Over the past 9 months, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta has been working to revise the Performance of Restricted Activities Standard of Practice. This revision was the result of questions raised by the Minister of Health and the ministry regarding pelvic health physiotherapy practice, and specifically the performance of pelvic health internal examinations. To learn more about the impetus for this work, see the September 21, 2020 Update Regarding Pelvic Health (Internal Examinations).
Over the last several months, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta has engaged with physiotherapists and external stakeholders to gain their feedback on the revised Standard. The final version of the revised Standard was adopted by Council at their June 12, 2021 meeting.
All regulated members of the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta are advised to review the Standard in full, and to consider its implications for their individual practice.
What does this mean for physiotherapists who provide pelvic health services?
Like physiotherapists who perform dry needling or spinal manipulation, the 2021 Performance of Restricted Activities Standard establishes the requirement that a physiotherapist wishing to perform the restricted activity must:
- Complete a program of study in the performance of the restricted activity that includes as part of the curriculum: theory, practice, safety instruction, and final (summative) evaluation conducted by the course instructor which resulted in a passing grade prior to seeking authorization to perform the restricted activity.
- Submit evidence to the Registrar of having the competencies required to perform the restricted activity.
- Receive notification from the Registrar that the authorization is indicated on their practice permit prior to performing the restricted activity independently.
Unlike dry needling or spinal manipulation, Physiotherapist Interns are legislatively enabled to perform pelvic health internal examinations and may seek authorization. However, their performance of the activity must always be conducted under the direct supervision of a physiotherapist who is authorized to perform pelvic health internal examinations. Transition Period
Physiotherapists have had the opportunity to complete a voluntary submission of documents demonstrating that they have met the requirements for authorization to perform pelvic health internal examinations since February of 2021. With this announcement we are now entering a period of transition. Physiotherapists have until September 30th, 2021, to complete their applications and submit their evidence of competence to the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta.
Effective October 1, 2021, all physiotherapists providing pelvic health physiotherapy services must have received individual authorization from the Registrar of the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta to perform pelvic health internal examinations.
How to Apply
If your evidence of competence meets the requirements for authorization outlined in the Standard, you can apply using this form:
Application: Authorization to perform pelvic health internal examinations
If your evidence of competence does not meet the requirements outlined in the standard (e.g., your continuing education did not include an exam or you did not complete a formal training program), you can apply as a legacy provider, using this form:
Application: Authorization to perform pelvic health internal examinations
Finally, if you are currently on the Provisional Register you may apply by submitting a pelvic health-specific supervision agreement and the following application form:
Supervision Agreement - Pelvic Health Internal Examinations
Application: Authorization to perform pelvic health internal examinations
Submission of application documents and evidence of competence to perform pelvic health internal examinations is no longer voluntary. We advise all regulated members who perform this restricted activity and wish to continue to do so to submit their documents as soon as possible.
We anticipate a high volume of applications over the next three months. Early submission of documents will enable physiotherapists to continue to provide pelvic health internal examinations without any lapses in their authorization.
If you currently provide pelvic health physiotherapy services, you will want to initiate this process well in advance of the October 1st mandatory authorization date to ensure your application is processed and authorization indicated on your practice permit, so you can continue to provide these services after October 1, 2021.
