Titles, Credentials, and Specialty Designations Standard

Standard

The physiotherapist uses their title and other credentials to clearly identify themselves to patients, other health-care providers, and the public, in accordance with the provisions set out in the Physiotherapy Act, 1991.

Expected outcome

Patients can expect that the physiotherapist represents their titles and credentials in a way that is transparent, accurate, verifiable, meaningful to the public, and not misleading.

Performance expectations

Regarding the legal use of the physiotherapist title, the physiotherapist:

• Understands that it is illegal for anyone who is not a registrant of the College to use the title “physiotherapist” or a variation or abbreviation thereof.
• Does not assist a person who is not a registrant with the College to present themselves as a registered physiotherapist in Ontario.
• Reports to the College all instances where they have reasonable grounds to believe that a person is falsely presenting themselves as a registered physiotherapist in Ontario.

Regarding the use of their protected title, the physiotherapist:

• Uses their protected title in all professional actions and interactions.
• Lists their protected title immediately after their name as it appears on the public register and before academic credentials or other designations. (For example: Jane Doe, PT MSc.)
• For Independent Practice certificate holders, uses the following titles and initials, or their equivalents in French:
  • Physiotherapist (Physiothérapeute), 
  • Physical Therapist, OR
  • PT
• For Provisional Practice certificate holders, uses the following titles, or their equivalents in French:
  • Physiotherapist Resident (Physiothérapeute Résident, Résident en Physiothérapie),
  • Physical Therapist Resident, OR
  • PT Resident (Résident PT, Résident PHT)
• For Courtesy certificate holders, uses the titles and initials granted to Independent Practice or Provisional Practice certificate holders, in accordance with the physiotherapist’s registration status in their primary jurisdiction. 
• For Emergency Class certificate holders, uses the following titles, or their equivalents in French:
  • Physiotherapist (Emergency Class), (Physiothérapeute (classe d’inscription d’urgence))
  • Physical Therapist (Emergency Class), OR
  • PT (Emergency Class)
• Does not use protected title in a manner that is false, misleading, or deceptive when engaged in activities that are outside of the scope of practice of physiotherapy.

Regarding the use of academic and other credentials, the physiotherapist:

• Uses entry to practice academic credentials conferred by accredited university programs.
• Uses entry to practice academic credentials accurately and lists them after their protected title.
• Uses pre- and post-professional credentials accurately, listing them after their protected title and in a manner that has meaning for the public.
• Does not use the title “Doctor” or prefix “Dr” in connection with providing a health service or in actions or interactions undertaken for the purpose of promoting health services to the public.
• Does not use other protected titles unless authorized to do so by the appropriate regulatory body. (For example, registrants must not use the title “acupuncturist” unless they are also registered with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario.)

Regarding the use of the term specialist and derivatives thereof, the physiotherapist:

• Does not use the title Specialist or imply or hold themselves out to be a specialist in connection with providing a physiotherapy service unless:
  • They have received a specialty designation from either:
    • The Physiotherapy Specialty Certification Board of Canada,
    • The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, OR
    • Another certification body otherwise approved by the College. 
  • The designation is included in the public register.
  • The designation is listed after their protected title.