2.15 Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway Policy

Date Approved: December 10, 2024

Date Effective: January 13, 2025

Review Date: January 13, 2028

Scope

This policy applies to internationally educated physiotherapists (IEPTs) applying to the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators’ (CAPR) credentialling process who received their entry-to-practice physiotherapy education in one of the pre-approved countries/jurisdictions, AND

  • can demonstrate that they are licensed to practice without restriction in the pre-approved country/jurisdiction where they were educated OR
  • are recent graduates eligible to be licensed as a physiotherapist without restriction in the pre-approved country/jurisdiction where they were educated.

Pre-approved Country/Jurisdiction List:

  • Australia
  • Hong Kong
  • Ireland
  • New Zealand
  • South Africa
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America

Principles

The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) works on behalf of provincial regulators to ensure safe and effective physiotherapy practice in Canada. CAPR is committed to maintaining an efficient and equitable credentialling process that supports all applicants’ readiness for independent and competent practice.

CAPR has established a streamlined pathway for applicants from certain countries/jurisdictions based on an extensive country/jurisdiction-level analysis for comparability to Canadian physiotherapy practice. The following key domains are assessed:

Key Domains Assessed

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

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the eligibility criteria for the Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway (PACP). This process aims to determine whether an applicant is eligible to attempt the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE).

Definitions

“Entry-to-practice degree” means university-level education that prepares the graduate to practice as a physiotherapist in the country where the education was completed and is approved, recognized, or accredited by the physiotherapy regulatory authority in that jurisdiction.

“Recent graduates” means applicants who have graduated from an entry-to-practice degree program within 2 years of the date of application for credentialling to CAPR.

Policy

To qualify for the Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway, applicants must meet and demonstrate the following criteria:

Criterion 1: Confirmation of qualifications and credentials through authentic and valid documentation

All documents, including identity documents, submitted for assessment will be checked and verified. If any documentation is found to be irregular or fraudulent, the credentialling application will be closed in keeping with CAPR’s policies (See 2.3 Fraudulent/Irregular Documents and Cheating Policy).

Criterion 2: Completion of a university-level, entry-to-practice degree in physiotherapy in a pre-approved country/jurisdiction
Confirmation of successful completion of a university-level, entry-to-practice degree (or equivalent credential by another name) in physiotherapy in one of the eligible countries/jurisdictions and awarded by a recognized institution authorized to issue credentials equivalent to a degree in Canada.

Criterion 3: Registration as a physiotherapist in a pre-approved country/jurisdiction

Confirmation of current registration without restriction as a physiotherapist in the pre-approved country/jurisdiction where the applicant was educated. Recent graduates must be eligible for registration without restriction as a physiotherapist in the pre-approved country/jurisdiction where they were educated.

  • Applicants with expired licenses are ineligible and must demonstrate re-establishment of their licensure if they wish to qualify for the Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway.

Criterion 4: Successful completion of supervised clinical education
As part of their university-level, entry-to-practice degree in physiotherapy, applicants must have completed supervised clinical education, sometimes called supervised clinical practice, or clinical internship, or clinical placement or practicum.

Criterion 5: Demonstrated fluency in English or French

CAPR requires that most IEPTs undergo mandatory language testing from one of the CAPR’s approved testing organizations. Applicants who have completed their physiotherapy education in certain countries are exempt from language testing.  Please see Policy 2.2 Language Proficiency for details.  

Criterion 6: Knowledge of the practice of physiotherapy within the Canadian healthcare system

CAPR requires all applicants in the credentialling process to complete a pre-approved course on the Canadian healthcare system and the role of physiotherapists within it. Approved courses must include a formal method of assessment that tests students on the course content. An application will not be assessed until all documents and credentialling fees are received. CAPR will issue a notice to applicants when the required documents are received and will indicate the date when the assessment process begins.