Assessment Requirements

As your training may be different from physiotherapists trained in Canada, there are steps you must take to practice here. The first part of the credentialling process is to submit documents.

Below are the credentialling standards you will be assessed against. For the full standards see policy 2.1 Credentialling Standards.

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:

• CAPR Policy 2.3 Fraudulent/Irregular Documents and Cheating.
• For more information about documents required for assessment see the providing documents page.

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.

Diplomas from a non-university institution may be accepted if they equal a bachelor’s degree in Canada.

Criterion 3: You must have competed at least 1025 hours of supervised clinical practice

These hours must include at least:

• 100 hours in musculoskeletal conditions
• 100 hours in neurological conditions
• 40 hours in cardiorespiratory conditions

Note that clinical education is sometimes called:

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

The hours are the minimum required for Canadian physiotherapy programs according to  Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada. For more information see CAPR Policy 2.10 Supervised Clinical Practice Hours.

Criterion 4: 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.

• We strongly advise that you have your language test scores sent at the same time you send your school documents. Otherwise, we cannot complete your assessment. This will delay your final Credentialling assessment results.
• 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 countries: Australia, France, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, or the United States
• For more information see CAPR policy 2.2 Language Proficiency

Criterion 5: You must have knowledge of Physiotherapy practice within Canada

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 course 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
3. Health Care Systems and Professionalism for Internationally-Trained Physiotherapists, Affiliated with Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ).