Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia

402 1755 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6J 4S5 Tel: (604) 736-5130 Fax: (604) 736-5606 e-mail: pabc@bcphysio.org website: www.bcphysio.org

HOW TO FOR FOREIGN TRAINED PHYSIOTHERAPISTS WANTING TO WORK IN BRITISH COLUMBIA We welcome you to British Columbia. To come here involves costs and time taken to process the paperwork. Check out the STEPS below and the websites for more information.

STEPS TO FOLLOW
STEP 1 Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators: In order to practice physiotherapy in British Columbia you must first have your degree credentialed by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators. As the credentialing process can take from 6 weeks to several months from the time the Alliance receives your documents, you should not come to Canada until this process is completed. New Grads: Work experience outside of your PT education is not a requirement. STEP 2 Permission to write Physiotherapy Exams: When your degree has been credentialed the Alliance will give you permission to write the two parts of the Canadian national exam known as the PCE. This exam is made up of the QE or written exam offered six times per year and the PNE or clinical exam offered twice a year. Please refer to their Candidate Handbook for more information on exam dates, costs, etc. on their website. You must register for the exams prior to proceeding with licensing. STEP 3 British Columbia Vacant Positions: For Vacant Positions visit the Physiotherapy Association of BCs website under Employment Centre. Click on Member Clinic Vacancies, and BC Health Authorities. You can also click on Foreign-Trained Physiotherapists and find this document posted there. STEP 4 Working Visa : Apply from your home country for a Canadian working visa through the Canadian Embassy you must have a Canadian physiotherapy job offer in writing. See the Canadian government website for visa and immigration info, as well as costs. If you are immigrating you do not need a working visa. STEP 5 Licensing - College of Physical Therapists of BC (CPTBC): When you have arrived in BC and have registered for the first available sittings of both the QE and PNE you may apply to CPTBC for Interim Registration. CPTBC is the registration and regulatory body for physiotherapy in BC. Interim Registration is currently available for 15 months only while you work under supervision while you write and pass the QE and PNE exams. Registration with the College, if you are eligible, can usually be accomplished in less than a month. On arrival in Canada, you may work as Physical Therapy Assistant without registration until you obtain the Interim Registration status. With Interim registration you will be under physio supervision for 50% of the time. Contact CPTBC for more information registration@cptbc.org re: Interim Registration. STEP 6 Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA): Once you have been credentialed, passed the exams and have a Full Registration to work in beautiful BC, join CPA! By being a member of CPA you not only access the national network of your peers and a wealth of practice resources, you also get reduced malpractice insurance rates. Visit the CPA website for Membership Application information. Your CPA membership includes your PABC membership.

APPLICABLE WEBSITES
Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy

www.alliancept.org

Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy

http://www.alliancept.org/ exams/2007HandbookEng.pdf

Physiotherapy Association of BC

www.bcphysio.org
Employment Centre

Canadian Government

http://www.cic.gc.ca/ english/work/index.html

College of Physical Therapists of BC

www.cptbc.org
Applicants Registration Applications

Canadian Physiotherapy Assoc.

www.physiotherapy.ca

Physiotherapy Association of BC (PABC): Membership has its Privileges! Free resources include: Club Physio for discounts on products and services; Outreach Librarian; online + print directory listing in PABCs Find a Physio; UBC-PABC Professional Development at price; Outcome Measures Database; Members Only site full of free resourcesand so much more! . Physiotherapy Association of BC - www.bcphysio.org In June 2007 PABC is the local host for World Confederation of Physical Therapy Congress being held in Vancouver, BC. Join over 3,000 Physiotherapists from around the world! For more information about World Congress visit www.wcpt.org

Contact Information:
Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators 501 1234 Islington Avenue Etobicoke, Ontario M8X 1Y9 College of Physical Therapists of BC th 302 1765 West 8 Avenue Vancouver, BC V6J 5C6 Canadian Physiotherapy Association 2345 Yonge Street, Suite 410 Toronto, Ontario M4P 2E5 Physiotherapy Association of BC #402 1755 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V6J 4S5 Phone: 416-234-8800 Fax: 416-234-8820 www.alliancept.org Phone: 604-730-9193 Fax: 604-730-9273 www.cptbc.org Phone: 416-932-1888 Fax: 416-932-9708 www.physiotherapy.ca Phone: 604-736-5130 Fax: 604-736-5606 www.bcphysio.org