2.13 Credentialling Eligibility Policy
Date Approved: June 17, 2020
Date Effective: June 17, 2020
Date Revised: December 10, 2024
Scope
This policy applies to internationally educated physiotherapists applying to the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulator’s (CAPR) credentialling process.
Principles
The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulator’s (CAPR) credentialling process policies have been designed in consideration of the minimum required standards of physiotherapy programs offered in Canada and to account for standards in the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications as well as the Recommendation on the Recognition of Qualifications Held by Refugees, Displaced Persons and Persons in a Refugee-like Situation (Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region). CAPR ensures that all credentialling pathways are both efficient and maintain high standards. The principles of fairness, transparency, timeliness, and consistency, inform eligibility criteria and different pathways for applicants.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide clarity on who may apply for CAPR’s credentialling processes.
Definition
“Credentialling” is the process of evaluating documentary evidence that an applicant provides to determine if their qualifications are not substantially different from the established or published standard in the receiving country or jurisdiction.
Policy
Eligibility to apply for credentialling
There are three credentialling pathways, each with specific eligibility requirements. Please refer to each respective policy for details of eligibility requirements for each pathway.
- Standard Credentialling Pathway applies to all internationally educated physiotherapists seeking credential recognition as a physiotherapist in Canada. (See Policy 2.1)
- Alternative Credentialling Pathway applies to exceptional cases where an internationally educated physiotherapist is unable to submit some or all the required documents for valid reasons that are beyond their control. (See Policy 2.14)
- Pre-approved Credentialling Pathway applies to internationally educated physiotherapists who were trained in and are currently registered, or eligible to register, as a physiotherapist in the pre-approved country/jurisdiction where they were educated (See Policy 2.15)
Eligibility to write the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE)
Applicants who successfully complete the credentialling process in any of the three pathways listed above will be granted eligibility to attempt the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE). Once an applicant has completed their first attempt of the PCE, they are no longer eligible to re-apply for credentialling using the same credentials.
Eligibility to re-apply for credentialling
If an applicant’s credentials are assessed to be substantially different from that of a Canadian educated physiotherapist and their application is denied, the applicant cannot re-apply for the credentialling process using the same credentials under the same credentialling standards.