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Titles, Credentials and Specialty Designations

Titles, Credentials, and Specialty Designations Standard of Practice

Standard

The physiotherapist uses their title and other credentials to clearly identify themselves to clients, other health-care providers, and the public.

Expected outcomes

Clients can expect that the physiotherapist represents their titles and credentials in way that is transparent, accurate, verifiable, meaningful to the public, and not misleading.

Performance expectations

Regarding use of their protected title, the physiotherapist:

  • Uses their protected title in all professional actions and interactions.
  • Lists their protected title immediately after their name as it appears on the public register and before academic credentials or other designations.
  • On the General Register uses the titles and initials
  1. Physical therapist,
  2. Physiotherapist, OR
  3. P.T.
  • On the Provisional Register uses the titles
  1. Physical therapist intern, OR
  2. Physiotherapist intern
  • On the Courtesy Register uses the titles and initials granted to registrants on the General or Provisional Register, in accordance with the physiotherapist’s registration status in their primary jurisdiction.
  • Does not use protected title when engaged in activities that are outside of the practice of physiotherapy (e.g., animal rehabilitation, personal training, nutrition counselling).

Regarding the use of academic and other credentials

The physiotherapist:

  • Only uses academic credentials conferred by accredited university programs. Uses academic credentials accurately and lists them after their protected title.
  • Uses post-professional credentials accurately, and lists them after protected title and in a manner that has meaning for the public.
  • Does not use the title “Doctor” or prefix “Dr” in connection with providing a health service or in actions or interactions undertaken for the purpose of promoting health services to the public.
  • Does not use other protected titles unless authorized to do so by the appropriate regulatory body.

Regarding use of the term specialist and derivatives thereof

The physiotherapist:

Does not use the title Clinical Specialist or imply or hold themselves out to be a specialist in connection with providing a health service unless:

  • They have received a specialty designation from either:
  1. The Physiotherapy Specialty Certification Board of Canada OR
  2. The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties
  • They have applied for and received authorization from the Registrar to use the title “Clinical Specialist.”
  • The designation is listed after their professional title.

Related Standards

Glossary

Page updated: 01/01/2025