You're using an outdated browser. This website will not display correctly and some features will not work.
Learn more about the browsers we support for a faster and safer online experience.

# result(s)

Physiotherapy Act, 1991
Loi de 1991 sur les physiothérapeutes

ONTARIO REGULATION 532/98

GENERAL

Historical version for the period March 6, 2006 to August 18, 2011.

Last amendment: O. Reg. 68/06.

This Regulation is made in English only.

PART I
QUALITY ASSURANCE

General

1. In this Regulation,

“assessor” means an assessor appointed under section 81 of the Health Professions Procedural Code;

“Committee” means the Quality Assurance Committee, otherwise known as the Quality Management Committee; and

“enhancement program” means an education program, whether delivered by lecture, mentoring, self-study with examination or other similar means, designed to improve a member’s knowledge, skills or judgment as exhibited through clinical performance. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 1.

2. (1) The Committee shall administer the quality assurance program, which shall include the following components:

1. Professional portfolio and collection, analysis and dissemination of information.

2. Practice assessment and enhancement.

3. Remediation of behaviour and remarks of a sexual nature by a member towards a patient. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 2 (1).

(2) Every member shall comply with the requirements of the quality assurance program. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 2 (2).

Professional Portfolio and Information Collection, Analysis and Dissemination

3. (1) Every member shall complete a self-assessment document when issued by the Committee, keep it up-to-date and, on request, submit it to the Committee or an assessor. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 3 (1).

(2) Every member shall maintain a professional portfolio containing the self-assessment documents completed for the previous five years and a record of continuing quality improvement activities, and submit the portfolio to the Committee or an assessor on request. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 3 (2).

(3) The Committee may appoint an assessor or assessors to assess the documents and records in the member’s portfolio. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 3 (3).

(4) The assessor shall only prepare a report on the assessment for submission to the Committee if he or she has concerns with respect to the documents and records in the member’s portfolio. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 3 (4).

(5) On the basis of the report, the Committee may require a member to participate in an enhancement program if it is satisfied that the member has failed to comply with any of the requirements of this section or that the documents and records in the member’s portfolio are insufficient to provide reasonable assurance that the member’s knowledge, skills and judgment are satisfactory. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 3 (5).

(6) The Committee may, subject to section 7, direct the Registrar to impose terms, condition or limitations on a member’s certificate of registration for a specified period not exceeding six months if the member has failed to participate in or successfully complete an enhancement program required under subsection (5). O. Reg. 532/98, s. 3 (6).

4. (1) The Committee shall systematically collect and analyze information about the nature and quality of the practice of physiotherapy, including the training and education of members, from members, their educators, employers, partners, associates, and patients, from the public at large and from the College. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 4 (1).

(2) If the Committee believes it would be beneficial to the quality of the practice of physiotherapy to disseminate the results of the collection and analysis of information, it shall do so in such manner as it considers appropriate, including the publishing of articles. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 4 (2).

(3) The Committee may also use the results of the collection and analysis of information for the purpose of,

(a) proposing written standards of practice or clinical practice guidelines to the Council;

(b) recognizing or certifying enhancement programs for members; or

(c) making recommendations with respect to changes to the professional portfolio program. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 4 (3).

Practice Assessment and Enhancement

5. (1) Each year the College shall select at random the names of members required to undergo a practice assessment. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 5 (1).

(2) A member is required to undergo a practice assessment to assess the member’s knowledge, skill and judgment as exhibited through clinical performance,

(a) if his or her name is selected at random;

(b) the member is referred to the Committee by the Registrar, the Complaints Committee, Discipline Committee or Executive Committee, or the Board; or

(c) if the member has not complied with the requirements of the professional portfolio program. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 5 (2).

(3) The assessment may include,

(a) inspecting and reviewing the member’s premises, records and portfolio;

(b) interviewing the member and his or her staff;

(c) requiring the member to answer, orally or in writing, questions that relate to the member’s type of practice; and

(d) requiring the member to examine simulations that relate to the member’s type of practice. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 5 (3).

(4) The Committee shall appoint an assessor to carry out the practice assessment but the assessor may obtain any assistance he or she considers appropriate in carrying out the assessment. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 5 (4).

(5) The assessor shall prepare a report on the assessment and submit it to the Committee, with a copy to the member. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 5 (5).

