one)
- The words “SHERBROOKE EXAM”
Registration Committee Review
Anyone who does not meet the eligibility requirements for the exam exemption, including people who previously attempted the clinical component of the Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE) one or two times and were unsuccessful, can choose to apply for an Independent Practice Certificate of Registration. As you will not meet the requirements, your application will be submitted to the Registration Committee for review.
It is important to note that the responsibility is on the applicant to demonstrate to the Committee that they should be issued a certificate of registration without having successfully completed the clinical exam. The Committee’s primary consideration is patient safety and quality care. The Committee carefully considers each application, including submissions from the applicant, before deciding to grant a certificate of registration or not grant a certificate of registration.
Potential applicants should be aware that in most cases, should the Committee decide to issue a certificate, it is granted with terms, conditions, and limitations, which include a period of direct supervision by a College-approved Practice Supervisor.
If you have questions about this process, please contact registration@collegept.org with the subject line "Inquiry about Going to the Registration Committee."