GENERAL

PART I QUALITY ASSURANCE General 1. In this Part, “assessor” means a person appointed under section 81 of the Health Professions Procedural Code; “Committee” means the Quality Assurance Committee required by subsection 10 (1) of the Health Professions Procedural Code; “program” means the quality assurance program required by section 80 of the Health Professions Procedural Code; “stratified random sampling” means a sampling where groups of members are, (a) removed from the pool of members to be sampled, or (b) weighted to increase or decrease the likelihood of their being selected. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. 2. (1) The Committee shall administer the program. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. (2) The program shall include the following components: 1. Self-assessments. 2. Continuing education or professional development designed to, i. promote continuing competence and continuous quality improvement among the members, ii. promote interprofessional collaboration, iii. address changes in practice environments, and iv. incorporate standards of practice, advances in technology, changes made to entry to practice competencies and other relevant issues in the discretion of the Council. 3. Peer and practice assessments, including continuing education programs or remediation, if needed. 4. Collection, analysis and dissemination of information. 5. A mechanism for the College to monitor members’ participation in, and compliance with, the program. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. (3) Every member shall comply with the requirements of the program. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. Self-Assessment 3. (1) Every member shall conduct an annual self-assessment. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. (2) Every member shall keep a record of his or her annual self-assessment in the form and manner approved by the Committee and shall retain the record for at least five years following the self-assessment. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. (3) At the request of the Committee, an assessor or a College employee, a member shall provide to the Committee, the assessor or the College employee, within the time period specified in the request or, where no time period is specified, within 30 days after receiving the request, (a) complete and accurate information about the member’s annual self-assessments; and (b) the member’s annual self-assessment records described in subsection (2). O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. Continuing Education and Professional Development 4. (1) Every member shall participate annually in continuing education or professional development to the extent necessary to maintain the knowledge, skill and judgment required to practice the profession. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. (2) Every member shall keep a record of his or her continuing education or professional development in the form and manner approved by the Committee and shall retain the record for at least five years. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. (3) At the request of the Committee, an assessor or a College employee, a member shall provide to the Committee, the assessor or the College employee, within the time period specified in the request or, where no time period is specified, within 30 days after receiving the request, (a) complete and accurate information about the member’s continuing education or professional development; and (b) the member’s continuing education and professional development records described in subsection (2). O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. Peer and Practice Assessment 5. (1) Each year, the Committee shall select members to undergo a peer and practice assessment in order to assess whether the members’ knowledge, skill and judgment are satisfactory. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. (2) A member may be selected to undergo a peer and practice assessment, (a) at random, including by stratified random sampling; (b) on the basis of criteria specified by the Committee and published on the College’s website at least three months before the member is selected on the basis of that criteria; or (c) if a request to view the member’s records is made under clause 3 (3) (b) or 4 (3) (b) and the Committee or an assessor is of the opinion that the member has not provided sufficient records or that the member’s records demonstrate that the member has not engaged in adequate self-assessments, continuing education or professional development. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. (3) A peer and practice assessment may include, (a) inspecting the premises where the member practises; (b) reviewing the member’s records required under subsections 3 (2) and 4 (2); (c) reviewing information respecting patient care and the member’s records of the care of patients; (d) requiring the member to answer, orally or in writing, questions about his or her practice; (e) requiring the member to participate in simulations related to his or her practice; (f) interviewing or surveying the member and his or her employer, employees, colleagues, peers or patients; and (g) requiring the member to interview or survey his or her employer, employees, colleagues, peers or patients. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. (4) A peer and practice assessment shall be carried out by an assessor. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. (5) The assessor shall prepare a written report on each peer and practice assessment and submit it to the Committee. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. (6) If, after considering the assessor’s report and any other relevant materials, the Committee is of the opinion that the member’s knowledge, skill or judgment is not satisfactory, the Committee may take any of the actions listed in section 80.2 of the Health Professions Procedural Code, if, before doing so, the Committee, (a) gives to the member a copy of the assessor’s report and any other relevant materials; (b) gives to the member notice of the Committee’s opinion and intention to take action; (c) gives to the member notice of the member’s right to make written submissions to the Committee within a specified time period that is not less than 14 days after receipt of the notice; and (d) after considering any submissions made by the member, is still of the opinion that the member’s knowledge, skill or judgment is not satisfactory. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. (7) Even if the Committee does not provide notice to the member under clause (6) (b), the Committee shall advise the member of the results of the peer and practice assessment. O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. 