Nibbles2005

I was a physiotherapist in the UK and eventually trust therapy services manager. I went into physiotherapy as a mature student but qualified over 13 years ago and specialised early in community elderly care and rehabilitation. I would like to explore possibilities to work in ontario as we live here now but am concerned how detailed and broad the exam process is to be re certified. A lot of the stuff in the exam seems to be stuff I last looked at during my final exams and not sure how up to date I would be or indeed if I would remember it all. Has anyone been through the same thing and is it better or worse than I think? Any tips?

Also does anyone know any recruitment agencies that deal with healthcare management roles?

Thanks

Auld Yin

You should contact http://www.collegept.org/ as all physiotherapists in Ontario must, by law be registered with that organization, so says http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/eng...erapists.shtml

lifeisajourney

I believe you would have to go through the 'practical' clinical compentency exam set by the Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators, this is the practical exam that all new grads as well as internationally trained physios have to pass. It's quite an ordeal - 16 clinical stations with some written elements, in total takes around 4 hours. You'd need to pass this exam in order to practice in Ontario. Cost is 1200 dollars, nonrefundable if you fail.

But - there are plenty of jobs and very well paid jobs for physios in Ontario. So worth the effort if you can handle swotting up and manage the stress.

Good luck

TrishP

Hi
I'm an OT working in Ontario, so can easily find out any info you need. As a start, check out: http://www.collegept.org/Physiothera...ecomingaPhysio

Alberta_Rose

I've done it (2006). Well I'm in Calgary, but the process to pass the PCE is the same throughout Canada.

I qualified in 1982, so a LOT earlier than you. I also have never really worked in "Acute" since my first couple of years, but went into elderly rehab, community, joint replacement programs and the like.

I'm sure you won't find it any harder than I did anyway! The first step is to contact the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators http://www.alliancept.org/ to get your credentials checked for equivalency. You will need to obtain transcripts and details from your UK PT training. At least you will presumably have qualified with a degree ... I had to convince them that my diploma was "good enough"!


If they think you have gaps that need to be filled before equivalency there is a bridging program http://www.alliancept.org/pdfs/IEPB_...ent_091021.pdf

Once you have passed that hurdle you buy (or borrow) lots of up-to-date books, see if you can join a local study group of new Canadian grads (preferably) and/or foreign trained PT's. What you have to remember is that they are looking for stuff a new grad would know. The biggest mistake an experienced PT makes in the exams is to think like an experineced PT!

It is a stressful process, but I'm sure your knowledge decay is not as severe as mine was, and I got through it!

If you have any other questions you can PM or email me if you like, as most people on here might not be interested in the fine details!

Addendum: If you plan to go directly into Management, I guess it's possible that you don't need to register as a practising physiotherapist in Canada anyway ..... Do you have other paper qualifications for management??? Example: http://www.bestjobsca.com/bt-jobd-te...er-5489664.htm

fizzyo2

Hi all,

This is good news! I qualified in 1984. I have just been informed that my credentialling is ok. I now need to take exam. Looking to settle with family in Alberta.

Also first part of immigration application successful. Any info regarding your experiences with competency exam would be most welcome.

fizzyo2

Alberta_Rose

Hmm ... are you just flying over to sit the exam and going back? You know it'll be in Edmonton?

The best advice is that it's a big, general, multi-choice exam. It covers all areas of physio but only to a very basic level, so try to answer as a new grad.

I made a horrible error about 3/4 way through, and found I'd somehow missed a question, so all my answers after that were on the wrong line! Luckily I only had to go back half a dozen Q's before I found the one I'd missed!! Nearly had a heart attack though! I took it with only about 4 other candidates, and everyone just got up and left when they'd finished, so I never even got to say hello or goodbye to any of them!

Personally I found the practicum far more of an ordeal. I believe you can still practise (I mean work) under mentorship once you've passed part 1, and if you get the chance to join a study group of Canadian grads it will help prepare you!
Look at the questions on the Alliance's site ... some of them WILL come up.
There are a few questions on ethical issues etc, and some I found hard to answer (eg. I couldn't pick one option as several applied equally etc)

Everyone here agrees that the exam is a stupid waste of time and money, but when you pass and start earning you can reclaim the fees back in your tax return!

If you come to Calgary, contact me and I'll help in any way I can!

fizzyo2

Hi Rose,
Thanks for your reply. Yes I intend to fly to take the exam bringing family with me to do fact finding trip!
As far as I have discovered, Alberta allows you to work under licence if you have passed the part 1 of the PCE.
My background is in private practice. I own and run a private practice employing 2 other physios. We have 2 gp practice contracts and lots of medicolegal work. The practice has been established for 20 years.
I have been researching the exam as much as I can and I agree with you - the practical seems the more testing part!
Thankyou for the offer and we shall certainly contact you as plans take shape. The main thing for me was knowing other physios who have been qualified a while have passed in the relatively recent past.
Thanks for giving me encouragement!!
Pete

Alberta_Rose

Well there is loads of private work here as you can imagine! I've never done it and it's abit of an anathema to me, but I won't hold it against you!

Here there is (virtually) no musculo-skeletal work that isn't done by private clinics, other than the more complex rehab cases that need MDT input, which can be referred to "Community Accessible Rehab" (CAR) at one of three centres in Calgary.
The health authority will foot the bill for a limited number of sessions after certain surgeries and fractures, but most patients have to pay for their treatments out of their insurance etc, or, if it a work related injury, the Workers Compensation Board pay (subject to agreement!).

Alberta (don't know about the rest of Canada) seems to be in the process of being taken over by two big players, ie CBI and Lifemark, and they have been busy buying up many of the smaller practices. There are still many independent clinics running alongside though. The larger clinics operate under contract to the health authority as well as privately and WCB funded cases.
http://www.yellowpages.ca/search/si/...apists/Calgary

Alberta Health (slogan: "We are One"!) is currently one big mess!