Physical Therapists – Applicants

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For Applicants

A person must be registered with the College to practice physical therapy and use the title “Physical Therapist” or “Physiotherapist” in British Columbia. Practicing physical therapy includes working as a physical therapist, participating in a physical therapy student clinical placement, and taking or teaching a course that involves physical therapy treatment of the public and course participants.

When you apply to be registered as a physical therapist with the College, it is the Registration Committee that makes decisions about your eligibility for registration in accordance with the BC Health Professions Act  and CHCPBC Bylaws. Our role as  College staff is to help you understand the application process and registration requirements.

We are committed to fairness and transparency about things related to application and registration as a physical therapist, and we recognize that respect is earned. We are sincere, truthful, consistent, and accurate in all our interactions with applicants. We recognize the impact we have on those who interact with the College and seek to always do what is right.

We listen and consider before rendering a decision about your application for registration. We strive to recognize and mitigate any biases we hold, and we are committed to practicing cultural humility as we continue to learn about how colonization has influenced our regulatory structures, processes, and decision-making policies.

Applying to Practice Physical Therapy in BC (Full Registration)

Your pathway to full registration depends on:

  1. Your current registration status. Are you…
    • currently registered elsewhere in Canada
    • previously registered in BC or elsewhere in Canada, or
    • never before registered anywhere in Canada
  2. Where you completed the education that qualified you as a physical therapist. Were you educated…
    • in Canada, or
    • outside Canada

Other Registration Categories

Temporary Registration

A temporary registrant is a physical therapist who is registered to practice in good standing in another jurisdiction and intends to visit British Columbia for education purposes, emergency services or a purpose to be approved by the registrar for a maximum of 30 days

Student Registration

Physical therapy students must be registered as students to participate in a clinical placement in British Columbia.

Questions?

For questions on registration, please contact gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger

A member of the Registration Team will be available for calls during our working hours; if you are unable to reach us directly, please leave a message and we will call you back.

Registered Elsewhere in Canada Right Now

The information in this section is for you if you are:

  • Currently registered as a physical therapist in another Canadian province or the Yukon
  • Educated in Canada OR educated outside of Canada

If you meet the two criteria listed below, you are eligible for a streamlined registration process:

  1. The registration or license type you hold elsewhere in Canada is equivalent to our Full Registration category. This means that you practice independently with no limits or conditions on your license.
  2. Your registration elsewhere in Canada is effective at the time your application is approved by the Registration Committee.

If your registration elsewhere in Canada expires before your CHCPBC application is approved, you do not meet the second eligibility criterion; you may apply for full registration, but you will have to provide additional information:

  • proof of having passed the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (Clinical Component) and
  • evidence of 1200 practice hours in the previous 5 years.

If you are not sure if this applies to your situation, please contact us at go.cbpchc@noitartsiger

Applying for Telepractice?

The information on this page applies to individuals applying for telepractice, but please contact CHCPBC at gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger explaining why you are interested in registration for the purpose of telepractice.

 

Application Process (Streamlined Process)

Timeline to registration:

  • Depends on date of receipt of documents.
  • Some documents have to come from “third parties”, not from you directly. Sometimes it takes time for them to send us what is required.

Once we have all required documents, approval of your application can take as little as 3 business days, but it could take more than 30 days if the Registration Committee must review your application. We have to receive everything from you and third parties within 90 days of the day you submit your application; i.e., documents cannot be more than 90 days old.

  1. Arrange for these documents to be sent directly to us by email to go.cbpchc@noitartsiger 
    • Regulatory History Form from each Canadian jurisdiction where you are or were registered as a physical therapist, or as another regulated professional, in the last 10 years. 
      • Complete section 1 of the Regulatory History Form
      • Send the form to the applicable regulatory agency(ies) 
      • The regulatory agency(ies) must send the completed form directly to the CHCPBC 
    • Regulatory History Form from each jurisdiction outside of Canada where you are or were registered as a physical therapist, or as another regulated professional, in the last 10 years. 
      • Complete section 1 of the Regulatory History Form
      • Send the form to the applicable regulatory agency 
      • The regulatory agency must send the completed form directly to the CHCPBC 
      • View instructions  if the regulatory agency is: Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), CORU, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), Gujarat State Council for Physiotherapy (GSCPT), or Delhi Council for Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (DCPTOT).
    • English language proficiency test results or Verification Request Form or VRF  from the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR), if applicable. 
  1. Select two pieces of accepted identification from the lists below and have them notarized.
  2. Purchase individual professional liability insurance if you don’t have it already. Policies with a future start date will not be accepted. See requirements of coverage below.
  3. Now you are ready to start your application:
    • Complete the online application form on the CHCPBC Registrant Portal 
    • Upload your notarized identification
    • Upload your certificate of professional liability insurance
  4. Submit your application.
  5. Registration staff will review your application while we wait for all documents from third parties to arrive. Once we have received them, registration staff may ask for further information.
  6. When we have no further questions, registration staff will send you the link to the jurisprudence exam if you are required to take it. Some applicants from particular jurisdictions may not have to complete it.
  7. When you have passed the jurisprudence exam, we will send you the link to pay the application and registration fees. Once you have paid the fees, your registration is complete. Congratulations!

