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Registration Requirements for Internationally Educated Physiotherapists

To practise as a regulated health professional in Ontario, you must be a member of your profession’s regulatory college and hold a certificate of registration. Regulated health professionals are required by law to deliver competent, ethical and professional services, and are accountable to the public through their respective colleges.

The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario is the regulatory body for physiotherapy practice in Ontario. The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to regulating and continually improving the practice of physiotherapists in the public interest. The College protects patients’ rights to safe, competent and ethical care by supporting physiotherapists to maintain standards of practice and by holding them accountable for their conduct and practice.

Ontario Registration Requirements

In Ontario, physiotherapy is categorized in two groups of registration: Provisional Practice and Independent Practice. A Provisional Practice Certificate allows you to work as a physiotherapy resident while you are waiting to take the clinical component of the Physiotherapy Competency Examination. An Independent Practice Certificate allows you to practise independently as a physiotherapist in Ontario.

To practise physiotherapy in Ontario, internationally educated medical physiotherapists must hold a Certificate of Registration and meet the requirements set out by the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. To become eligible for the Certificate of Registration, internationally educated physiotherapists must meet the following registration requirements:

  1. Review of Credentials by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators.
  2. Proof of Canadian citizenship, Permanent Residency or authorization to work in Canada.
  3. Evidence of language fluency, both written and spoken, in either English or French.
  4. Physiotherapy Competency Exam Part One: Written Component.
  5. Register for Physiotherapy Competency Exam Part Two: Clinical Component.
  6. Obtain a Provisional Practice Certificate (optional).
  7. Physiotherapy Competency Exam Part Two: Clinical Component.
  8. Obtain an Independent Practice Certificate.

To learn more about the registration requirements, please visit the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario website.

Resources

How the Access Centre Can Help

Visit Services for Internationally Educated Health Professionals for information about Access Centre services and how to participate.

 
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