Restricted Titles, Credentials & Specialty Designations

FAQs: Restricted Titles, Credentials and Specialty Designations

• How should my title appear on a business card or correspondence?

  The official title is Physiotherapist, Physical Therapist, PT, or the equivalent in another language.  For more information, see the Restricted Titles, Credentials and Specialty Designations Standard.
  
  You should list your name, immediately followed by your official title. You can include additional credentials and designations after that. For example, John Smith, PT, M.Sc., FCAMPT.
  

• Can I use my doctor title on my business card if I have a PhD in Psychometrics or Epidemiology, or a DPT ?

  No, even though you have earned the credential physiotherapists cannot use the title doctor or the short form Dr. when assessing or treating patients.
  
  Dr. should not appear on anything a patient would receive or see during their patient experience. The Restricted Titles, Credentials and Specialty Designations Standard directly prohibits its use in the provision of care.
  
  Physiotherapists are able to use the title Dr. in non-clinical settings such as research or academia, or after their protected title. e.g. Mark Stewart, PT, PhD Psychometrics, DPT. 
  

   

  
  
  

• I am a registered physiotherapist in Ontario currently completing a DPT program. Can I use “DPT” or “Doctorate of Physiotherapy” after my name?

  If you successfully complete an accredited DPT program, you can use those initials after your name and PT title, just like MScPT or FCAMPT. You cannot however use the title doctor in your interactions with patients. You can use the title doctor with professional colleagues, on research papers or in academic settings.
  
  In Canada we do not accredit DPT programs. Anyone who uses the DPT initials in their credentials must have received theirs from an accredited program in another country.
  
   

• When performing animal rehabilitation, can I use the title physiotherapist and can I bill the treatment as physiotherapy?

  No. You cannot use the title “Physiotherapist” or “ Physiotherapy Resident” or bill for physiotherapy services using the title PT when providing treatment to an animal.
  
  The physiotherapist title is protected under the Regulated Health Professions Act to provide care to humans. The only way professionals can provide rehabilitation services to animals is under the direction and supervision of a veterinarian.

• I have specialized physiotherapy skills. Can I use the title specialist?

  In order to use the title specialist you must receive a specialty designation from a certification body recognized by the College. You must then apply to the College for approval to use the specialty title.
  
  Review the Restricted Titles, Credentials and Specialty Designations Standard for more information.  
  
  

• I have been granted a specialty designation/certification by a certifying organization. Can I begin to use my designation right away?

  You must receive approval from the College in order to use your specialty title. Once you submit an application to the College your specialty designation will be verified and you will be granted approval to use your specialty title.
  

• How much does it cost for the College to review my application to use a specialty title?

  There is no fee for the College to review your application.

• How long does it take for the College to review my application for specialty title use?

  The College will process requests for specialty title use within 10 business days.

• How does the College decide which certifying organizations to approve?

  The College takes a national approach to the recognition of specialty titles. The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) has created a Specialty Certification Recognition Committee to review certifying bodies and make recommendations about which programs contain sufficient rigor and should be approved. These recommendations are then presented to the Council of the College for final approval. 

• What programs have been approved?

  Specialty designations granted by two bodies have been approved by the College:

  1. The Physiotherapy Specialty Certification Board of Canada (an initiative of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association), and
  2. The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (an initiative of the American Physical Therapy Association). 

  (1) The CPA Program

  The CPA program is currently on hold, set to return at an unspecified time.

  Their nine specialties are:

  • Cardiorespiratory
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Oncology
  • Neurosciences
  • Pain Sciences
  • Paediatrics
  • Seniors’ Health
  • Sport
  • Women’s Health

  (2) The APTA Program

  Their 10 specialties are:

  • Cardiovascular & Pulmonary
  • Clinical Electrophysiology
  • Geriatrics
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Orthopaedics
  • Pediatrics
  • Sports
  • Women’s Health
  • Wound Management

• Who do I contact for more information?

  Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators
  416-234-8800
  email@alliancept.org
  
  Contact the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario at:
  registration@collegept.org