The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario is the body that regulates physiotherapists in Ontario. The College’s authority comes from the Physiotherapy Act, 1991 and the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.
The College is not a school or educational facility. It exists to protect the patients and the public. This means the College protects patients’ rights to safe, competent and ethical care by supporting physiotherapists to maintain the standards of practice of the profession and by holding them accountable for their conduct and practice.
As one of 26 self-regulated health professions in Ontario, physiotherapists are involved in determining the rules that govern the profession and are accountable for their own behaviour, with the College providing assistance and oversight.
The College is governed by a Council, similar to a board of directors. Council is made up of physiotherapists elected by their peers, members of the public appointed by the Ontario government and academic representatives from Ontario universities. Council sets the College’s strategic direction and develops policies and standards to ensure the College is meeting its mandate to protect the public.
The College does this by:
- setting requirements for entry into the profession so that only qualified individuals can practice.
- maintaining an online list of individuals qualified to practice physiotherapy, called a Public Register.
- developing rules and standards for physiotherapists' practice and conduct, including a code of ethics.
- investigating concerns and complaints from anyone about physiotherapists’ practice and disciplining when necessary.
- requiring physiotherapists to participate in a quality assurance program to ensure they maintain current knowledge and skills.