Accreditation

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This summarizes the accreditation process in Canada. It is UP TO YOU to remain up-to-date on all accreditation requirements as they may change. Please be your own accreditation advocate!!

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Physiotherapy
PHARMACY
Dentistry
VETERINARY SCIENCE

Physiotherapy

Important: The information on this page is intended to provide you with the basics of the credentialing process. It is your responsibility to contact your provincial regulatory body to ensure you are familiar with the process to return. While we review this content on an annual basis, it is subject to change at any time. Please ensure you review all information provided by the regulatory bodies for the most up-to-date information. LaunchPad is not responsible for your credentialing process.​

 

In order to practice physiotherapy in Canada, you must register with the physiotherapy regulatory body in the province you intend to practice. The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) recognizes degrees from many countries, as long as you meet the requirements including completion of a minimum number of clinical hours.

Physiotherapist with physio ball set within the arrow shape from the Launchpad logo

Steps to Practice

If you studied physiotherapy abroad, in order to return to Canada, you must first complete a course called “The Context of Physiotherapy in Canada,” offered at the University of Toronto, which has an online course that you can complete before you return home.

Once you complete the course, your next step is to apply to the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) to have them assess your qualifications based on two criteria:

  1. Education (degree at an accredited university)
  2.  Supervised clinical hours (minimum of 1,025)

 

Once the Alliance successfully assesses your credentials, you would need to complete the Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE) like any other physiotherapy graduate in Canada prior to provincial registration:

  • Have credentials assessed by the CAPR
  • Write the Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE)
  • Register with the provincial regulatory body where you intend to practice


Step #1: Credentialing requirements

  • A qualified physio degree (notarized copy)
  • A minimum of 1,025 hours of supervised clinical practice, including 100 in musculoskeletal, 100 in neurological, and 40 in cardiorespiratory
  • “Knowledge of Physiotherapy Practice within the Canadian Healthcare System” online course
  • Valid ID
  • Fluency in English (granted based on degree)
  • Cost: $1,077 assessment fee plus courier costs


Step #2: Physiotherapy competency exam

  • 4-hour 200-question written exam covering history-taking, physical examination, data interpretation, clinical problem solving, ethics, client-management skills, interviewing, communication; clinical practice areas including musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular/respiratory, and other multi-system
  • 3-hour 16-station clinical exam covering biological sciences, social sciences, applied science, scientific inquiry, clinical science, and professional practice
  • total cost of $2,815 (2020) for both written ($1,002) and clinical ($1,813) components
  • results take 6 (business) weeks for written exam and 12 weeks for clinical exam


Step #3: Applying for provincial licensure

  • Each province and territory have their own requirements (similar but varying), conditions and fees
  • Often looking for PCE completion, criminal record check, professional history, English proficiency, and professional insurance

You are encouraged to contact the regulators directly so you’re 100% clear on the accreditation process. You can contact the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators or your provincial authority with any detailed accreditation questions.

Track Your Hours

You will need to be proactive in clarifying requirements with the provincial regulatory body where you intend to practice and tracking your hours in the program to make sure you will meet them.

The CAPR recommends using their self-assessment module to check your eligibility and identify the best pathway to practice.

Dentistry

Important: The information on this page is intended to provide you with the basics of the credentialing process. It is your responsibility to contact your provincial regulatory body to ensure you are familiar with the process to return. While we review this content on an annual basis, it is subject to change at any time. Please ensure you review all information provided by the regulatory bodies for the most up-to-date information. LaunchPad is not responsible for your credentialing process.

dental tools on green clinic paper set within the arrow shape from the Launchpad logo

The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) recognizes the following countries general dental training programs: https://ndeb-bned.ca/en/accredited

This means that Canadian graduates of a dental program in those countries can return to practice in Canada via the same process outlined below as graduates of a Canadian dental school, which includes passing the National Dental Examination Board (NDEB) written and clinical exams and registering with your provincial dental regulatory authority.

Steps to Certification

Pathway to Certification
1. Graduate with a general dentistry degree whose accreditation is recognized by the CDAC.

2. Complete the NDEB’s certification process:

  • Apply through the NDEB portal
  • Submit proof of graduating with an accredited degree in general dentistry (your original transcript)
  • Register, study for, and pass the NDEB written and clinical exams (taken a maximum of 3 times each)
  • NDEB app fee = $450, written exam = $,1000, OSCE = $1,000


Once you’ve passed the exam and have provided proof of your graduation, you will be certified and a certificate will be issued.

3. Register with your provincial dental regulatory authority (below).

Provincial Requirements

While all Canadian provinces require you to have Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada certification in order to become licensed to practice, each province has additional licensing requirements. Check the website for your provincial regulatory body:

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Important:

The information on this page is intended to provide you with the basics of the credentialing process. It is your responsibility to contact your provincial regulatory body to ensure you are familiar with the process to return. While we review this content on an annual basis, it is subject to change at any time. Please ensure you review all information provided by the regulatory bodies for the most up-to-date information. LaunchPad is not responsible for your credentialing process.​
Occupational Therapist manipulating someone's elbow. cropped image to just the OT's arms and the patient's arm. Set within the arrow shape from the Launchpad logo

Graduates who have met all requirements, including completion of a minimum number of qualified fieldwork hours (1,000), are eligible to become licensed to practice in Canada after completing the process outlined below.

Steps to Practice

All occupational therapists begin their registration process with the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulator Organizations (ACOTRO) before applying to a provincial regulator.

After completing the following steps, both domestic & internationally educated occupational therapists (IEOT) can become certified to practice as an occupational therapist in Canada.