6.-8. Revoked: O. Reg. 378/12, s. 1. PART II FUNDING FOR THERAPY AND COUNSELLING 9. In this Part, “member” includes a former member. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2. 10. (1) The alternate requirements that must be satisfied in order for a person to be eligible for funding under clause 85.7 (4) (b) of the Health Professions Procedural Code are prescribed in this section. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2. (2) A person is eligible for funding for therapy or counselling if, (a) there is a statement, contained in the written reasons of a committee of the College given after a hearing, that the person, while a patient, was sexually abused by the member; (b) a member has been found guilty under the Criminal Code (Canada) of sexually assaulting the person while the person was a patient of the member; (c) there is sufficient evidence presented to the Patient Relations Committee to support the reasonable belief that the person, while a patient, was sexually abused by a member and, (i) the member has died or cannot be located, or (ii) the member has been found by the Fitness to Practise Committee to be incapacitated and the Fitness to Practise Committee has directed the Registrar to suspend or revoke the member’s certificate of registration; (d) an allegation that the person, while a patient, was sexually abused by the member results in an informal resolution with the member that contemplates funding for therapy or counselling; (e) there is an admission made by a member in a statement to the College or in an agreement with the College that he or she sexually abused the person while the person was a patient of the member; or (f) there is a finding made by a panel of the Discipline Committee on or after December 31, 1993, that the person was sexually abused by a member before December 31, 1993, while the person was a patient of the member. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2. (3) Subject to subsection (4), a person who was allegedly sexually abused by a member outside Ontario is eligible for funding for therapy or counselling under subsection (2) only if, at the time the alleged abuse occurred, the person was a patient of the member and the member was practising in Ontario. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2. (4) Despite subsection (3), a person who was allegedly sexually abused by a member outside Ontario is not eligible for funding under subsection (2) if the person resides outside Ontario and regularly receives services from a member outside Ontario. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2. (5) Despite subsection (2), a person is eligible for funding for therapy or counselling under this Part only if, (a) the person submits an application for funding to the Patient Relations Committee in the form provided by the College and, in the application, the person names the member who is alleged to have sexually abused the applicant; (b) the person submits to the Patient Relations Committee along with the application a written undertaking by the applicant to keep confidential all information obtained through the application for funding process, including the fact that funding has been granted and the reasons given by the Committee for granting the funding; and (c) the person adheres to the procedures followed by the Patient Relations Committee when determining whether the person has satisfied the requirements for eligibility for funding. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2. (6) A decision by the Patient Relations Committee that a person is eligible for funding for therapy or counselling does not constitute a finding against the member and shall not be considered by any other committee of the College dealing with the member. O. Reg. 611/99, s. 2. part iii registration Definitions 11. In this Part, “degree in physiotherapy” means, (a) a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in a physiotherapy education program at a Canadian university approved by a body or bodies designated by the Council, or by the Council itself, (b) an academic qualification from outside Canada that is considered by a body or bodies designated by the Council, or by the Council itself, to be substantially similar to the qualification in clause (a); “examination” means an examination set or approved by the Council. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. General 12. The following are prescribed as classes of certificates of registration: 1. Independent practice. 2. Provisional practice. 3. Courtesy. 4. Emergency. 5. Revoked: O. Reg. 390/11, s. 1. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1; O. Reg. 390/11, s. 1; O. Reg. 296/23, s. 1. 13. A person may apply for the issue of a certificate of registration by submitting to the College a completed application for the class of certificate for which application is made together with any applicable fees. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. 14. A certificate of registration shall not be dated earlier than the day it was issued. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. 15. A member shall not hold more than one certificate of registration. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. 16. (1) It is a non-exemptible registration requirement for all classes of certificates of registration that the applicant’s past and present conduct affords reasonable grounds for belief that he or she, (a) is mentally competent to practise physiotherapy; (b) will practise physiotherapy with decency, integrity and honesty and in accordance with the law; and (c) can communicate effectively with, and will display an appropriate attitude towards, patients and colleagues. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. (2) The following are the standards and qualifications for a certificate of registration of any class except a courtesy certificate of registration: 1. The applicant must have Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or an authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) consistent with the class of certificate for which application is made. 2. The applicant must be able to speak and write either French or English with reasonable fluency. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1; O. Reg. 390/11, s. 2 (1). (3) It is a term, condition and limitation of a certificate of registration of any class that the certificate terminates when the holder no longer has Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or an authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) consistent with the class of certificate. