Changes to the Ontario Clinical Exam (OCE) – October 2025 (and beyond)

Please note, this information only applies to those writing the Ontario Clinical Exam (OCE) in October 2025 and beyond. If you are writing in June, please disregard this information.

The College is making important format changes that will start with the October 2025 OCE.  

These changes have been carefully designed to better assess clinical competencies while maintaining the exam’s core objectives and standards. 

What is being assessed remains unchanged. You will be tested on your knowledge of the Essential Competency Profile for Physiotherapists in Canada. The new exam blueprint specifications will also stay the same, but the format will differ slightly, and one case will still focus on musculoskeletal disorders. 

What is Staying the Same 

To ensure continuity and maintain our high standards, these elements remain constant: 

• Assessment Framework: The exam continues to evaluate candidates based on the Essential Competency Profile for Physiotherapists in Canada. 

• Exam Blueprint: The domains of assessment and number of questions remain the same.  

• Administration Format: The exam continues to be delivered virtually for three hours by two examiners following the same structured interview format. 

• Core Policies: Existing exam policies remain in effect for now. Please note, at its May 13, 2025 meeting the Board will be reviewing OCE eligibility criteria for 2026. Any changes made will not have an impact on candidates who already have a confirmed 2026 exam date.  

What is Changing 

1. There will be two expanded case studies (a maximum 1 ½ hours each, assessing 80 items total) which will address all practice areas identified in the Exam Blueprint. 

2. The eleven vignettes that currently make up Part 2 of the OCE will no longer be a stand-alone portion of the exam. Vignette topics will instead be introduced throughout the two expanded cases. 

Format of the Cases 

Each expanded case study will assess your clinical reasoning and professional judgment across the following areas: 

• Initial Patient Assessment: 
  • What’s appropriate for a PT to address  
  • Application of infection control protocols 
  • Informed consent procedures 
  • Assessment process 
  • Clinical diagnosis formulation 

• Treatment Planning and Implementation: 
  • Evidence-based treatment approach 
  • Ongoing informed consent 
  • Care plan development and modification/re-assessment needs 
  • Patient safety protocols 
  • Appropriate delegation to physiotherapist assistants 
  • Discharge planning criteria 

• Professional Practice Considerations: 
  • Documentation requirements 
  • Referral protocols 
  • Communication strategies 
  • Confidentiality management 
  • Workplace challenge resolution 
  • Billing and invoice management 
  • Professional boundary maintenance 
  • Ethical decision-making 

All responses must demonstrate specific application to the individual case scenarios that are presented. 

Next Steps and Support 

These format changes reflect our commitment to maintaining the highest standards in physiotherapy practice while better evaluating real-world clinical competencies.  

The changes emphasize critical thinking and practical application over rote memorization, better aligning with the demands of professional practice. 

Remember: 

• Your current study materials based on the Essential Competency Profile remain relevant. 

• The core content and competencies being tested are staying the same. 

• The format changes allow for more in-depth assessment of your clinical reasoning. 

For additional support or clarification about the changes, please contact our Exam Team. We are here to support your success.