Provisional Practice Supervision—Overview

FAQs: Supervision

• Who can be a Practice Supervisor?

  Practice Supervisors must hold an Independent Practice Certificate of Registration in Ontario and must have held it for the last three years.

  They cannot be related or closely associated with the Physiotherapy Resident (for example, a spouse, family member, or business partner).

  Physiotherapy Residents are allowed to have more than one Practice Supervisor.

  Supervisors may not supervise more than three Physiotherapy Residents at one time.

  When the College considers a proposed Practice Supervisor, it takes that person’s history with the College into account. For example, the College will note whether the proposed Practice Supervisor:

  • is the subject of an investigation
  • is involved in remedial activities directed by the College
  • has a history of practice concerns

• What does the College expect from a Practice Supervisor?

  The responsibilities of the Practice Supervisor include:

  • Agreeing to the terms of the supervision by completing the Practice Supervision Agreement (in Online Member Portal) and submitting it to the College.
  • Supervising the Physiotherapy Resident’s practice.
  • Communicating with the College as needed. Practice Supervisors no longer have to submit regular reports to the College.

  All registrants must comply with the legislation, regulation, By-laws and Standards.

  Practice Supervisors may only supervise care that they themselves have the knowledge, skills, and judgement to give. This applies to all areas of practice including rostered activities.
  
  Review the Supervision Requirements Summary Table for more information. 

• What is an appropriate level of supervision?

  The level of appropriate supervision will depend on the practice circumstances. The Practice Supervisor has a duty to ensure that the Physiotherapy Resident has the knowledge, skills, and judgement to deliver care with the same quality as the Practice Supervisor would.
  
  The Practice Supervisor and Physiotherapy Resident do not have to work at the same employment site as long as they can show there is adequate supervision.
  
  Review the Supervision Requirements Summary Table for more information. 

• What records should a Practice Supervisor keep?

  Although the College no longer requires routine reports (the Provisional Practice Monitoring Tool or the Clinical Performance Instrument) from Practice Supervisors, they may still need to give evidence if there are questions or concerns about the supervision.
  
  It is important to keep records. For example, if you have check-in meetings, keep a record of the dates and what you discussed. If you have set learning goals, keep track of how things are progressing. If you conduct chart reviews, record the results.

• When do Practice Supervisors have to report to the College?

  Practice Supervisors must report to the College if any of these situations occur:

  • They learn that a patient has been sexually abused by the Physiotherapy Resident.
  • They believe that the Physiotherapy Resident is incompetent, incapacitated, or unable to deliver safe patient care.
  • The Physiotherapy Resident is terminated for reasons of professional misconduct, incompetence (lack of knowledge, skills, or judgement) or incapacity (health challenges that pose a risk to patient care).
  • The Physiotherapy Resident is facing termination of employment but resigns before being terminated.
  • The Physiotherapy Resident is involved in a workplace progressive discipline or remediation process.

  Get additional information on your Mandatory Reporting Obligations.
  
  
  

• I am a new graduate and I want to register as a Physiotherapy Resident. How do I apply to the College?

  First you must successfully complete the written portion of the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE). This exam is administered by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators. Then you can apply to the College for your Provisional Practice certificate of registration.
  
  Note that you will be required to register for the next available administration of the Ontario Clinical Exam at the same time that you apply for Provisional Practice. You must also pay the full Ontario Clinical Exam fee of $1,985 at the time of registration. 
  
  Ontario's registration regulation requires that applicants are registered for the next clinical exam in order to receive a Provisional Practice certificate.
  
  Visit CAPR  Steps to Apply: Learn More 

• When does my Provisional Practice Certificate expire?

  A Provisional Practice Certificate is valid for 6 months and can be extended. 
  
  You can work as long as your Certificate of Registration is valid. If you forget the date that your Certificate will expire, log in to the College PT Portal or check the Public Register. 

• Do I need to have an offer of employment before I apply for my Provisional Practice Certificate?

  No, you can apply for a Provisional Practice Certificate even if you do not have a job set up.

• Can I submit an application for a Provisional Practice Certificate if I have no Practice Supervisor?

  Yes. You can apply for a Provisional Practice Certificate if you do not have a Practice Supervisor identified.
  
  You will not be able to deliver patient care and your Certificate of Registration will have a restriction on it which will identify that you cannot deliver patient care.

• How much does it cost to apply for a Provisional Practice Certificate?

  There is an application fee of $114, which is taken at the time you apply. There is an additional fee of $85, which is taken once your application has been processed.

• Does my Practice Supervisor have to have three years of experience as a physiotherapist in Ontario?

  Yes. As of April 2017, your Practice Supervisor must currently hold an Independent Practice Certificate and have held the Independent Practice Certificate for the last three years in Ontario.  
  
  Review the Supervision Requirements Summary Table for more information. 

• How long will it take to approve my application?

  Our processing time for all applications is 15 days. This includes a review of the application to ensure you meet all the requirements. This part of the review could take longer if your application is incomplete.
  
  Also, if there are concerns about your application, you may be referred to the Registration Committee for another review. This process can take up to 60 days. In fairness to all applicants, there is no fast track or expedited application process.

  Note: An incomplete application will delay the processing times.

• What should I do if I need to change my Practice Supervisor?

  Email the College at registration@collegept.org to provide the name and certificate of registration number of your proposed Practice Supervisor. The Registration team will review the proposed Practice Supervisor to ensure that they meet the requirements. If the Practice Supervisor is approved, the Supervisor will receive an e-mail instructing them to log into the Online Member Portal to sign a Supervision Agreement. 

  If your proposed Practice Supervisor is not approved, the College will send you an email asking you to find a new proposed Practice Supervisor.

  Remember: You are not permitted to practice until your Practice Supervisor is approved.

• Can a Physiotherapy Resident roster for controlled acts?

  Yes, a Physiotherapy Resident can roster for any authorized activity or controlled act that the person was educated to perform, as long as:

  • The education included a theoretical component (learning, for example, about risks, contraindications)
  • The education included a practical component (such as practice on other course participants)
  • The education included an evaluation component of your knowledge (theory)
    and skills (practice). 
  • The Practice Supervisor is rostered to perform the same activities.

  Review the Supervision Requirements Summary Table for more information. 

• I am a PT Resident and my Practice Supervisor is going on vacation for six weeks. Can I continue working while my supervisor is away?

  If your Practice Supervisor is unavailable for more than two weeks you will need to stop practicing or arrange to have a different supervisor while they are absent. This information is available in the Provisional Practice Application Package.