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. (4) It is a term, condition and limitation of a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice that the holder must successfully complete the College Jurisprudence Program at the first opportunity provided by the College following either initial registration or reinstatement of registration and thereafter once every five-year cycle of the Program as scheduled by the Registrar. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 2 (2). (5) For the purpose of subsection (4), the College Jurisprudence Program includes an assessment of the holder’s knowledge of and ability to apply jurisprudence concepts relevant to the practice of physiotherapy in Ontario. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. 17. It is a non-exemptible registration requirement for all certificates of registration that the applicant demonstrates that he or she holds professional liability insurance in accordance with the College by-laws. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 3. 18. Despite any other provision in this Regulation, an applicant who by commission or omission makes a false or misleading representation or declaration on or in connection with an application shall be deemed not to have, and not to have had, the qualifications for a certificate of any class. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. Independent Practice 19. (1) The following are the standards and qualifications for a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice: 1. The applicant must have received a degree in physiotherapy. 2. The applicant must have successfully completed the examination. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. (2) An applicant for a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice who was, on December 31, 1993, qualified as a physiotherapist under a statute in a Canadian jurisdiction outside Ontario and is included on a permanent register in that jurisdiction is exempted from the standards and qualifications under subsection (1). O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. (3) An applicant for a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice who was, on December 30, 1993, qualified as a physiotherapist in Ontario under the Drugless Practitioners Act is exempted from the standards and qualifications under subsection (1). O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. (4) An applicant for a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice shall satisfy the Registrar that he or she has practised physiotherapy for at least 1,200 hours in the five years immediately preceding the application if the applicant, (a) is not exempted from the standards and qualifications under subsection (1) and has not successfully completed the examination within the five years immediately preceding the application; or (b) is exempted from the standards and qualifications under subsection (1). O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. 20. (1) Where section 22.18 of the Code applies to an applicant, the requirements of subsections 19 (1) and (4) are deemed to have been met by the applicant. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 4. (2) Despite subsection (1) it is a non-exemptible registration requirement that an applicant referred to in subsection (1) provide a certificate, letter or other evidence satisfactory to the Registrar or a panel of the Registration Committee establishing that the applicant is in good standing as a physiotherapist in every jurisdiction where the applicant holds an out-of-province certificate. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 4. (3) Where an applicant referred to in subsection (1) is unable to satisfy the Registrar that the applicant practised the profession to the extent that would be permitted by a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice at any time in the five years immediately before the date of that applicant’s application, the applicant must meet any further requirement to undertake, obtain or undergo material additional training, experience, examinations or assessments that may be specified by a panel of the Registration Committee. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 4. (4) An applicant referred to in subsection (1) is deemed to have met the requirements of paragraph 2 of subsection 16 (2) where the requirements for the issuance of the applicant’s out-of-province certificate included language proficiency requirements equivalent to those required by that paragraph. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 4. (5) Despite subsection (1), an applicant is not deemed to have met a requirement if that requirement is described in subsection 22.18 (3) of the Code. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 4. 21. (1) Subject to subsections (6), (8) and (9), it is a term, condition and limitation of a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice that, five years after the date of initial registration, and every year after that, the holder satisfy the Registrar that he or she, (a) has practised physiotherapy for at least 1,200 hours in the preceding five years; (b) has successfully completed the College Review Program within the previous 12 months at the holder’s expense; or (c) has successfully completed the examination within the previous 12 months. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1; O. Reg. 390/11, s. 5 (1). (2) For the purpose of clause (1) (b), the College Review Program shall consist of an assessment of the holder’s current knowledge, skill, judgment and performance and may include an individualized upgrading program based upon the results of the assessment or a reassessment upon the completion of the program. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. (3) If a holder of a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice fails to satisfy the condition in subsection (1), his or her certificate of registration is suspended until the condition is satisfied except if the holder concludes a written agreement approved by the Registrar. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. (4) If a holder of a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice ceases or fails to hold professional liability insurance in accordance with the College by-laws, his or her certificate of registration is deemed to be suspended until the Registrar is satisfied that he or she has acquired the professional liability insurance. