Authorised activities are activities requiring special authorisation. Regulated physical therapists require specific authorisation to use needles in practice or incorporate spinal manipulation into physical therapy practice. Members can only perform these activities after authorisation is granted and then only as appropriate to their area of practice, the procedure being performed, and within their competence.

To apply for needling authorisation you must:

• Be a regulated member on the active register.
• Provide evidence (satisfactory to the Registrar) of having competencies required
    to safely use needles by successfully completing one of the following programs:

     - Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute Level I course (part 1, 2A, 3A,
       written and oral exam).
     - University of Alberta Faculty of Extension Certificate Program in Medical Acupuncture.
     - iSTOP Gunn IMS course.
     - McMaster Contemporary Acupuncture course or Contemporary Medical
       Acupuncture course.
     - University of Manitoba's Acupuncture for Physiotherapists: The Art and Science.

    Physical therapists who have not completed one of these programs may receive
    needling authorisation by demonstrating the safe use of needles to a College approved
    assessor in accordance with the dry needling competency profile for physical therapists.

Application for needling authorisation.

To apply for spinal manipulation authorisation you must:

• Be a regulated member on the active register.
• Provide evidence (satisfactory to the Registrar) of having competencies required to
   safely perform spinal manipulation. Provide evidence of completing a theoretical and
   practical course and exams that encompass competencies required to safely perform
   spinal manipulation as outlined in the spinal manipulation competency profile
   for Physical Therapists.

Application for spinal manipulation authorisation.

Provisional registers - learning an authorised activity
Regulated members learning to perform an authorised activity can perform only activities they are competent to perform once they are placed on the provisional needling or spinal manipulation register. To be placed on a provisional register you must meet the following conditions:

• Provisional needling register – provide proof of enrolment in one of the accepted
   programs listed above under needling authorisation.
• Spinal manipulation register – provide proof of enrolment in one of the accepted
   programs listed above under spinal manipulation authorisation and practice under
   the mentorship of a regulated member authorised to perform spinal manipulation
   (see Objectives and Guidelines for Mentorship for further information).

Provisional register changes under HPA
Once under the HPA, the College will no longer maintain provisional registers. Physical therapists learning one of the above activities may continue to do so, but only under the supervision of a member authorized by the College to perform that activity. The supervising physical therapist must be present or on site while the member is performing the restricted activity and able to observe and promptly intervene (i.e., stop or change the actions of the member under supervision) if required.

Questions about registration in Alberta
Please contact the College.