 

Details of Application Requirements

Current Registration

  1. The registration or license type you hold elsewhere in Canada is equivalent to our Full Registration category.
  2. Your registration elsewhere in Canada is effective at the time your application is approved by the Registration Committee. If your registration elsewhere in Canada expires before your CHCPBC application is approved, you do not meet this eligibility criterion.

Identification to be Notarized and Submitted

You must submit two pieces of identification that meet the requirements AND are on the lists of accepted identification. Identification must:

  • Be valid and unexpired
  • Be notarized and verified in their original form by a notary public or lawyer; other professionals will not be accepted. Notary’s stamp and the date must be visible.
  • Include at least one primary identification from the list below
  • Include your legal name that matches the name on the application form
  • Include at least one with your date of birth and signature

Primary Identification

  • BC driver’s licence or learner’s licence (must have photo)
  • BC Identity card (BCID)
  • BC Services card (must have photo)
  • Passport
  • Canadian citizenship card
  • Permanent resident card
  • Canadian record of landing/Canadian immigration identification record
  • Secure certificate of Indian status

Secondary Identification

  • School identification card (student card)
  • Birth certificate (a baptismal certificate is not acceptable)
  • Canadian or US driver’s licence
  • Secure certificate of Indian status
  • Canadian forces identification
  • Picture employee ID card
  • BC Services card (with or without photo)
  • Student, work, visitor, or temporary resident permit
  • NEXUS card
  • Foreign passport
  • Foreign Affairs Canada or consular identification
  • Bank card
  • Credit card

Character and Reputation
You must be considered “of good character.” This means that there is no evidence of past or present conduct that would put the BC public at risk. We gather evidence of your good character through your self-declaration in the application form, your criminal record check (CRC), and your regulatory history in the Regulatory History Form(s) that are submitted.

Criminal Record Check (CRC)

  • All applicants are required to complete a BC Criminal Record Check (CRC) at the time of initial application and every 5 years while they are registered with CHCPBC. This is required by the BC Criminal Records Review Act.  CHCPBC requests the CRC on your behalf after you submit your application, which includes your acknowledgment of consent to this check.
  • To learn more, see Criminal Record Check for Physical Therapists
  • You may be required to complete a fingerprinting process. This is a secondary process administered by local municipalities and federal or local law enforcement agencies and not something that CHCPBC is involved in. The Criminal Records Review Program will contact you directly if they require you to provide fingerprints. There are fees associated with fingerprinting, and you must pay them locally to the agency collecting your fingerprints.

Regulatory History Form

  • Applicants who have been registered with any regulatory (health and/or non-health) agency in the past 10 years must complete section 1 of the
  • Regulatory History Form and send to each agency. The agency(ies) will send the form directly to the CHCPBC.
  • Regulatory history forms sent by the applicant to the CHCPBC will not be accepted. The agency(ies) will send the form directly to the CHCPBC.
  • Applicants who have worked in other jurisdictions (this might be a country or a state/ province) in the past 10 years that have mandatory registration for physical therapists are expected to complete a regulatory history form. This is a fundamental expectation of a regulated professional, and it is the applicant’s responsibility to account for any lack of such registration.

Professional Liability Insurance
You must hold individual (i.e., not your employer’s) professional liability insurance at all times in the amount of at least $3 million (CAD) per occurrence to ensure coverage wherever you practise as a physical therapist in BC.  Even if you are not employed or are on leave – but are still a registrant of the College – you are required to comply with this requirement.

See Registrant FAQs for a list of some insurers.

Jurisprudence Exam

You are required to pass the physical therapist’s jurisprudence examination, which assesses your understanding of the rules and expectations you are expected to follow when you practice in BC and how to apply them. The examination is open book. Once your application is complete, we will send you further instructions about how to access the exam. There is no additional fee for this.

English Language Proficiency

If you are registered as a physical therapist in the province of Quebec, you must demonstrate that you are able to practise as a physical therapist safely and competently in the English language. You can demonstrate this in ONE (1) of the following ways:

  • If you completed your physical therapy education in English; you may provide a notarized copy of your degree.
  • If you passed the Written Component of the CAPR Physiotherapy Competency Examination in English, request CAPR send a Verification Request Form (VRF) to the CHCPBC.
  • If you passed an approved English Language Test  within the past 2 years, request the test result be shared directly with the CHCPBC.

