Frequently Asked Questions
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- Credentialling Overview
- Credentialling in Canada
- Policies
- 2.1 Standard Credentialling Pathway Policy
- 2.2 Language Proficiency
- 2.3 Fraudulent/Irregular Documents and Cheating
- 2.5 Translated Documents
- 2.7 Graduation Verification
- 2.8 Distance Learning
- 2.9 Expiration of Credentialling Results
- 2.10 Supervised Clinical Practice Hours
- 2.11 Administrative Reconsideration for Credentialling
- 2.12 Appeal Policy for Credentialling
- 2.13 Credentialling Eligibility Policy
- 2.14 Alternative Credential Evaluation
- 2.15 Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway Policy
- Language Requirement
- Canadian Health Requirement
- Top 8 Things Credentialling Clients Should Know
- Applying for Credentialling
- Standard Credentialling Pathway Assessment Timelines
- Alternative Careers
- Resources / Webinars
- Bridging Programs
- Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-Approved Pathway
The Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway (PACP) simplifies applications from certain jurisdictions, allowing CAPR to focus time and resources on applicants who require more individualized assessment.
CAPR has developed confidence in the qualifications of applicants from pre-approved jurisdictions, based on the jurisdiction’s comparability to the Canadian physiotherapy system, including the following:
- Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) performance
- Education and training standards
- Clinical placements
- Clinical practice context and autonomy
- Accreditation of physiotherapy programs
- Regulation and licensing
- Australia
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- United States
Streamlining pathways for internationally educated physiotherapists (IEPTs) is essential to help address Canada’s ongoing workforce shortages and remove barriers that may prevent qualified professionals from joining the physiotherapy field. With more IEPTs seeking global opportunities and Canada’s pressing need for healthcare workers, this is the ideal time to develop simpler and faster pathways that recognize IEPTs as valuable contributors. Other regions, such as Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union, already have effective pathways in place to attract skilled professionals and reduce workforce gaps.
CAPR contracted external consultants to assess how the physiotherapy practice and training contexts of other countries or jurisdictions align with Canadian standards and to provide guidance on which ones could qualify for a modified pathway. The analysis focused on six key areas:
- PCE performance
- Education and training standards
- Clinical placements
- Clinical practice context and autonomy
- Accreditation of physiotherapy programs
- Regulation and licensing
The outcome of this work was a detailed comparative case analysis of physiotherapy systems and recommendations for implementing the Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway.
Currently, CAPR and its provincial and territorial regulator partners are focused on starting and closely monitoring the new Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway to see how well it works. In the future, more countries or jurisdictions may be added based on a careful review of this process and its results.
Yes. To become eligible for licensure in Canada, you must pass the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE), which is administered by CAPR. Following successful completion of the PCE, you must apply to a provincial or territorial physiotherapy regulator and complete their requirements to obtain licensure.
Good communication skills are essential to practice physiotherapy in Canada therefore fluency in English or French is a requirement to become licenced, regardless of the credentialling pathway for which you are eligible.
If you completed your physiotherapy education (both classroom and clinical components) in one of the countries listed below, you do not need to prove your language fluency:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Republic of Ireland
- United Kingdom
- United States
If you were educated in Hong Kong or South Africa, you must successfully complete one of CAPR’s pre-approved language tests. See the language proficiency policy.
If you have licensure in one of the designated countries or jurisdictions but were not educated there, you are not eligible for the Pre-approved Credentialing Pathway. Please review the Standard Credentialling Pathway Policy for more information.
No, you are not eligible. However, if you re-instate your licence as a registered physiotherapist in a pre-approved country or jurisdiction and you meet the other criteria, you will be eligible for the Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway.
CAPR has developed confidence in the qualifications of applicants from pre-approved jurisdictions, based on the jurisdiction’s comparability to the Canadian physiotherapy system, including the following:
- Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) performance
- Education and training standards
- Clinical placements
- Clinical practice context and autonomy
- Accreditation of physiotherapy programs
- Regulation and licensing
In the future, more countries or jurisdictions may be added based on a careful review of the Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway process and its results.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
You can apply for your credentialling assessment with CAPR before, during or after your FSWP assessment. It is up to you to decide which is best for your situation. We cannot advise you regarding what to do with respect to the FSWP. It is an immigration process that is entirely independent from the credential assessment done by CAPR.
Yes, the education assessment done for the FSWP only reviewed some of your physiotherapy qualifications. CAPR continues the assessment to determine whether or not your education is substantially different from that of a Canadian-educated physiotherapist to determine whether or not you are eligible to sit the Physiotherapy Competency Exam.
No, you will first need to complete CAPR’s Educational Credential and Qualifications Assessment. Please see the above question.
If your education has been assessed by WES, ICAS or IQAS for an FSWP application, we may be able to accept a copy of their assessment report and a verified copy of your official transcripts if they were sent directly from your university to WES, ICAS or IQAS. We will not accept copies from you, the applicant. Any costs that WES or ICAS or IQAS may charge are your responsibility. In some cases, it is possible that this may shorten the amount of time to gather and process all the necessary documents for your CAPR file, however there is no guarantee that this will shorten your overall assessment timeline. If you make these arrangements it may save you from paying for a second set of transcripts from your university, however we cannot guarantee that a copy of your transcripts from WES, ICAS or IQAS will be sufficient. If we determine that your file requires additional research, then you will be required to arrange for a copy of your transcripts to be sent to our office directly from your university.
NOTE: Transcripts refers to mark sheets/marks cards/statement of marks for applicants educated in certain countries.
We require the WES report that contains a verified copy your official transcript. The WES International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) is the report that contains the verified copies of your transcript. Please contact WES or visit their website for further information: http://www.wes.org/ca/fees/evaltypes.asp
Please refer to the Credentialling Overview for information on how to apply for a credentialling assessment with CAPR, and refer to the Credentialling Forms page to download the necessary forms for your CAPR application. Then email (credentialling@alliancept.org) our office so that our Client Services Coordinator can advise you regarding exactly what we need from you, from your school, and from your education assessment agency (WES, ICAS or IQAS). When mailing in your application, please indicate on the application or in an attached note that you are an FSWP applicant. This will alert us to the fact we may receive some of your documents in a slightly different format or from a different agency.
Refugees and Protected Persons
Yes, CAPR assesses physiotherapy education for any applicant, regardless of their immigration status in Canada, which includes refugees/protected persons. Please refer to our Alternative Credential Evaluation for more information.
Any one of the following documents can be used to prove your immigration status:
-Letter of decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
-Confirmation of Permanent Residence document
-Verification of Status document
-Refugee Protection Claimant Document
-Immigration Record of Landing document
-Protected Persons Status Document
-Letters issued by CIC indicating that an individual’s application for protection has been allowed (successful Pre-Removal Risk Assessments PPRA)
You will need to include a cover letter mentioning this information with your application form. We will then contact you to get more information about your situation to provide you with more guidance on how to proceed with the assessment of your physiotherapy education.
Yes, you can still apply to CAPR. However, we will need more information from you as to why you are unable to get these documents from your home country and we may need to conduct research about this matter. CAPR has an alternative evaluation process for applicants who cannot access documents from their home country and we can determine if you qualify for this process. See question 5 for information on the alternative evaluation process.
The alternative evaluation process is designed for those who are unable to document their qualifications for certain reasons, such as limited access to their educational institutions or inability to access resources in their home country. This process is different from the regular CAPR process in that we will require different documents and evidence to prove an applicant’s education. Examples of documents or alternative evidence may include, but are not limited to:
-sworn affidavits
-witness statements/testimonials
-professional license/membership information
-applicant copies of transcripts/educational records
-demonstration of competencies through interviews, examinations or sample work.
Each applicant’s situation is unique, therefore, the process for alternative evaluations will depend upon your situation and what documents you currently possess or have access to. Please contact our office for more information.
No, if you are able to arrange for the required educational documents to come from your home country to our office, you will not qualify for the alternative evaluation process. You must apply for credentialling under our regular process. Please review the credentialling section of our website for information on how to apply.