(6) After considering the report, the Committee may decide not to take further action or,

(a) to give the member an opportunity to enhance his or her knowledge, skills or judgment as exhibited through clinical performance as specified by the Committee;

(b) to require the member to participate in an enhancement program specified by the Committee if the Committee finds the member’s knowledge, skills or judgment to be unsatisfactory; or

(c) subject to section 7, to direct the Registrar to impose terms, conditions or limitations on the member’s certificate of registration for a specified period not exceeding six months if the Committee finds the member’s knowledge, skills or judgment to be unsatisfactory and that requiring the member to participate in an enhancement program under clause (b) will not adequately address the concerns raised by the report. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 5 (6).

(7) Where the Committee decides to take action under clause (6) (a), (b) or (c), it may appoint, at the same time or at a later time, an assessor to conduct a follow-up assessment within a reasonable time to determine whether the member’s knowledge, skills or judgment as exhibited through clinical performance are now satisfactory, and subsections (3) to (6) apply to a follow-up assessment. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 5 (7).

6. (1) If the Committee requires a member to participate in an enhancement program and the member either fails to do so or fails to successfully complete the program, the Committee may, subject to section 7, direct the Registrar to impose terms, conditions or limitations on a member’s certificate of registration for a specified period not exceeding six months. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 6 (1).

(2) The Committee may direct the Registrar to impose terms, conditions or limitations on a member’s certificate of registration no more than twice with respect to any one assessment. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 6 (2).

(3) If the Registrar imposes terms, conditions or limitations on a member’s certificate of registration under subsection 3 (6), clause 5(6)(c) or subsection (1), the Committee may direct the Registrar to remove them before the end of the specified period if the Committee is satisfied that the member’s knowledge, skills or judgment as exhibited through clinical performance are now satisfactory. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 6 (3).

Procedural Safeguards

7. If the Committee intends to take action under subsection 3 (6), clause 5 (6) (c) or subsection 6 (1), the member shall be given written notice of the Committee’s intention and at least 15 days to make written submissions to the Committee, and any such submissions shall be taken into account by the Committee. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 7.

Remediation of Behaviour and Remarks of a Sexual Nature

8. (1) This section applies to matters referred to the Committee by,

(a) a panel of the Complaints Committee under subsection 26 (3) of the Health Professions Procedural Code; and

(b) the Executive Committee, Complaints Committee or Board under section 79.1 of the Health Professions Procedural Code. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 8 (1).

(2) The Committee may require a member to undergo a psychological assessment or another assessment specified by the Committee if a matter respecting the member is referred as provided in subsection (1). O. Reg. 532/98, s. 8 (2).

(3) After receiving the report of an assessment under subsection (2), the Committee may require the member to undertake specified measures, such as education, therapy or counselling, if,

(a) the Committee is of the opinion that the measures will help the member to refrain from such behaviour or remarks; and

(b) the member has been given written notice of the Committee’s intention to require the member to undertake measures, a written summary of the concerns of the Committee and at least 15 days to make written submissions to the Committee, and any such submissions shall be taken into account by the Committee. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 8 (3).

(4) If the member refuses to undergo an assessment under subsection (2) or to undertake measures specified by the Committee under subsection (3), or fails to complete those measures, the Committee may direct the Registrar to impose terms, conditions or limitations on the member’s certificate of registration for a specified period not exceeding six months. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 8 (4).

(5) The Committee shall not give a direction under subsection (4) unless the member has been given written notice of the Committee’s intention to do so and at least 15 days to make written submissions to the Committee, and any such submissions shall be taken into account by the Committee. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 8 (5).

(6) If the Registrar imposes terms, conditions or limitations on a member’s certificate of registration under subsection (4), the Committee may direct the Registrar to remove them before the end of the specified period if the Committee is satisfied that they are no longer needed. O. Reg. 532/98, s. 8 (6).

PART II
FUNDING FOR THERAPY AND COUNSELLING

9. In this Part,

“member” includes a former member. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2.

10. (1) The alternate requirements that must be satisfied in order for a person to be eligible for funding under clause 85.7 (4) (b) of the Health Professions Procedural Code are prescribed in this section. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2.

