In Canada | physiooptions

Credentialing Phase

It is worth mentioning that waiting for credentialing is considered the most frustrating part of the process of moving to Canada to work as a physiotherapist. Some basic advice provided by people who have completed the process is starting the credentialing process as early as you can and delay moving over until you are nearly at the exams stage. So hopefully by now this is nearly completed, if not fully completed.

If not, it woulld be useful to carry out the orientation to the Canadian Healthcare System course. It is requirement of the credentialing process. This course is offered three times per year at the University of Toronto and you will be informed when it is time for you to complete it. These offerings are spring, fall and winter.

It is an online course consisting of:

11 units (each unit will be 7 days in duration)
Facilitated by trained instructors
Delivered over 11 weeks
Fully online (interactive learning activities)

The course topics are divided into three broad themes, focusing on the patient, the health care system, and your role as a healthcare professional. The final unit will require that you apply your knowledge and skills to a case.

It is worth noting tht as the course is completed online it could be done while still in Ireland

Further information can be found at this link!

Exam Preperations

There are a number of services available to help with the exam process:

In Ontario the Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging (OIEPB) Program was set up to help Internationally Educated Physical Therapists (IEPTs) gain registration to practice physical therapy in Ontario. They offer IEPTs who are preparing for their PCE examinations the opportunity to participate in Exam Skills Preparation workshops, which include MCQ and exam skills preparation.

More information on the programme can be found here!

In British Columbia one option that is available to IEPT's is to avail of an interim registration to the College of Physical Therapists of British Colombia (CPTBC). You are eligible for interim registration if you are an IEPT who:

Has successfully completed the credentialing process with the Alliance
Is registered for the first available PCE
Has a confirmed supervisory employment arrangement with a fully registered physiotherapist in British Columbia

More Information can be found at this link!

Tools and resources for working life

It would be highly beneficial to familiarise oneself with these documents while you wait for employment in Canada:

Planning to work in Canada workbook: This workbook was created for internationally trained individuals who are considering moving to Canada or who have recently arrived.
Working in Canada Tool: The Working in Canada Tool can help you make well-informed decisions about where to live and work by producing a report that contains information on job descriptions, wages, skills, language training and job opportunities tailored to your needs.
Canadian Physiotherapy Practice Self-Assessment Readiness Tool (SART):This self-assessment tool is designed to help internationally-educated physiotherapists understand the Canadian physiotherapy profession. It describes what physiotherapists who work in Canada are expected to know and do. It outlines the competencies, or knowledge and skills that Canadian physiotherapists must have.

When it comes to looking for jobs as a physiotherapist in Canada it can be useful to look at the your local health authority website:

While you wait - In Canada

It should be clear from the previous Paper Work section that the process of moving to Canada can be long and frustrating, with several steps. But at this stage you have you visa, are ready to work and have just landed in a brand new city. But before you can start to work there are still some important steps, like finalising your credentialing, completing your written and practical exam and applying for physiotherapy jobs. This section goes through some of the helpful things you can do until you are finally ready to start applying. First of all try get all the sight seeing done you can before work takes over! Secondly it is important to remeber that it could be several months before you are ready to work as a physiotherpist so it may be a good idea to try get another job, perhaps bar/restaurant work. Remember with your work and travel visa you can work where you like! CanadaJob is one of many wedsites that advertise jobs for all of Canada!