The Situation

In 2015, April O’Neil completed her Master’s degree in physiotherapy from a university in western Canada and successfully completed the written component of the Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE).  The following spring, Ms. O’Neil called the College inquiring about her PT registration number. She stated that she registered with the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and the College, but only had a membership from CPA.

The College informed Ms. O’Neil that she in fact had not registered with the College, and therefore was not a registered physiotherapist in Ontario and was not eligible to practice or use title.

In response, Ms. O’Neil said that she had submitted an application for Provincial Practice in the summer of 2015 and believed that meant she was now a registered physiotherapist.

Shortly after, the College launched an investigation of Ms. O’Neil as a result of two insurance companies contacting the College asking for verification that she was a registered physiotherapist. The College confirmed that she was not.

On the same day, Ms. O’Neil made her first inquiry at the College, she submitted an incomplete Provincial Practice application indicating that she had been hired at a Toronto area clinic. Ms. O’Neil listed the clinic as her place of employment on her LinkedIn account.

An undercover College investigator visited the clinic and received an assessment and treatment from Ms. O’Neil. At the end of the session, the investigator was given a receipt with Ms. O’Neil’s name and her CPA membership number on it, rather than a College registration number.

The College contacted Ms. O’Neil and informed her that they were aware she was practicing without being a registered physiotherapist and that she must stop practicing immediately as her application for registration was being referred to the Registration Committee for review.

The Consequences

After much discussion, the Registration Committee directed the Registrar to approve O’Neil’s application for a Provisional Practice certificate, with several terms, conditions and limitations.

Ms. O’Neil was required to:

Meet with a College representative within 30 days of registration to discuss the importance of self-regulation and her professional obligations.

Review College’s Ethics E-learning Module, the Fees & Billing and Use of Restricted Titles Standards and the College’s self-regulation video.

Successfully complete the Jurisprudence Module within 60 days of registration.

Write and submit a 3-5 page reflective paper explaining the difference between the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association within 60 days of registration.

Meet with a College appointed coach within 6-8 weeks of registration to review her professional obligations as a registered physiotherapist in Ontario.