Fees
Fees include a one-time application fee and an annual registration fee. The registration cycle runs from June 1 to May 31. Registration is renewed annually. All fees are non-refundable, not pro-rated, and are subject to change.

Full Registration

  • Full Registration Fee: $500
  • Application Fee: $200
  • Total Fee: $700

Telepractice Registration

  • Full Registration Fee: $200
  • Application Fee: $200
  • Total Fee: $400

Never Registered in Canada and Educated in Canada

The information in this section is for you if:

  • Your education that qualified you as a physical therapist was in Canada (excluding Quebec), and
  • You have not yet registered to practise in Canada

Before applying for registration in BC, you must first complete these entry-to-practice assessments in this order:

  1. Pass the Physiotherapy Competency Examination Written Component – administered by the Canadian Alliance for Physiotherapy Regulators
  2. Pass a Canadian entry-to-practice clinical assessment. READ CAREFULLY – you have two (2) options:
    •  Alternate Clinical Evaluation BC (ACEBC) – administered by UBC, Department of Physical Therapy.If you pass the ACEBC you are ready to apply for full registration in BC (see requirements and steps to apply below)*OR*
    • An entry-to-practice clinical assessment in another Canadian province.

If you pass you must first register in that province and then you can apply for full registration in BC (see instructions in: Registered Elsewhere in Canada Right Now)

Application Process (after passing the ACEBC)

Timeline to registration:

  • Depends on date of receipt of documents.
  • Some documents have to come from “third parties”, not from you directly. Sometimes it takes time for them to send us what is required.

Once we have all required documents, approval of your application can take as little as 3 business days but it could take more than 30 days if the Registration Committee must review your application. We have to receive everything from you and third parties within 90 days of the day you submit your application; i.e. documents cannot be more than 90 days old.

Note that documents associated with the application must be dated within 90 days of the date the application is submitted.

  1. Arrange for these documents to be sent directly to us by email to gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger
    • Request regulatory history form if you were registered as another regulated professional anywhere in Canada or outside of Canada in the last 10 years. 
      • Complete section 1 of the Regulatory History Form.
      • Send the form to the applicable regulatory agency(ies).
      • The regulatory agency(ies) must send the completed form directly to the CHCPBC.
  2. Select two (2) pieces of accepted identification from the lists below and have them notarized. See instructions and the list of accepted identification below.
  3. Purchase individual professional liability insurance. Policies with a future start date will not be accepted. See requirements of coverage below.
  4. Now you are ready to start your application:
    • Complete the online application form on the CHCPBC Registrant Portal
    • Upload your notarized identification
    • Upload your certificate of professional liability insurance
    • Upload your ACEBC result letter
  5. Submit your application.
  6. Registration staff will review your application while we wait for all documents from third parties to arrive. Once we have received them, registration staff may ask for further information.
  7. When we have no further questions, registration staff will send you the link to the jurisprudence exam.
  8. When you have passed the jurisprudence exam we will send you the link to pay the application and registration fees. Once you have paid the fees, your registration is complete. Congratulations!

Detailed Application Requirements

Entry-to-practice Clinical Assessment

You must provide proof of having passed the Alternate Clinical Evaluation BC.

Identification to be Notarized & Submitted

You must submit two (2) pieces of identification that meet the requirements AND are on the list of accepted identification. Identification must:

  • Be valid and unexpired
  • Be notarized and verified in their original form by a notary public or lawyer; other professionals will not be accepted. Notary’s stamp and the date must be visible.
  • Include at least one primary identification from the list below
  • Include your legal name that matches the name on the application form
  • Include at least one with your date of birth and signature

Primary Identification

  • BC driver’s licence or learner’s licence (must have photo)
  • BC Identity card (BCID)
  • BC Services card (must have photo)
  • Passport
  • Canadian citizenship card
  • Permanent resident card
  • Canadian record of landing/Canadian immigration identification record
  • Secure certificate of Indian status

Secondary Identification

  • School identification card (student card)
  • Birth certificate (a baptismal certificate is not acceptable)
  • Canadian or US driver’s licence
  • Secure certificate of Indian status
  • Canadian forces identification
  • Picture employee ID card
  • BC Services card (with or without photo)
  • Student, work, visitor, or temporary resident permit
  • NEXUS card
  • Foreign passport
  • Foreign Affairs Canada or consular identification
  • Bank card
  • Credit card

Character & Reputation
You must be considered “of good character.” This means that there is no evidence of past or present conduct that would put the BC public at risk. We gather evidence of your good character through your self-declaration in the application form, your criminal record check (CRC), and your regulatory history in the Regulatory History Form(s) that are submitted.