(2) A person is eligible for funding for therapy or counselling if,

(a) there is a statement, contained in the written reasons of a committee of the College given after a hearing, that the person, while a patient, was sexually abused by the member;

(b) a member has been found guilty under the Criminal Code (Canada) of sexually assaulting the person while the person was a patient of the member;

(c) there is sufficient evidence presented to the Patient Relations Committee to support the reasonable belief that the person, while a patient, was sexually abused by a member and,

(i) the member has died or cannot be located, or

(ii) the member has been found by the Fitness to Practise Committee to be incapacitated and the Fitness to Practise Committee has directed the Registrar to suspend or revoke the member’s certificate of registration;

(d) an allegation that the person, while a patient, was sexually abused by the member results in an informal resolution with the member that contemplates funding for therapy or counselling;

(e) there is an admission made by a member in a statement to the College or in an agreement with the College that he or she sexually abused the person while the person was a patient of the member; or

(f) there is a finding made by a panel of the Discipline Committee on or after December 31, 1993, that the person was sexually abused by a member before December 31, 1993, while the person was a patient of the member. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), a person who was allegedly sexually abused by a member outside Ontario is eligible for funding for therapy or counselling under subsection (2) only if, at the time the alleged abuse occurred, the person was a patient of the member and the member was practising in Ontario. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2.

(4) Despite subsection (3), a person who was allegedly sexually abused by a member outside Ontario is not eligible for funding under subsection (2) if the person resides outside Ontario and regularly receives services from a member outside Ontario. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2.

(5) Despite subsection (2), a person is eligible for funding for therapy or counselling under this Part only if,

(a) the person submits an application for funding to the Patient Relations Committee in the form provided by the College and, in the application, the person names the member who is alleged to have sexually abused the applicant;

(b) the person submits to the Patient Relations Committee along with the application a written undertaking by the applicant to keep confidential all information obtained through the application for funding process, including the fact that funding has been granted and the reasons given by the Committee for granting the funding; and

(c) the person adheres to the procedures followed by the Patient Relations Committee when determining whether the person has satisfied the requirements for eligibility for funding. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2.

(6) A decision by the Patient Relations Committee that a person is eligible for funding for therapy or counselling does not constitute a finding against the member and shall not be considered by any other committee of the College dealing with the member. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2.

PART III
REGISTRATION

Definitions

11. In this Part,

“degree in physiotherapy” means,

(a) a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in a physiotherapy education program at a Canadian university approved by a body or bodies designated by the Council, or by the Council itself,

(b) an academic qualification from outside Canada that is considered by a body or bodies designated by the Council, or by the Council itself, to be substantially similar to the qualification in clause (a);

“examination” means an examination set or approved by the Council. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

General

12. The following are prescribed as classes of certificates of registration:

1. Independent practice.

2. Provisional practice.

3. Academic practice.

4. Teaching practice.

5. Inactive status. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

13. A person may apply for the issue of a certificate of registration by submitting to the College a completed application for the class of certificate for which application is made together with any applicable fees. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

14. A certificate of registration shall not be dated earlier than the day it was issued. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

15. A member shall not hold more than one certificate of registration. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

16. (1) It is a non-exemptible registration requirement for all classes of certificates of registration that the applicant’s past and present conduct affords reasonable grounds for belief that he or she,

(a) is mentally competent to practise physiotherapy;

(b) will practise physiotherapy with decency, integrity and honesty and in accordance with the law; and

(c) can communicate effectively with, and will display an appropriate attitude towards, patients and colleagues. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(2) The following are the standards and qualifications for a certificate of registration of any class except a certificate of registration authorizing teaching practice:

1. The applicant must have Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or an authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) consistent with the class of certificate for which application is made.

2. The applicant must be able to speak and write either French or English with reasonable fluency. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(3) It is a term, condition and limitation of a certificate of registration of any class that the certificate terminates when the holder no longer has Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or an authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) consistent with the class of certificate. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(4) Holders of an independent or academic practice certificate of registration are required to successfully complete the College Jurisprudence Program within six months of initial registration, reinstatement of registration, or March 6, 2006, whichever is later, and thereafter once every five-year cycle of the Program as scheduled by the Registrar. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(5) For the purpose of subsection (4), the College Jurisprudence Program includes an assessment of the holder’s knowledge of and ability to apply jurisprudence concepts relevant to the practice of physiotherapy in Ontario. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

17. It is a non-exemptible registration requirement for certificates of registration of independent practice, provisional practice and academic practice that the applicant demonstrates that he or she holds professional liability insurance in accordance with the College by-laws. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

18. Despite any other provision in this Regulation, an applicant who by commission or omission makes a false or misleading representation or declaration on or in connection with an application shall be deemed not to have, and not to have had, the qualifications for a certificate of any class. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