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1; O. Reg. 390/11, s. 5 (2). (5) A person who held a certificate of registration authorizing academic practice or an inactive status certificate of registration on December 14, 2011 shall be issued a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 5 (3). (6) A certificate of registration authorizing independent practice issued under subsection (5) is subject to the same terms, conditions and limitations that applied to the class of the member’s previous certificate of registration authorizing academic practice or inactive status certificate of registration, as the case may be, until the member satisfies the Registrar that he or she is in compliance with the terms, conditions and limitations specified in subsection (1). O. Reg. 390/11, s. 5 (3). (7) For greater certainty, nothing in subsection (6) affects the expiry of any term, condition or limitation that was imposed on the member’s previous certificate of registration authorizing academic practice or inactive status certificate of registration, as the case may be, by the Registrar pursuant to, (a) an order of Council or Executive Committee or a panel of the Registration Committee, Discipline Committee or Fitness to Practice Committee; (b) a direction of the Quality Assurance Committee; or (c) the approval of a panel of the Registration Committee. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 5 (3). (8) A member referred to in subsection (5) who held a certificate of registration authorizing academic practice on December 14, 2011 must comply with the terms, conditions and limitations specified in subsection (1) within six months of being issued a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice under subsection (5). O. Reg. 390/11, s. 5 (3). (9) A member referred to in subsection (5) who held an inactive status certificate of registration on December 14, 2011 must comply with the terms, conditions and limitations specified in subsection (1) within three years of being issued a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice under subsection (5), and if he or she does not do so, his or her certificate of registration authorizing independent practice is deemed to have expired on the date that is three years immediately after the date of issuance. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 5 (3). 22. Revoked: O. Reg. 390/11, s. 6. Provisional Practice 23. (1) The following are the standards and qualifications for a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice: 1. The applicant must have received a degree in physiotherapy. 2. The applicant must have successfully completed the written component of the examination. 3. The applicant must have registered to take the practical component of the examination at the next available opportunity after the application. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. (2) The following are the terms, conditions and limitations of a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice: 1. The holder may practise physiotherapy only under the terms of a written agreement with a member holding a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice who monitors him or her in accordance with the written agreement. For the purposes of this paragraph, both the written agreement and the member must be approved by the Registrar. 2. The holder shall hold himself or herself out only as a physiotherapy resident. 3. If the member in paragraph 1 is unable to maintain the terms of the agreement due to resignation, illness or other circumstances, the provisional practice certificate of the holder is suspended until a new written agreement with the same or different member is approved by the Registrar. 4. The certificate expires on the earlier of the date that the holder receives notification that he or she has failed the practical component of the examination or 12 weeks after the date that the holder is registered to take the practical component of the examination. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. (3) If a holder of a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice ceases or fails to hold professional liability insurance in accordance with the College by-laws, his or her certificate of registration is deemed to be suspended until the Registrar is satisfied that he or she has acquired the professional liability insurance. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1; O. Reg. 390/11, s. 7. (4) A person who has failed the practical component of the examination is not entitled to apply for a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. (5) A person who previously obtained a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice is not entitled to apply for another one unless the person did not fail the practical component of the examination but was unable to complete it successfully because of illness or some other reason beyond the control of the person. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. (6) A person who previously obtained what was formerly known as a certificate of registration authorizing supervised practice is not entitled to apply for a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice unless the person did not fail the practical component of the examination but was unable to complete it successfully because of illness or some other reason beyond the control of the person. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. (7) If the Registrar receives concerns relating to the member’s knowledge, skills or judgement in the practice of physiotherapy during the period that the member held a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice, the Registrar may refer the member to the Quality Management Committee. O. Reg. 68/06, s. 1. Courtesy 24. (1) The following are the standards and qualifications for a courtesy certificate of registration: 1. The applicant must have received a degree in physiotherapy, unless the applicant, if applying for a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice, would be exempt from meeting the requirement of paragraph 1 of subsection 19 (1) by virtue of subsection 19 (2) or (3). 2. The applicant must be registered to practise as a physiotherapist by an authority responsible for the regulation of physiotherapists in a jurisdiction outside Ontario that is approved by the Registration Committee as having a scheme for the regulation of physiotherapists that is reasonably equivalent to that in Ontario. 3. The applicant must have practised physiotherapy for at least 1,200 hours in the preceding five years. 4. The applicant must certify that he or she is making the application solely for reason of, i. teaching an educational course, ii. participating in an educational program, iii. participating in research activities, or iv. participating in a specific event of limited duration. