Examination Eligibility Policy
Examination Eligibility Policy – Canadian Physiotherapy Examination
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Approved: July 9, 2025
Scope
This policy applies to all examination candidates who wish to register for the Canadian Physiotherapy Examination (CPTE).
Purpose
To provide clarity about who is eligible to register for the CPTE and the number of attempts a candidate is permitted to pass the CPTE.
Policy
Initial Eligibility
Canadian-educated candidates
Canadian-educated candidates who wish to register for the CPTE must be enrolled in, or a graduate of, an entry-to-practice physiotherapy program that has been granted Accreditation Status by Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada (PEAC). Canadian-educated candidates may attempt the CPTE when they have completed all course requirements, as defined by their physiotherapy program. For each Canadian-educated candidate, CAPR will confirm with their physiotherapy program that they satisfy this requirement.
Internationally educated candidates
Internationally educated candidates who wish to attempt the CPTE must have written confirmation of eligibility from the CAPR Credentialling Program. Eligible internationally educated candidates must attempt the CPTE within two years of receiving a successful credentialling assessment decision (see Credentialling Policy 2.9 Expiration of Credentialling Assessment Decisions).
Eligibility to Retake the CPTE
Section A
A candidate is in Section A if:
- they attempted the Physiotherapy Competency Examination – Written Component for the first time between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2025, or
- their first attempt at an examination administered by CAPR’s Examinations Department is the CPTE.
Section A candidates, whether Canadian- or internationally educated, have a maximum of three (3) attempts to pass the CPTE. There is no time limit within which the three attempts must be completed. After three failed attempts, Section A candidates are no longer eligible to attempt the CPTE.
Previous unsuccessful attempts at either the Physiotherapy Competency Examination – Clinical Component or any other exam process approved by a Canadian provincial physiotherapy regulator as a requirement for registration/licensure (for example, the Ontario Clinical Exam, the Alternate Clinical Evaluation BC, or Alberta’s Post-Graduate Clinical Examination) count towards the maximum of three attempts.
Previous attempts at the Physiotherapy Competency Examination – Written Component do not count towards the CPTE, unless a candidate has failed all three attempts at the Physiotherapy Competency Examination – Written Component and is no longer eligible.
Section B
A candidate is in Section B if they attempted the Physiotherapy Competency Examination – Written Component for the first time before 2013.
Section B candidates, whether Canadian- or internationally educated, have a maximum of five (5) attempts to pass the CPTE. There is no time limit within which the five attempts must be completed. After five failed attempts, Section B candidates are no longer eligible to attempt the CPTE.
Previous unsuccessful attempts at either the Physiotherapy Competency Examination – Clinical Component or any other exam process approved by a Canadian provincial physiotherapy regulator as a requirement for registration/licensure (for example, the Ontario Clinical Exam, the Alternate Clinical Evaluation BC, or Alberta’s Post-Graduate Clinical Examination) count towards the maximum of five attempts.
Previous attempts at the Physiotherapy Competency Examination – Written Component do not count towards the CPTE, unless a candidate has failed all five attempts at the Physiotherapy Competency Examination – Written Component and is no longer eligible.
For individuals who have previously taken at least one licensure exam, please review this infographic to confirm attempts remaining at the new exam.
