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Member organisation

Canadian Physiotherapy Association

CanadaNorth America Caribbean
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The Canadian Physiotherapy Association is one of the founding members of World Physiotherapy in 1951 and is part of our North America Caribbean region. 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the association.

Our 16th general meeting took place in Vancouver in 2007.

Specialty groups

The Canadian Physiotherapy Association, or its national special interest groups, are members of the following specialty groups recognised by World Physiotherapy:

Year established

1920

World Physiotherapy member since

1951

Year members reported

2024

Number of physiotherapist members

11,601

Contact details

Key contacts

Canada: a profile of the profession in 2024

mo-pdf-iconData disclaimerData correct as at 30 June 2024

Professional titles protected by law

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Physiotherapist; physical therapist

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Physiotherapy technologist

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Physiotherapy Resident, PT resident

About Canadian Physiotherapy Association and the physiotherapy profession in Canada

Practising physiotherapists in the country/territory

29,153 (estimated)

7.27

Per 10,000 population

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% female

70%

In this country/territory

Physiotherapist members in this member organisation (MO)

11,601

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% female

68%

In this MO

Physiotherapy professional entry level education

Minimum qualification required to practice

Masters degree

Equivalent fulltime years

2

Number of programmes

15

Entry level physiotherapy education programmes

https://www.physiotherapyeducation.ca/programs.php

Regulation

* = Continuing Professional Development

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Registration required to practice

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CPD* required for re-registration

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CPD* required for membership

What is required to practice in the country/territory?

A physiotherapist working in Canada, with the exception of the Province of Quebec, must pass a written competency exam given by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators. This exam includes a written component. Once the physiotherapist has passed the written exam, they then apply to the provincial regulatory body, also known as the College, for their license. Each College will have its own set of applications, processes and maintenance procedures. This may include a clinical exam process requirement . Health care is provincial in Canada, therefore, the legislation may allow for slightly different practices for physiotherapists surrounding certain techniques, for example, acupuncture, pelvic health, or ordering x-rays/MRI, etc. More information: http://www.alliancept.org/.

Practice

Which authority defines scope of practice

One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities

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Standards of practice

The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

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Education for autonomous practice

All programmes

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Legislation supports private practice

Physiotherapists are permitted to

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    Act as first contact/autonomous practitioners

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    Assess patients/clients

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    Make a diagnosis

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    Offer preventative advice/services

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    Refer to other specialists/services

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    Treat (interventions, advice and evaluation of outcome)

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    Provide telehealth services

Direct access

*Direct access means a person can refer themselves to a physiotherapist without referral from another health professional

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Direct access* permitted?

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Can people self refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

Will this be reimbursed?

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Can people self refer to physiotherapists in the public system?

Limitations

What are the circumstances in which direct access is limited?

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    Setting (eg. outpatient, private practice, school setting, prevention and wellness, etc)

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    Population/health condition (eg. musculoskeletal, non-complex, etc)

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    Time (eg. medical referral required if treatment is needed beyond 30 or 60 days)

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    Training (eg. certification, academic training, or CPD to demonstrate skill necessary to treat patients without referral from a medial doctor)

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    Other

May be limitations - practices differ in each province. Some private insurance companies will have requirement for physician referral before claim will be paid by insurance company.

Special interest groups recognised by the member organisation

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    Acupuncture

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    Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy

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    Orthopaedics/manual therapy

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    Older people

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    Oncology/palliative care and HIV

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    Pain management

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    Paediatrics

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    Sports physiotherapy

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    Womens health

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    Animal practice

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    Management/administration

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    Neurology

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    Private practitioners

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events

https://physiotherapy.ca/education-events/courses-events/

Education & Events

https://physiotherapy.ca/education-events/courses-events/pd-marketplace/

PD Marketplace

Profile of the profession in this region

A global profile of the profession is also available.

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Accessible version of data

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Bahamas

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

32 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.79 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

84% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

74% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Barbados

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

65 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

2.52 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

86% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

83% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Private only

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Bermuda

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

32 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

9.61 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

88% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

85% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Yes

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Canada

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

11,601 (>10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

7.27 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

69% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

70% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Masters degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

1.87 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Yes

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Guyana

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

72 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.04 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

83% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

76% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

6.14 (5-10)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Yes

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Haiti

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

6 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

0.03 (<1)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

100% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

67% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

1.28 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

No

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Not defined

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

No

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, Some programmes (Some)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Private only

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Jamaica

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

97 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

2.02 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

81% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

67% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

1.77 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Panama

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

124 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

4.48 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

81% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

90% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

14.55 (10-15)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Puerto Rico

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

150 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.94 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

19% (<20%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

80% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

3.12 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

St Lucia

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

10 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

0.72 (<1)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

90% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

77% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

No

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Suriname

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

40 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.35 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

75% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

83% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Masters degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

8.02 (5-10)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

No

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Trinidad and Tobago

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

54 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

0.68 (<1)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

70% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

68% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, More than one

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Private only

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

United States

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

65,704 (>10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

7.19 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

56% (40-60%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

67% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Professional doctorate

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

4.57 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Yes

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

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