Criminal Record Check (CRC)

  • All applicants are required to complete a BC Criminal Record Check (CRC) at the time of initial application and every 5 years while they are registered with CHCPBC. This is required by the BC Criminal Records Review Act. CHCPBC requests the CRC on your behalf after you submit your application, which includes your acknowledgment of consent to this check.
  • You may be required to complete a fingerprinting process. This is a secondary process administered by local municipalities and federal or local law enforcement agencies and not something that CHCPBC is involved in. The Criminal Records Review Program will contact you directly if they require you to provide fingerprints. There are fees associated with fingerprinting, and you must pay them locally to the agency collecting your fingerprints.

Regulatory History Form

  • Applicants who have been registered with any regulatory (health and/or non-health) agency in the past 10 years must complete section 1 of the regulatory history form and send to each agency. The agency(ies) will send the form directly to the CHCPBC.
  • Regulatory history forms sent by the applicant to the CHCPBC will not be accepted.

Professional Liability Insurance

Hold individual (i.e. not your employer’s) professional liability insurance at all times in the amount of at least $3 million (CAD) per occurrence to ensure coverage wherever you practise as a physical therapist in BC. If you are not employed or are on leave – but are still a registrant of the College – you are required to comply with this requirement.

See Registrant FAQs for a list of some insurers.

Jurisprudence Exam

You are required to pass the physical therapist’s jurisprudence examination, which assesses your understanding of the rules and expectations you are expected to follow when you practice in BC and how to apply them The examination is open book. Once your application is complete, we will send you further instructions about how to access the exam. There is no additional fee for this.

Fees

Fees include a one-time application fee and an annual registration fee. The registration cycle runs from June 1 to May 31. Registration is renewed annually. All fees are non-refundable, not pro-rated, and are subject to change.

Full Registration

  • Full Registration Fee: $500
  • Application Fee: $200
  • Total Fee: $700

Never Registered in Canada and Educated Outside Canada

The information in this section is for you if:

  • Your education that qualified you as a physical therapist was outside of Canada, and
  • You have not yet registered to practise in Canada

Before applying for registration in BC, you must first complete credentialling and entry-to-practice assessments in this order:

  1. Credentialling: submit your documents for review by the Canadian Alliance for Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) and complete a course about the Canadian health care system.

Credentialling takes several months and can be completed before arrival in Canada.

You may be eligible for a BC government bursary to assist with the cost of becoming registered in BC. See the Allied Health Jobs in British Columbia website for more information.

  1. Pass the Physiotherapy Competency Examination Written Component – administered by CAPR

The exam takes place 10 times per year and can be completed before arrival in Canada. From registering for the exam to receiving the result, this step takes at least 3 months to complete.

  1. Pass a Canadian entry-to-practice clinical assessment. READ CAREFULLY – you have TWO (2) options:
    • Alternate Clinical Evaluation BC (ACEBC) – administered by UBC, Department of Physical Therapy. If you pass the ACEBC you are ready to apply for full registration in BC (see requirements and steps to apply below)

*OR*

    • An entry-to-practice clinical assessment in another Canadian province. If you pass you must first register in that province and then you can apply for full registration in BC (see instructions in: Registered elsewhere in Canada right now)

Application Process (after passing the ACEBC)

Timeline to registration:

  • Depends on date of receipt of documents.
  • Some documents have to come from “third parties”, not from you directly. Sometimes it takes time for them to send us what is required.

Once we have all required documents, approval of your application can take as little as 3 business days but it could take more than 30 days if the Registration Committee must review your application. We have to receive everything from you and third parties within 90 days of the day you submit your application; i.e., documents cannot be more than 90 days old.

  1. Arrange for these documents to be sent directly to us by email to gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger
  • Regulatory History Form if you were registered as a physical therapist outside of Canada, or as another regulated professional anywhere in Canada or outside of Canada, in the last 10 years. 
    • Complete section 1 of the Regulatory History Form.
    • Send the form to the applicable regulatory agency(ies).
    • The regulatory agency(ies) must send the completed form directly to the CHCPBC.
    • View instructions if the regulatory agency is: Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), CORU, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), Gujarat State Council for Physiotherapy (GSCPT), or Delhi Council for Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (DCPTOT).
  1. Select two pieces of accepted identification from the list below and have them notarized.
  2. Purchase individual professional liability insurance if you don’t have it already. Policies with a future start date will not be accepted. See requirements of coverage below.
  3. Now you are ready to start your application:
  • Complete the online application form on the CHCPBC Registrant Portal
  • Upload your notarized identification
  • Upload your certificate of professional liability insurance
  • Upload your ACEBC result letter
  1. Submit your application.
  2. Registration staff will review your application while we wait for all documents from third parties to arrive. Once we have received them, registration staff may ask for further information.
  3. When we have no further questions, registration staff will send you the link to the jurisprudence exam.
  4. When you have passed the jurisprudence exam we will send you the link to pay the application and registration fees. Once you have paid the fees, your registration is complete. Congratulations!

