Council Highlights — September 20, 2021

Highlights from the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario’s Special Meeting of Council on September 20, 2021

• Council directed College staff to evaluate any proposals received in response to the Request for Proposals (RFP) that was released on September 13, 2021 for efficiency and validity. Council also directed staff to pursue other options, in the event the College does not receive proposals that can be implemented quickly. 
• Council indicated that finding expedient ways to assess competency and fully register candidates is the College’s top priority at this time with the immediate focus being on viable exam-based solutions that will work in all provinces. In pursuit of this goal, Council directed College staff to consider the logistics and legalities of a collaborative exam in partnership with physiotherapy regulators across the country. In order to launch the exam in a reasonable timeframe, the regulators may use the questions from the clinical component of the Physiotherapy Competency Exam. 

• Council acknowledged the receipt of the Letter from Ontario PT University Programs and asked staff to seek advice on the viability of the recommendations detailed in the letter. Staff should investigate whether these recommendations are legally and logistically possible, and if the recommendations can be implemented in other provinces, thereby supporting the College’s obligations under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.
• Council also discussed the need to implement long-term solutions such as proposed amendments to the Registration Regulation.
• Council directed College staff to provide an update regarding the viability of implementing exam-based alternatives and the review of the proposal from the Ontario PT University Programs at the next Council meeting.