Registration is mandatory. To practice as a physiotherapist in Alberta and use the titles physiotherapist or physical therapist, or abbreviation PT, an individual must be registered with Physiotherapy Alberta.
The information in this guide is for Canadian educated applicants who have not completed the Physiotherapy Competency Examination.
The registration process to independent practice for new Canadian graduates normally has 4 steps and involves 2 organizations:
Administers the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE).
Registers and authorizes individuals to practice as a physiotherapist in Alberta.
The majority of Canadian graduates start off on the Provisional Register after passing the PCE written component. They then move to the General Register after passing the PCE clinical component. The 4 steps are illustrated in the figure below (click to enlarge).
Passing the PCE clinical component means you are eligible to be registered on the General Register and able to practice independently.
The criteria you must meet to be registered on the Provisional Register:
Degree from an accredited Canadian physiotherapy program.
Passed the Physiotherapy Competency Examination written component
Passed Physiotherapy Alberta's jurisprudence module which evaluates your understanding and application of the rules governing practice in Alberta.
Completed the mandatory education in place to protect patients from sexual abuse and sexual misconduct by physiotherapists.
Personally hold professional liability insurance in the amount of $5 million to ensure coverage wherever you practice as a physiotherapist in Alberta, regardless of role or employment environment.
A regulated member on the Provisional Register may practice only under the supervision of a regulated member on the General Register. A physiotherapist on the General Register has agreed to supervise your practice.
Are of good character and reputation. There is no past or present behavior or conduct that would put the Alberta public at risk. Evidence is collected by self-declarations, Criminal Record Check, regulatory history, and civil judgments.
Reasonably proficient in the English language to be able to safely and competently practice as a physiotherapist. There are two ways to meet the language requirement:
Email your application and all of the above supporting documents to registration@physiotherapyalberta.ca.
Registration documents and emails from all applicants and members are placed in a queue and dealt with in the order they are received. This includes initial application with supporting documents, documents submitted by another party, resubmitted documents and email enquries. We try to deal with documents and emails in 6 business days. However, processing may take longer when there is a high volume.
Application files are typically assessed by staff, however, the Registrar may refer any matter to the Registration Committee to consider and this will delay the application progress.
Applications may also be deferred, refused, or conditions imposed if it is in the best interest of the public. Decisions or actions taken by Physiotherapy Alberta can be reviewed by the provincial Ombudsman in accordance with the Ombudsman Act.
Collected at time file is complete, based on date of registration and for a practice permit to the end of the current registration year, e.g., September 30, 2021.
Application fee | $125 |
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Practice permit fee (applying for registration between Oct 1 and Mar 31) | $805 |
Practice permit fee (applying for registration between Apr 1 and Sep 30) | $615 |
PCE | $2,732 (both components, one sitting) |
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Transcripts | At discretion of university |
Liability insurance | $200 - $250 |
Criminal Record Check |
Canada - $29 + tax United States - $31+ tax Other countries - range is $35 - $350. Refer to the country order form for country costs. Note: These are estimates only and can vary depending on circumstances, e.g., number of searches within a country, complexity of search, local fees, delay in processing. |
PCE | Clinical results 12 weeks |
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Transcripts | At discretion of university |
Liability insurance | At discretion of insurance provider |
Criminal Record Check |
Canada- approx 2 business days if cleared based on name search |
Supporting documents | 6 business days for Physiotherapy Alberta to review from date received |
Decision on complete file | Approx. 1 - 2 business days |
Physiotherapists are autonomous health professionals accountable for their conduct and practice. As such, you are required to personally hold professional liability insurance to ensure coverage wherever you practice as a physiotherapist in Alberta, regardless of role or employment environment. The amount of coverage you must have is $5 million per occurrence/patient and $5 million minimum for the policy year.
Liability insurance is offered through a variety of vendors. We've included a link to vendors who provide coverage to the majority of Alberta physiotherapists. Not all policies offer the same coverage.
You are responsible for reviewing each policy and making an informed decision. Physiotherapy Alberta does not endorse a specific product or validate the information contained within each vendor’s website.
Physiotherapy Alberta collects information from members for regulatory purposes. This includes determining eligibility for registration, maintaining the member register and implementing the investigation and discipline process. The information is also used to support activities that further Physiotherapy Alberta’s mandate to protect the public interest (e.g., workforce planning and research that promotes innovative, quality physiotherapist care). Physiotherapy Alberta keeps complete registration files for a minimum of 10 years following removal from the register.
Information on the Register of Members must be disclosed to the public upon request. This includes your name, registration number, registration status, conditions imposed on your practice permit, current or previous employment information (e.g., employer’s name and address), whether you are authorized to independently perform a restricted activity, and conduct findings on record. Members of the public may access information on the register by contacting Physiotherapy Alberta directly or through our Public Registry.
Under the Health Professions Act, Physiotherapy Alberta is required by law to provide demographic, education and practice information to the Minister of Health and Wellness for health workforce planning purposes.
With expressed consent, Physiotherapy Alberta will share member contact information (i.e., name, address, phone, email) with researchers conducting a study that will further our mandate to protect the public interest by promoting innovative, quality physiotherapy care. The data may not be used for commercial purposes and can only be used once and not reproduced or passed on to others. Consent is granting using My Profile in the Member Portal.
Physiotherapy Alberta may disclose information that is summarized or in a statistical form so that it is not possible to relate the information to any particular identifiable person.
You may access and correct most information using My Profile in the Member Portal. Information that may not be changed online must be brought to the attention of registration staff.
Contact Physiotherapy Alberta’s Privacy Officer if you have questions about the collection, use and disclosure of your information. 780.438.0338 or info@physiotherapyalberta.ca.