 

Details of Application Requirements

Entry-to-Practice Clinical Assessment

You must provide proof of having passed the Alternate Clinical Evaluation BC.

Identification to be Notarized & Submitted

You must submit two (2) pieces of identification that meet the requirements AND are on the list of accepted identification. Identification must:

  • Be valid and unexpired
  • Be notarized and verified in their original form by a notary public or lawyer; other professionals will not be accepted. Notary’s stamp and the date must be visible.
  • Include at least one primary identification from the list below
  • Include your legal name that matches the name on the application form
  • Include at least one with your date of birth and signature

Primary Identification

  • BC driver’s licence or learner’s licence (must have photo)
  • BC Identity card (BCID)
  • BC Services card (must have photo)
  • Passport
  • Canadian citizenship card
  • Permanent resident card
  • Canadian record of landing/Canadian immigration identification record
  • Secure certificate of Indian status

Secondary Identification

  • School identification card (student card)
  • Birth certificate (a baptismal certificate is not acceptable)
  • Canadian or US driver’s licence
  • Secure certificate of Indian status
  • Canadian forces identification
  • Picture employee ID card
  • BC Services card (with or without photo)
  • Student, work, visitor, or temporary resident permit
  • NEXUS card
  • Foreign passport
  • Foreign Affairs Canada or consular identification
  • Bank card
  • Credit card

Character and Reputation

You must be considered “of good character.” This means that there is no evidence of past or present conduct that would put the BC public at risk. We gather evidence of your good character through your self-declaration in the application form, your criminal record check (CRC), and your regulatory history in the Regulatory History Form(s) that are submitted.

Criminal Record Check (CRC)

  • All applicants are required to complete a BC Criminal Record Check (CRC) at the time of initial application and every 5 years while they are registered with CHCPBC. This is required by the BC Criminal Records Review Act.  CHCPBC requests the CRC on your behalf after you submit your application, which includes your acknowledgment of consent to this check.
  • To learn more, see Criminal Record Check for Physical Therapists.
  • You may be required to complete a fingerprinting process. This is a secondary process administered by local municipalities and federal or local law enforcement agencies and not something that CHCPBC is involved in. The Criminal Records Review Program will contact you directly if they require you to provide fingerprints. There are fees associated with fingerprinting, and you must pay them locally to the agency collecting your fingerprints.

Regulatory History Form

  • Applicants who have been registered with any regulatory (health and/or non-health) agency in the past 10 years must complete section 1 of the
  • Regulatory History Form and send to each agency. The agency(ies) will send the form directly to the CHCPBC.
  • Regulatory history forms sent by the applicant to the CHCPBC will not be accepted. The agency(ies) will send the form directly to the CHCPBC.
  • Applicants who have worked in other jurisdictions (this might be a country or a state/ province) in the past 10 years that have mandatory registration for physical therapists are expected to complete a regulatory history form. This is a fundamental expectation of a regulated professional, and it is the applicant’s responsibility to account for any lack of such registration.

Professional Liability Insurance

You must hold individual (i.e., not your employer’s) professional liability insurance at all times in the amount of at least $3 million (CAD) per occurrence to ensure coverage wherever you practise as a physical therapist in BC.  Even if you are not employed or are on leave – but are still a registrant of the College – you are required to comply with this requirement.

See Registrant FAQs for a list of some insurers.

Jurisprudence Exam

You are required to pass the physical therapist’s jurisprudence examination, which assesses your understanding of the rules and expectations you are expected to follow when you practice in BC and how to apply them. The examination is open book. Once your application is complete, we will send you further instructions about how to access the exam. There is no additional fee for this.

Fees

Fees include a one-time application fee and an annual registration fee. The registration cycle runs from June 1 to May 31. Registration is renewed annually. All fees are non-refundable, not pro-rated, and are subject to change.

Full Registration

  • Full Registration Fee: $500
  • Application Fee: $200
  • Total Fee: $700

Registered previously in BC

Reinstatement From Former to Full Registration

A former registrant who would like to return to full registration may apply for reinstatement. Former registrants include anyone who was previously a full registrant with the College but is currently not registered.