Independent Practice

19. (1) The following are the standards and qualifications for a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice:

1. The applicant must have received a degree in physiotherapy.

2. The applicant must have successfully completed the examination. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(2) An applicant for a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice who was, on December 31, 1993, qualified as a physiotherapist under a statute in a Canadian jurisdiction outside Ontario and is included on a permanent register in that jurisdiction is exempted from the standards and qualifications under subsection (1). O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(3) An applicant for a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice who was, on December 30, 1993, qualified as a physiotherapist in Ontario under the Drugless Practitioners Act is exempted from the standards and qualifications under subsection (1). O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(4) An applicant for a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice shall satisfy the Registrar that he or she has practised physiotherapy for at least 1,200 hours in the five years immediately preceding the application if the applicant,

(a) is not exempted from the standards and qualifications under subsection (1) and has not successfully completed the examination within the five years immediately preceding the application; or

(b) is exempted from the standards and qualifications under subsection (1). O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

20. (1) In this section,

“applicant” means a person who holds an unrestricted practice certificate in a Canadian jurisdiction outside Ontario that the Council determines to have standards and qualifications substantially similar to those in Ontario and who does not qualify for a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice under section 19;

“unrestricted practice certificate” means a licence or certificate of registration without any individual terms, conditions or limitations that is substantially similar to an Ontario certificate of registration authorizing independent practice. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(2) The following are the standards and qualifications for a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice for an applicant under this section:

1. The applicant must have received a degree in physiotherapy.

2. At the date of application, the applicant must have practiced physiotherapy for at least 1,200 hours in the previous five years, or practiced physiotherapy within the previous three years in a Canadian jurisdiction that has a continuing competency program that the Council has determined is substantially similar to that used by the College. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(3) For the purpose of paragraph 2 of subsection (2), a continuing competency program in a Canadian jurisdiction outside of Ontario is substantially similar to that used by the College where it includes both a competency assessment component and a component that assists registrants with identified deficiencies to meet practice standards. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(4) An applicant under this section must satisfy one of the following:

1. Successful completion of the examination.

2. Demonstrate integration of practice competency through completion of a minimum of 3,200 hours of clinical physiotherapy practice in Canada within a 24 to 36 month period.

3. Be a graduate from a Canadian physiotherapy degree program in a jurisdiction where the statutory framework provides terms and conditions of cooperation between the physiotherapy regulator and the authorities of the university programs in the jurisdiction, and demonstrate integration of practice competency through clinical physiotherapy practice in the jurisdiction where the physiotherapy degree program is located in the two years immediately preceding the application. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(5) An applicant under this section who submits an application on or before December 31, 2008, and satisfies all the requirements for registration in this section except for paragraph 2 of subsection (2) shall be granted a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice if he or she has accumulated between one and 1,199 practice hours in the five years immediately preceding the application. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

21. (1) It is a term, condition and limitation of a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice that, five years after the date of its issue, and every year after that, the holder satisfy the Registrar that he or she,

(a) has practised physiotherapy for at least 1,200 hours in the preceding five years;

(b) has successfully completed the College Review Program within the previous 12 months at the holder’s expense; or

(c) has successfully completed the examination within the previous 12 months. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(2) For the purpose of clause (1) (b), the College Review Program shall consist of an assessment of the holder’s current knowledge, skill, judgment and performance and may include an individualized upgrading program based upon the results of the assessment or a reassessment upon the completion of the program. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(3) If a holder of a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice fails to satisfy the condition in subsection (1), his or her certificate of registration is suspended until the condition is satisfied except if the holder concludes a written agreement approved by the Registrar. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(4) If a holder of a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice ceases to hold professional liability insurance in accordance with the College by-laws, his or her certificate of registration is deemed to be suspended until the Registrar is satisfied that he or she has acquired the professional liability insurance. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

22. A person who, on December 31, 1993, was registered as a physiotherapist in Ontario under the predecessor of the Act is deemed to be the holder of a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

Provisional Practice

23. (1) The following are the standards and qualifications for a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice:

1. The applicant must have received a degree in physiotherapy.

2. The applicant must have successfully completed the written component of the examination.

3. The applicant must have registered to take the practical component of the examination at the next available opportunity after the application. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(2) The following are the terms, conditions and limitations of a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice:

1. The holder may practise physiotherapy only under the terms of a written agreement with a member holding a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice who monitors him or her in accordance with the written agreement. For the purposes of this paragraph, both the written agreement and the member must be approved by the Registrar.

