On the afternoon of September 14, 2021, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta was notified that the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators Board of Directors directed the CAPR staff to cancel the virtual clinical component of the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) due to ongoing challenges with its administration. The CAPR Board has directed CAPR staff to focus on the written examination and on getting back to delivering a face-to-face clinical component of the PCE. The CAPR announcement did not include a timeline for when candidates can expect a resumption of face-to-face clinical examination components.
We acknowledge that this situation is unsustainable for provisional registrants, their supervisors, and employers.
In light of this situation, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta recognizes that our approach to addressing the ongoing delays to the admittance of Physiotherapist Interns to the General Register will need to change.
Council will hold an emergency meeting in the coming days to consider registration requirements for all registrants on the Provisional Register who are awaiting the opportunity to successfully complete a clinical competency examination approved by Council.
The College of Physiotherapists of Alberta staff and Council are actively involved in discussions with the Government of Alberta, physiotherapy regulators from across Canada and other stakeholders to discuss next steps as we commit to acting in the interest of Albertans.
In the coming days, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta will engage in thoughtful consideration of what any decision might mean to the public and to candidates in both the short and long term.
In May 2021, the Council of the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta approved a temporary alternate clinical competence examination to address the registration requirement enshrined in Section 3(c) of the Physical Therapists’ Profession Regulation. The alternate examination was successfully administered by the University of Alberta on June 11 and 12, 2021. Seventy-eight (78) candidates were able to successfully complete the examination and have since been admitted to the General Register.
If Council decides to offer the alternate exam again, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta will provide further information, including eligibility criteria, when that time comes.
The College of Physiotherapists of Alberta once again acknowledges the burden that examination cancellations have placed on candidates who have invested their time, energy, and effort to prepare for the clinical component. We also acknowledge the uncertainty that candidates have faced over the last 18 months. We apologize for the confusion and frustration created by this further delay. Thank you for your patience as we come up with a solution which will be announced as soon as possible.
We respect that exam candidates and other stakeholders have many questions, are eager for information, and that emotions are high. However, we remind all parties that Council members are volunteers and that communication with the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta staff and Council is to be conducted professionally, respectfully, and using official College contact information.
Due to the high volume of calls and emails to our office regarding this development, coinciding with our registration renewal deadlines, we do not have the capacity to address every question or call individually. We will provide responses to frequently asked questions and updates as new information becomes available. Updates will be posted here.