Applying for Reinstatement to Full Registration

Reinstatement applies to individuals who:

  • Previously were registered with CHCPBC as a full registrant but are currently not registered; or
  • Had their registration cancelled following disciplinary action who are now eligible to apply for reinstatement (please contact the College directly gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger to discuss)

Requirements include:

  • A completed registration application
  • Evidence satisfactory to the registration committee of the good character of the applicant consistent with the responsibilities and standards required of a registrant;
  • Authorization for a criminal record check as required by the Criminal Records Review Act (BC);
  • Evidence of liability insurance in accordance with section 82
  • Evidence satisfactory to the registration committee of at least 1200 practice hours as a physical therapist in the last 5 years

Online Application

Getting Started

  • Go to the Registrant Portal
  • Login as you have an existing account. Do not create duplicate accounts as that will result in delays
  • From the home page, under Reinstatement, select Full Registration
  • Follow the instructions carefully to complete the form; you may save your work and return to the form as needed
  • Once the form is complete, click on the ‘Submit’ button
  • Please see below for details on individual sections of the application form
  • Documents that are older than 3 months will not be considered

Identification
CHCPBC may require applicants to submit TWO notarized documents to verify their identity. Please contact gro.cbpchc@noitartsiger to determine if you must submit notarized identification.

Accepted Forms of Identification

Primary Identification

  • BC driver’s licence or learner’s licence (must have photo)
  • BC Identity card (BCID)
  • BC Services card (must have photo)
  • Passport
  • Canadian citizenship card
  • Permanent resident card
  • Canadian record of landing/Canadian immigration identification record
  • Secure certificate of Indian status

Secondary Identification

  • School identification card (student card)
  • Birth certificate (a baptismal certificate is not acceptable)
  • Canadian or US driver’s licence
  • Secure certificate of Indian status
  • Canadian forces identification
  • Picture employee ID card
  • BC Services card (with or without photo)
  • Student, work, visitor, or temporary resident permit
  • NEXUS card
  • Foreign passport
  • Foreign Affairs Canada or consular identification
  • Bank card
  • Credit card

Identification documents must:

  • Be valid and unexpired
  • Be notarized and verified in their original form by a notary public or lawyer; other professionals will not be accepted

Criminal Record Check (CRC)

  • As per the BC Criminal Records Review Act , all applicants are required to complete a BC CRC at the time of initial application, and thereafter, every five years as long as registrants continue to be registered with the CHCPBC. The BC CRC is a BC government-driven process. For more information, visit the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General’s Criminal Record Check BC webpage
  • Follow instructions on the application form to consent to the CHCPBC applying for the CRC on your behalf
  • You are providing consent to the initial CRC as well as a re-check every 5 years as long as you continue to be registered with the CHCPBC
  • The College will initiate the CRC on your behalf
  • Some individuals may be required to provide fingerprints; the Ministry will contact you directly if this is required

Fingerprinting

Some applicants may be required to complete a fingerprinting process. This is a secondary process administered by local municipalities and federal or local enforcement agencies.

The requirement for fingerprinting and the parameters for determining who is required are determined by the Criminal Record Review Program and based on the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) policy.

The search requires applicants who have either the same name and / or date of birth and gender combination to provide fingerprints to verify their identity to eliminate the possibility of an offender changing their name to circumvent a criminal record.

Note that the CRC program is a government-driven process and the College has no control over this process. There are fees associated with fingerprinting and they must be paid locally. For more information on the Criminal Record Check, visit the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General’s Criminal Records Review Program web page.

Professional Liability Insurance

Registrants are required to have, at all times, private, individual professional liability insurance in the amount of at least 3 million dollars (CAD) per occurrence. Even if you are not employed or on leave – but are still a registrant of the College –  you are required to have private, individual professional liability insurance.

  • Upload a copy of private insurance certificate

BMS via the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and Physiosure are two of the larger private insurance providers.

Other Physical Therapy Regulatory Bodies or Regulated Professions

Applicants who have been registered with any regulatory (health and/or non-health) agency in the past 10 years must complete a regulatory history form:

  • Complete Section 1 of the Regulatory History Form
  • Send the form to the applicable regulatory agency
  • The regulatory agency will return the completed form directly to the CHCPBC
  • Please click here for instructions if the regulatory agency is one of the following: HCPC, CORU, Ahpra and some jurisdictions in India

Note: Regulatory history forms sent by the applicant to the CHCPBC will not be accepted.

Applicants who have worked in jurisdictions (this might be a country or a state/province) that have mandatory registration for physical therapists are expected to complete a regulatory history form. This is a fundamental expectation of a member of a regulated profession, and it is the applicant’s responsibility to account for any lack of such registration.

Jurisprudence Module

This step is required for registrants returning from former status.

This step is not required if the returning registrant was registered in Alberta or New Brunswick and had previously completed the Jurisprudence module within the last 5 years.

The jurisprudence module is administered by a third party.

  • You will receive an email to sign up and complete the Jurisprudence module
  • Follow instructions to register and complete the Jurisprudence module
  • You may take the examination as many times as it takes to successfully complete the module
  • Once you have successfully completed the Jurisprudence module, the College will be notified

Application Review

Once all documents are received, the application will be reviewed and may result in:

  • Application approval, or
  • Application referred to the Registration Committee

The review process may take 5 – 7 business days. Although it may take longer during peak times.