2. The holder shall hold himself or herself out only as a physiotherapy resident.

3. If the member in paragraph 1 is unable to maintain the terms of the agreement due to resignation, illness or other circumstances, the provisional practice certificate of the holder is suspended until a new written agreement with the same or different member is approved by the Registrar.

4. The certificate expires on the earlier of the date that the holder receives notification that he or she has failed the practical component of the examination or 12 weeks after the date that the holder is registered to take the practical component of the examination. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(3) If a holder of a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice ceases to hold professional liability insurance in accordance with the College by-laws, his or her certificate of registration is deemed to be suspended until the Registrar is satisfied that he or she has acquired the professional liability insurance. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(4) A person who has failed the practical component of the examination is not entitled to apply for a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(5) A person who previously obtained a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice is not entitled to apply for another one unless the person did not fail the practical component of the examination but was unable to complete it successfully because of illness or some other reason beyond the control of the person. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(6) A person who previously obtained what was formerly known as a certificate of registration authorizing supervised practice is not entitled to apply for a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice unless the person did not fail the practical component of the examination but was unable to complete it successfully because of illness or some other reason beyond the control of the person. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(7) If the Registrar receives concerns relating to the member’s knowledge, skills or judgement in the practice of physiotherapy during the period that the member held a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice, the Registrar may refer the member to the Quality Management Committee. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

Academic Practice

24. (1) The following are the standards and qualifications for a certificate of registration authorizing academic practice:

1. The applicant must have received a degree in physiotherapy.

2. The applicant must have an appointment to the academic staff of a university in Ontario in a program of physiotherapy or physical therapy. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(2) The following are the terms, conditions and limitations of a certificate of registration authorizing academic practice:

1. The holder may practise physiotherapy only in the department in which he or she holds the professorial appointment and to the extent required by the teaching, research and service requirements of that appointment.

2. The certificate terminates when the holder no longer holds an appointment in accordance with paragraph 2 of subsection (1). O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(3) If a holder of a certificate of registration authorizing academic practice ceases to hold professional liability insurance in accordance with the College by-laws, his or her certificate of registration is deemed to be suspended until the Registrar is satisfied that he or she has acquired the professional liability insurance. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

Teaching Practice

25. (1) The following are the standards and qualifications for a certificate of registration authorizing teaching practice:

1. The applicant must have received a degree in physiotherapy.

2. The applicant is qualified to practise as a physiotherapist in a jurisdiction outside Ontario.

3. The applicant holds an appointment to teach a brief continuing education program in physiotherapy primarily for the benefit of members holding a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice.

4. A member holding a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice has given an undertaking to supervise the applicant and be responsible for ensuring the provision of appropriate care for patients attended by the applicant in Ontario. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(2) It is a term, condition and limitation of a certificate of registration authorizing teaching practice that the holder practise physiotherapy only to the extent required for the purposes of the brief continuing education program taught by the holder and under the supervision of the member who gave the undertaking in paragraph 4 of subsection (1). O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(3) A certificate of registration authorizing teaching practice expires at the earliest of the following:

1. At the end of the continuing education program.

2. The day the holder leaves Ontario.

3. Ten days after the certificate is issued. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

Inactive Status

26. (1) The following are the standards and qualifications for an inactive certificate of registration:

1. The applicant must hold a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice.

2. The applicant is not currently engaged, in Ontario, in employment or other activities related to his or her credentials or experience in physiotherapy including but not limited to clinical practice, health care consultation, health administration, academic endeavours (such as teaching and research) and sales of health goods or services.

3. The applicant is not in default of any obligation to the College. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(2) The following are the terms, conditions and limitations of an inactive certificate of registration:

1. The holder shall not engage, in Ontario, in employment or other activities related to his or her credentials or experience in physiotherapy including clinical practice, health care consultation, health administration, academic endeavours (such as teaching or research) and sales of health goods or services.

2. The holder may use only the titles “physiotherapist inactive” or “physical therapist inactive”. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.

(3) The holder of an inactive certificate of registration may, upon application, be issued a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice if he or she fulfils the following requirements:

1. The holder submits a completed application in the form provided by the Registrar.

2. The holder pays the membership fee for a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice.

3. The holder is not in default of any obligation to the College.

4. The holder has met the terms, conditions and limitations set out in subsection 21 (1). O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1.