Guide:
Titles, Credentials, and Specialty Designations

In Ontario, physiotherapists are not allowed to use the title “Doctor” or the abbreviation “Dr.” in any context involving the delivery of physiotherapy services to current or prospective patients. This includes:

• Interactions with patients during their care,
• Business cards, email signatures or addresses, or online content directed at current or prospective patients, and
• Social media profiles or posts promoting your physiotherapy services.

The “Doctor” title is legally restricted under the RHPA in much the same way that someone who is not registered with the College of Physiotherapists cannot call themselves a “physiotherapist”.

If you hold a doctoral degree such as a PhD or DPT, you may use the title “Doctor” in academic, research, or professional peer-to-peer settings, but you cannot use it in any context related to providing or promoting your physiotherapy services to patients.

Your professional materials must present your name and credentials in a clear and consistent format. According to the standard, this format is as follows:

1. Your full name as it appears on the Public Register.
2. Your correct protected title – Physiotherapist (PT) or Physiotherapist Resident (PT Resident).
3. Your academic credentials.
4. Other certifications, such as non-academic or non-specialty.

Here’s an example of what this could look like:

You may only use the term “specialist” if you have:

• Successfully completed a specialty certification program recognized by the College, and
• Your specialist designation is recorded in the Public Register.

Currently, the College accepts specialty certifications from two programs:

1. Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) – Clinical Specialist Program

Note: This program is on hold as of September, 2025.

The recognized specialties in the CPA program are:

2. American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) – APTA Specialist Certification

The recognized specialties in the APTA program are:

Only specialties within the scope of physiotherapy practice in Ontario are accepted by the College. As long as you’re certified and your designation appears on the Public Register, you may format your specialist title to reflect your preference, provided that it does not mislead the public.

Examples of how you might choose to use your title include: Clinical Specialist (Cardiorespiratory), Clinical Sports Specialist, Neurologic Clinical Specialist.

Always make sure to list your specialization after your protected title.

No. Your protected Physiotherapist title is reserved for work with human patients and must only be used within the recognized scope of physiotherapy practice.

Even if you’re providing a form of rehabilitation or health-related service, not all of these roles fall within the scope of physiotherapy.

This means you must avoid using your PT title:

• When providing services to animals, which must be done only under the direction and supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
• When leading general fitness or wellness programs where participants have not been individually assessed.
• When practicing under a different professional scope, such as a massage therapist.

When in doubt, ask yourself:

Is this work within the physiotherapy scope of practice? Am I providing care to a human patient in a professional context as a physiotherapist? Would I be able to meet my professional standards in this situation?

If the answer is no, it’s best to leave your title out. In these cases, you must also avoid referring to the service as physiotherapy or billing it as such.