  • Applications that require review by the registration committee may take up to 60 days

Application Decision

Applicants will be notified of the decision by email.

If registration is approved, you will receive an email with a link to pay the registration fee.

Once the fee is paid, the registration is finalized and your name and registration number will be added to the public register. Check the public register to verify your registration status. Until registration is finalized, applicants are not permitted to practise.

Note: Former registrants may be required to complete examination(s), re-entry program(s) or competence assessment(s) as directed by the Registration Committee.

Application and Registration Fees

Fees include a one time application fee and an annual registration fee. The registration cycle runs from June 1 to May 31. Registration is renewed on an annual basis. All fees are non-refundable, not pro-rated and are subject to change.

Reinstatement after less than 5 years

  • Full registration fee:$ 500
  • Application Fee: N/A
  • Total Fee: $500

Reinstatement after more than 5 years

  • Full registration fee:$ 500
  • Application Fee: $200
  • Total Fee: $700

Temporary Registration

A temporary registrant is a physical therapist who is registered to practice in good standing in another jurisdiction and intends to visit British Columbia for education purposes, emergency services or a purpose to be approved by the registrar for a maximum of 30 days.

Are you a physical therapist registered outside of British Columbia (BC) coming to BC for education purposes, emergency services or a purpose approved by the registrar?

  • If Yes – see below for information on applying for temporary registration

Are you a physical therapist outside of BC looking to provide physical therapy services in BC on a temporary or long term basis?

  • If Yes – you will need to apply for full registration rather than temporary registration

Applying for Temporary Registration

Physical Therapists registered in another jurisdiction may apply for temporary registration as described in the College Bylaws.

Allow at least 5 business days to process applications once all documents are submitted. To ensure currency of regulatory history information, applications made more than 3 months preceding the course or other purpose will not be considered.

Getting Started

  • Go to the registrant portal
  • Login if you have an existing account. If you do not have an account, follow the prompt for set up. Do not create duplicate accounts as that will result in delays
  • From the home page, under Applications, select Temporary Registration. If you have been a registrant with the College in the past, the form is located under Reinstatements
  • Follow the instructions carefully to complete the form; you may save your work and return to the form as needed
  • Once the form is complete, click on the ‘Submit’ button
  • Please see below for details on individual sections of the application form

The fee for temporary registration is $78 ($50 registration fee +  $28 CRC fee); the fee is non-refundable, not pro-rated and subject to change.

Identification

CHCPBC requires all applicants to submit TWO notarized documents to verify their identity.
Accepted Forms of Identification

Primary Identification

  • BC driver’s licence or learner’s licence (must have photo)
  • BC Identity card (BCID)
  • BC Services card (must have photo)
  • Passport
  • Canadian citizenship card
  • Permanent resident card
  • Canadian record of landing/Canadian immigration identification record
  • Secure certificate of Indian status

Secondary Identification

  • School identification card (student card)
  • Birth certificate (a baptismal certificate is not acceptable)
  • Canadian or US driver’s licence
  • Secure certificate of Indian status
  • Canadian forces identification
  • Picture employee ID card
  • BC Services card (with or without photo)
  • Student, work, visitor, or temporary resident permit
  • NEXUS card
  • Foreign passport
  • Foreign Affairs Canada or consular identification
  • Bank card
  • Credit card

Identification documents must:

  • Be valid and unexpired
  • Be notarized and verified in their original form by a notary public or lawyer; other professionals will not be accepted
  • Include at least one primary identification
  • Include at least one government issued and photo ID
  • Include your name and at least one with date of birth and signature

Criminal Record Check (CRC)

  • As per the BC Criminal Records Review Act , all applicants are required to complete a  BC CRC at the time of initial application, and thereafter, every five years as long as they continue to  be registered with the CHCPBC. For more information, please click here: Criminal Record Check for Physical Therapists
  • Follow instructions on the application form to consent to the CHCPBC applying for the CRC on your behalf
  • You are providing consent to the initial CRC as well as a re-check as long as you continue to register with the CHCPBC
  • Some people are required to provide fingerprints; the Ministry will contact you directly if this is required
  • The Ministry charges $28.00 to conduct a CRC; this will be included in your invoice when you apply for registration; if you apply for temporary registration more than once over the course of our registration year (June 1 – May 31), you will only be charged once for that year

Fingerprinting
Some applicants may be required to complete a fingerprinting process. This is a secondary process administered by local municipalities and federal or local enforcement agencies. There are fees associated with fingerprinting and they must be paid locally.

