January 17, 2025

CAPR Introduces New Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway to Address Physiotherapy Shortage

Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators. Alliance canadienne des organismes de réglementation de la physiothérapie.

The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) is introducing a new Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway (PACP) to the Physiotherapy Competency Examination which will streamline the application process for internationally educated physiotherapists (IEPTs) from certain jurisdictions, allowing CAPR to focus time and resources on IEPTs who require more individualized assessment and support.

Applicants who are educated in, and are either registered to practise or are eligible to be registered to practise without restriction in Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the USA will qualify for this new pathway. The jurisdictions were selected based on a comprehensive analysis for comparability to Canadian physiotherapy practice.

This forward-thinking approach aligns with a growing trend of modernizing and transforming assessment pathways to licensure for health professionals in Canada to meet the needs of the health care system and the public. Over the next decade, Canada needs to add nearly 12,000 new physiotherapists to meet the growing demand for care.  

“CAPR is committed to administering an efficient and fair credentialling process for all applicants. Creating different pathways for internationally educated physiotherapists makes sense and will benefit both the individual physiotherapists and the Canadian health care system. CAPR wants to ensure qualified physiotherapists can enter the profession as quickly as possible. Once in practise, these physiotherapists will be able to provide care to Canadians,” said Bob Haennel, Chief Executive Officer of CAPR.

In 2024, CAPR submitted a funding proposal to the B.C. Ministry of Health (BCMOH) to explore a partnership opportunity to deliver a new pathway to licensure for some groups of IEPTs. The BCMOH approved the funding proposal in June 2024, and work on the project commenced immediately.

“British Columbia is home to a diverse group of people, and our systems, including health care, must reflect that,” said Sunita Dhir, B.C.’s Parliamentary Secretary for International Credentials. “Physiotherapists are an integral part of our health care system, helping patients by improving their physical health, mobility and overall quality of life. Eliminating barriers to allow internationally educated physiotherapists to practise in the province sooner means that more patients will get the care they need from skilled providers that also represent the diversity of B.C.”

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