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 8. (2) The following are the terms, conditions and limitations of a courtesy certificate of registration: 1. The holder may practise physiotherapy only for the purpose that he or she certified under paragraph 4 of subsection (1) as the reason for making the application for the courtesy certificate of registration. 2. The certificate expires 30 days after the date of initial registration, on the date on which the purpose referenced in paragraph 1 is attained or when the member is no longer engaged in attaining that purpose, whichever is the earliest. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 8. (3) If a holder of a courtesy certificate of registration ceases or fails to hold professional liability insurance in accordance with the College by-laws, his or her certificate of registration is deemed to be suspended until the Registrar is satisfied that he or she has acquired the professional liability insurance. O. Reg. 390/11, s. 8. Emergency 25. (1) The following are the standards and qualifications for the issuance of an emergency class certificate of registration: 1. The Minister must have requested that the College initiate registrations under this class based on the Minister’s opinion that emergency circumstances call for it or the Council must have determined, after taking into account all of the relevant circumstances that impact the ability of applicants to meet the ordinary registration requirements, that there are emergency circumstances, and that it is in the public interest that the College issue emergency certificates. 2. The applicant must satisfy the Registrar that the applicant meets at least one of the following requirements: i. The applicant has a degree in physiotherapy. ii. The applicant is enrolled in a program in physiotherapy described in clause (a) of the definition of “degree in physiotherapy” in section 11, and has completed at least 820 clinical practice hours associated with that program. iii. The applicant was, within the five years immediately preceding the application, registered to practise physiotherapy in Ontario with a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice or is, or was, within the five years immediately preceding the application, registered or licensed to practise physiotherapy in another province or territory in Canada with a certificate or license which the Registrar is satisfied is equivalent to a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice in Ontario. iv. The applicant is, or was, within the five years immediately preceding the application, registered or licenced to practise physiotherapy in a jurisdiction outside of Canada that has been approved by the Council for the purposes of this section. 3. The applicant, other than an applicant referred to in subparagraph 2 ii, must satisfy the Registrar that the applicant has completed at least 1200 clinical practice hours in the five years immediately preceding the application. 4. The applicant must have successfully completed the College Jurisprudence Program. 5. Where an applicant has sat an examination, they must not have failed the written component of the examination on any occasion or have failed the practical component of the examination on two or more occasions. O. Reg. 296/23, s. 2. (2) The requirements set out in paragraphs 2, 4 and 5 of subsection (1) are non-exemptible. O. Reg. 296/23, s. 2. (3) Every emergency certificate of registration is subject to the following terms, conditions, and limitations: 1. The member must only hold themselves out as a “physiotherapist (emergency class)” or under the abbreviation “PT (emergency class)” or their equivalents in French. 2. The member may only practise physiotherapy under the direct supervision of a Supervisor unless the member can satisfy the Registrar that the member is able to practise safely and competently without supervision. 3. The member is not entitled to perform a controlled act authorized to a physiotherapist under subsection 4 (1) of the Act unless the member has been delegated the performance of the controlled act by a member who holds a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice or the member performs the act pursuant to an order under subsection 4 (3) of the Act. 4. The member must adhere to any other terms, conditions and limitations that Council has identified as necessary in order for holders of emergency certificates of registration to be able to assist in addressing the determined emergency circumstances. O. Reg. 296/23, s. 2. (4) An emergency class certificate of registration is automatically revoked on the earliest of the following: 1. Ninety days after issuance by the Council of its determination that the emergency circumstances referred to in paragraph 1 of subsection (1) have ended. 2. The expiry of 12 months from the date the certificate was issued, unless the Registrar extends the certificate under subsection (5). 3. The date to which the Registrar extends the certificate under subsection (5). 4. The date on which the Registrar revokes the certificate under subsection (6). 5. Fifteen days after the member receives notification that the member failed the written component of the examination. 6. Fifteen days after the member receives notification that the member failed the practical component of the examination for the second time. O. Reg. 296/23, s. 2. (5) The Registrar may extend an emergency class certificate of registration for one or more periods, each of which is not to exceed 12 months, if, in the opinion of the Registrar, it is advisable or necessary to do so, as long as the Council has not determined that the emergency circumstances have ended. O. Reg. 296/23, s. 2. (6) The Registrar may revoke an emergency class certificate of registration if, in the opinion of the Registrar, it is in the public interest to do so. O. Reg. 296/23, s. 2. (7) A member who holds an emergency class certificate of registration or a former member who held an emergency class certificate of registration within two years of applying for a certificate of registration authorizing provisional practice and who practised physiotherapy for at least 1200 hours while in the emergency class is exempt from any examination fees which would otherwise be payable to the College for the practical component of the examination. O. Reg. 296/23, s. 2. (8) In this section, “Supervisor” means a member who, (a) holds a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice, and (b) has been approved by the Registrar to supervise a member who holds an emergency class certificate of registration. O. Reg. 296/23, s. 2. 26. Revoked: O. Reg. 390/11, s. 8.