APPLYING FOR CREDENTIALLING

Assessment Requirements – Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway

physiotherapist in blue scrubs making notes on a clipboard while elderly man watches from his seat on exam table

This pathway is for internationally educated physiotherapists trained in and currently registered, or eligible to register, as physiotherapists in Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, and USA. These jurisdictions were identified based on an analysis for comparability to Canadian physiotherapy practice, with consideration given to the following criteria:

  • Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE) performance
  • Education and training standards
  • Clinical placements
  • Clinical practice context and autonomy
  • Accreditation of physiotherapy programs
  • Regulation and licensing

Below are the credentialling standards you will be assessed against. For the full standards see policy 2.15 Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway.

Criterion 1: Documents you provide must be valid and authentic

All documents submitted for credentialling will be reviewed. If anything is found to be irregular or fraudulent the application is closed.
For more information visit:

Criterion 2: Your education is university level, entry-to-practice, and in the field of physiotherapy

You must have completed your education before you apply for credentialling.

Your degree must be issued by a recognized institution.

Criterion 3: You must be registered to practice as a physiotherapist, without restrictions, in the pre-approved country or jurisdiction where you were educated. If you have graduated within 2 years of applying to CAPR, you must be eligible to register as a physiotherapist without restrictions in the country where you were educated.

Criterion 4: You must have completed supervised clinical practice

Note that clinical education is sometimes called:

  • supervised clinical practice
  • clinical internship
  • clinical placement
  • practicum

Criterion 5: You must be fluent in English or French

Good communication skills are essential to practice physiotherapy in Canada. You must prove you are able to communicate with reasonable fluency in either English or French before you are allowed to write the PCE.

  • You must submit a language test report that meets our minimum requirements before we can begin your assessment.
  • Language testing must be completed from one of CAPR’s approved organizations.
  • Your test score must have been achieved within the last two years.
  • You do not need to complete a language test if you completed your physiotherapy education (both classroom and clinical components) in one of these following pre-approved jurisdictions: Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, or the United States
  • For more information see CAPR policy 2.2 Language Proficiency

Criterion 6: You must have knowledge of Physiotherapy practice within Canada

You must complete a pre-approved course before we can begin your assessment.

One of the most important parts of education in a health profession is learning about the context in which it is practiced. As part of the credentialling process, you will need to complete one of the pre-approved courses about the Canadian health care system and the role of physiotherapists.

  • The course includes a formal method of evaluation.
  • Online course options are available from Canadian universities.
  • You can begin your course before you apply for the credentialling process.

Pre-approved courses are subject to change from time to time. Only courses that have been approved at the time of application will fulfill this requirement.

Pre-approved Canadian Health Courses:

  1. Physiotherapy Practice within the Canadian Health Care Context, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto
  2. Physiotherapy Practice in the Canadian Healthcare System, Continuing Professional Education, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta