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Evaluation Services
Re-envisioned

The young adult female physical therapist holds a digital tablet as she smiles encouragingly at the mid adult woman with a wrist injury.

The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) is a not-for-profit organization that provides standardized entry-to-practice assessment on behalf of the Canadian physiotherapy regulators.

To better meet the needs of the broader healthcare system, CAPR has embarked on Evaluation Services Re-envisioned (ESR), a two-year project focused on improving and modernizing the entry-to-practice competency assessment model to prepare Canadian and internationally educated physiotherapists (CEPTs/IEPTs) for licensure in Canada.1

1 [Individual provincial and territorial regulators set the entry-to-practice requirements for their jurisdiction. The Boards have not individually approved the use of CAPR’s new entry-to-practice model for individuals seeking licensure as a physiotherapist in Canada, including the use of the new entry-to-practice examination.]

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  • Expedite individuals to the exam at the country level based on a review of the micro (education and training) and macro (scope of practice, regulatory scheme, standards of practice) aspects of physiotherapy practice.
  • Reduce requirements without compromising safety.
  • Decrease timelines for all IEPTs – different pathways allow CAPR to allocate resources to those who may require more support.
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  • Develop one entry-to-practice exam that will replace the two-exam model to make the licensure process more streamlined and cost-effective.
  • One consistent assessment standard used across Canada, supporting labour mobility.
  • Regulators will have confidence those who pass the exam have the knowledge and skills for safe, effective, independent physiotherapy practice in Canada.
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  • Improve supports available to IEPTs seeking licensure in Canada.
  • Increase likelihood of passing the exam and successfully integrating into Canadian practice.
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IEPTs make up more than 50% of individuals taking the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE).

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In the first six months of 2024, CAPR received 1,036 credentialling applications from IEPTs (31% increase from 2023).

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Doubled PCE offerings (from 5 to 10) to expedite the exam process and facilitate transition to practice.

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Launched a practice exam to assist those preparing for the PCE.

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Created an online portal where individuals can submit applications and documents, and track their progress.

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Streamlined all credentialling processes, adopted digital documents, removed notarization requirements – resulted in a 10- week reduction in timelines and lower costs for IEPTs.

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Reviewed all credentialling policies and procedures to remove unnecessary barriers and align with provincial legislation, including:

  • Updating the language proficiency policy to accept all language tests that are approved under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada).
  • Introducing more flexibility in the supervised clinical practice hours policy to better support mid-career IEPTs and those who don’t have the required number of hours as part of their education.