Emergency Registration

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has developed an emergency response plan to manage emergency situations in which the health of the Ontario public may be impacted. There are two types of emergencies that have the potential to impact human health – direct events that impact health, for example an influenza pandemic; and indirect events where an increased need for health care services may arise, for example a flood, tornado or earthquake. Either type of emergency may impact the ability of current physiotherapists to work and increase the total number of health professionals needed. This increased stress on the health care system may create the need for additional physiotherapists to quickly be able to assist in the emergency situation. The College has developed an emergency registration policy to quickly register qualified physiotherapists who are not currently registered to practice in Ontario should the need arise.

An Independent Practice certificate with terms, conditions and limitations will be issued to individuals who apply to assist during an emergency which has been declared by the Ontario Government. The following individuals will be considered:  

• A current registrant of the College who does not hold a certificate of registration that allows them to provide patient care in Ontario, for example Inactive status or an Academic Practice certificate, who has a minimum of 1200 practice hours in the previous five years
• An individual who was registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario in the previous five years who holds a minimum of 1200 practice hours in the previous five years
• Physiotherapists who hold active certificates of registration from other Canadian jurisdictions

Certificates will only be issued to physiotherapists who:

• Are in good standing in their current and previous jurisdictions of registration and;
• Meet the professional liability insurance requirements.

The certificates will expire on the earlier of the end of the emergency or the end of the thirty day issuance period. If after the thirty days, the Ontario government indicates that the emergency declaration is still in place, the certificates will be renewable for additional thirty day periods. An individual may continue to renew the certificate as long as the emergency continues.

If an individual wishes to continue registration after the emergency is over, the individual will have to meet all requirements of registration as laid out in the registration regulation, including completion of the Physiotherapy Competency Examination if applicable.

There will not be a fee for the issuance of a certificate of registration to practise physiotherapy during an emergency.

For further information, please contact ahumber@collegept.org.