What is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy (physiotherapy) is a dynamic and challenging health profession dedicated to improving and maintaining physical mobility, independence, health and well-being. Physical therapists are primary health-care professionals who provide valuable health care for people of all ages within a broad range of practice settings. They assess levels of mobility, strength, endurance and other physical abilities to determine the impact of illness or injury on physical function, whether at work, rest or play. They diagnose movement disorders and develop treatment plans to restore movement and reduce pain or limitations to mobility.

Professional Associations

Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA)
CPA is the national professional association; their purpose is to advance the profession of physiotherapy in order to improve the health of Canadians. Membership in the CPA is optional. New graduate physical therapists are eligible for reduced membership rates.

CPA Code of Ethics

The Competency Profile for Physiotherapists in Canada was developed to describe the essential competencies that physiotherapists must demonstrate upon entry to the profession (for initial registration/licensure) and maintain throughout the course of their careers. These essential competencies must be exercised wherever a physiotherapist practices and in the course of whatever the physiotherapist is practicing.

Saskatchewan Physiotherapy Association (SPA)
The Saskatchewan Physiotherapy Association is the Saskatchewan branch of the CPA; The mandate of the SPA is to advance the delivery of physiotherapy services by promoting excellence in education, research and clinical practice.

Regulatory Boards

Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR)
CAPR is a credentialling and assessment agency that provides evaluation services on behalf of its Members – the Canadian provincial and territorial physiotherapy regulators (called Colleges). Their key responsibilities include:

  • facilitate the sharing of information on regulatory matters among member organizations
  • help member organizations fulfill their mandate of protecting the public interest
  • administer the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE), a national entry-to-practice standard

Saskatchewan College of Physical Therapists (SCPT)
The SCPT is a self-regulating professional body whose purpose is to serve the public by ensuring safe, competent care from qualified physical therapists. Registration and licensure with the SCPT is mandatory to work as a physical therapist in Saskatchewan.

Physiotherapy Competency Examination
On graduation you will be required to successfully complete a Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) in order to establish eligibility to practice physical therapy in Saskatchewan and many jurisdictions in Canada. For the most update information on what is involved with the PCE, please refer to the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators website.