Course/Event
You will be asked specify:

  • What course(s) or event(s) you wish to attend
  • The start or end date of the event(s)

Other Physical Therapy Regulatory Bodies or Regulated Professions

Applicants who have been registered with any regulatory (health and/or non-health) agency in the past 10 years must complete a regulatory history form:

  • Complete Section 1 of the Regulatory History Form
  • Send the form to the applicable regulatory authority
  • The regulatory authority must return the completed form directly to the CHCPBC
  • Please click here for instructions if the regulatory agency is one of the following: HCPC, CORU, Ahpra and some jurisdictions in India

Note: Regulatory history forms returned by the applicant to the CHCPBC will not be accepted.

Applicants who have worked in other jurisdictions (this might be a country or a state/province) that have mandatory registration for physical therapists are expected to complete a regulatory history form. This is a fundamental expectation of a member of a regulated profession, and it is the applicant’s responsibility to account for any lack of such

Professional Liability Insurance

Registrants are required to have, at all times, private, individual professional liability insurance in the amount of at least 3 million dollars (CAD) per occurrence.

  • Upload a copy of private insurance certificate from owner

BMS via the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and Physiosure are two of the larger private insurance providers. are two of the larger private insurance providers.

Application Review

Once all documents are received, the application will be reviewed and may result in:

  • Application approval, or
  • Application referred to the Registration Committee

The review process takes an average of 5 business days. At times of high volume, it may take longer.

If the application goes to the registration committee, the review and decision may take up to 60 days.

Application Decision

Applicants will be notified of the decision by email.

Until the decision is communicated, applicants are not permitted to practice.

Upon approval, you will be sent an email containing a link to pay the registration fee. Once the fee is paid, registration will be finalized.

Once registration is finalized, your name and registration number will be added to the public directory. Check the public directory to verify your registration status.

Student Registration

Physical therapy students must be registered as students to participate in a clinical placement in British Columbia.

Applying for Student Registration

Getting Started

  • Go to the registrant portal
  • Login if you have an existing account. If you do not have an account, follow the prompt for set up. Do not create duplicate accounts as that will result in delays
  • From the home page, under Applications, select Student Registration.
  • Follow the instructions carefully to complete the form; you may save your work and return to the form as needed
  • Once the form is complete, click on the ‘Submit’ button
  • Please see below for details on individual sections of the application form

Identification

CHCPBC requires all applicants to submit TWO notarized documents to verify their identity.

Accepted Forms of Identification

Primary Identification

  • BC driver’s licence or learner’s licence (must have photo)
  • BC Identity card (BCID)
  • BC Services card (must have photo)
  • Passport
  • Canadian citizenship card
  • Permanent resident card
  • Canadian record of landing/Canadian immigration identification record
  • Secure certificate of Indian status

Secondary Identification

  • School identification card (student card)
  • Birth certificate (a baptismal certificate is not acceptable)
  • Canadian or US driver’s licence
  • Secure certificate of Indian status
  • Canadian forces identification
  • Picture employee ID card
  • BC Services card (with or without photo)
  • Student, work, visitor, or temporary resident permit
  • NEXUS card
  • Foreign passport
  • Foreign Affairs Canada or consular identification
  • Bank card
  • Credit card

Identification documents must:

  • Be valid and unexpired
  • Be notarized and verified in their original form by a notary public or lawyer; other professionals will not be accepted
  • Include at least one primary identification
  • Include at least one government issued and photo ID
  • Include your name and at least one with date of birth and signature

Criminal Record Check

  • As per the BC Criminal Records Review Act , all applicants are required to complete a BC CRC at the time of initial application, and thereafter, every five years as long as they continue to  be registered with the CHCPBC. For more information, please click here: Criminal Record Check for Physical Therapists
  • Follow instructions on the application form
  • Some people are required to provide fingerprints; the Ministry will contact you directly if this is required

Fingerprinting
Some applicants may be required to complete a fingerprinting process. This is a secondary process administered by local municipalities and federal or local enforcement agencies. There are fees associated with fingerprinting and they must be paid locally.

Proof of Enrollment
Students must be enrolled in a physiotherapy program that is recognized by World Physiotherapy.

Note: UBC may submit this on behalf of UBC students.

Professional Liability Insurance
Registrants are required to have professional liability insurance in the amount of at least 3 million dollars (CAD) per occurrence. If your proof of enrollment includes confirmation that you are covered by your education program, please upload the same document in this section. If it does not, or you are not covered, you must purchase your own professional liability insurance and upload the insurance certificate here. BMS via the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and Physiosure are two of the larger private insurance providers. are two of the larger private insurance providers.

Clinical Placement Confirmation
A student must be supervised by a full registrant of the College in good standing. If you are not a UBC physical therapy student, in British Columbia, the UBC Department of Physical Therapy is responsible for coordinating clinical placements on behalf of NACEP. Please contact UBC to request a clinical placement.

Registration After Graduation
After graduation, students who wish to practice as a physical therapist in BC must apply for full registration.