 Step #1 Complete Education

Complete an undergraduate degree and gain admission to a Master of Occupational Therapy degree or equivalent. Be sure to accumulate 1000+ hours of qualified fieldwork and graduate from your graduate occupational therapy degree in order to meet the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) requirements. If it’s determined that not enough hours were completed, you would undertake a process called the “Academic Equivalency Review.”

 

Step #2 Apply to ACOTRO’s Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) Apply to the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO) to have your credentials assessed by their “Substantial Equivalency Assessment System” (SEAS).

The assessment includes four sections:

  1. Academic Credential Review (done by a third party) – Credential Evaluation Report obtained via third party World Education Services (WES) at a cost of $200–$300
  2. Profession-specific Credential Assessment – Applicants fill out Curriculum and Fieldwork Self-Assessment form allowing ACOTRO to create their PSCA
  3. Jurisprudence Admissions Test – An open-book, multiple-choice exam which focuses on the standards of practice and ethics expected of occupational therapists. Applicants may take this test up to two times.
  4. Competency Assessment – A day-long (usually six hours) interview similar to an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)

 

Step #3 Write National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam (NOTCE)
Once the SEAS has sent your assessment outcome to the province where you want to practice, you can write the CAOT’s National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam (NOTCE).

  • Multiple-choice exam consisting of 40 case studies with 200 related questions, with a passing mark of 70+%
  • Cost of registration: $655+tax
  • Exam sites available in cities across Canada, and a test at an additional site in Canada can be requested if needed at a cost of $400+tax
  • Test results are available via your CAOT account approximately 6 weeks after writing

Provincial Requirements

While all Canadian provinces require you to have CAOT certification in order to become licensed to practice, each province has additional licensing requirements:

pharmacy

Important: The information on this page is intended to provide you with the basics of the credentialing process. It is your responsibility to contact your provincial regulatory body to ensure you are familiar with the process to return. While we review this content on an annual basis, it is subject to change at any time. Please ensure you review all information provided by the regulatory bodies for the most up-to-date information. LaunchPad is not responsible for your credentialing process.

Both Canadian and foreign trained pharmacist’s gain licensing through the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC).

Pharmacist checking stock on shelves and holding a tablet computer, set within the arrow shape from the Launchpad logo

All graduates must also apply for certification through the provincial regulatory body in the province in which they wish to work.

Steps to Practice

The following stages need to be completed to become certified to practice as a pharmacist in Canada as an international pharmacy graduate (IPG) or Canadian pharmacy graduate (CPG):

Step #1 Enrol with the Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada
Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada will assess your qualifications and competence for entry-to-practice through a series of evaluations. They will also offer info and guidance in preparation for the PEBC’s licensing process.

Step #2 Submit Application
After graduation, submit your application and proof of pharmacy degree completion to the PEBC for document evaluation. If your educational credentials and licensure statements are acceptable, you will be eligible to write the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination.

Step #3 Pass the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination
This exam evaluates whether your pharmacy education is comparable to that of Canadian pharmacy graduates.

Step #4 Pass both Part 1 (MCQ) and Part 2 (OSCE) of the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination to receive PEBC’s Certificate of Qualification

  • Pharmacist Qualifying Examination – Part I (MCQ)
    The Qualifying Exam Part I (MCQ) is a multiple-choice primary exam toward Canadian pharmacy licensure. The MCQ evaluates the knowledge of Canadian pharmacy graduates and international pharmacy graduates seeking licensure. It is written in two sittings, on two consecutive half-days.
  • Pharmacist Qualifying Examination – Part II (OSCE) 
    Part II of the Qualifying Examination is an objective structured clinical examination(OSCE), and is taken on a different day from Part I. The OSCE consists of a series of “stations” simulating common and/or critical practical situations.


Step #5 Apply to a Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA)
You must formally apply to the Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA) in the province or territory in which you want to work. While PRAs have many similar requirements, each jurisdiction may have variations or unique conditions for licensure.

Step #6 Structured Practical Training (SPT)
Each Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA) requires that candidates complete a training program in a licensed pharmacy. This ensures that IPGs will have experience in a pharmacy patient care setting that meets the national standards. Each province has a different requirement for the number of hours of structured practical training you will need to complete.

Step #7 License Registration
This is the last step in the licensure or registration process! The PRA will confirm that you have successfully completed all of the requirements to be licensed. You will be charged a fee for your licence and you will need to renew your licence and pay a fee each year. (See next section.)

Provincial Requirements

While all Canadian provinces require you to have PEBC certification in order to become licensed to practice, “each province has additional licensing requirements. These may include practical experience, English or French language skills, and jurisprudence examinations.” (PEBC.ca) Contact the regulatory authority of the province you wish to practice to learn more.

If required to complete further practical experience, apprenticeship/internship bridging programs for international graduates are available through the following universities:


Visit the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada website for further accreditation and certification information.

VETERINARY SCIENCE

Important: The information on this page is intended to provide you with the basics of the credentialing process. It is your responsibility to contact your provincial regulatory body to ensure you are familiar with the process to return. While we review this content on an annual basis, it is subject to change at any time. Please ensure you review all information provided by the regulatory bodies for the most up-to-date information. LaunchPad is not responsible for your credentialing process.

If your university program is recognized by the North American Veterinary Licesning exam (NAVLE – North American Veterinary Licensing Examination), you are eligible to apply for a license the same as AVMA accredited North American graduate would be.

Applicants are reminded to consult the licensing body of the province where they wish to obtain a license for specific requirements​

Veterinarian with two small dogs set within the arrow shape from the Launchpad logo

Steps to Practice

  1. Register with the NEB (for Canada only)
    Once you have graduated from your AVMA-accredited veterinary program, you must register with the Canadian National Examining Board (NEB). The NEB reviews the credentials of graduates of colleges of veterinary medicine who wish to obtain a licence to practice veterinary medicine in Canada.

  2. Write the NAVLE
    Once the NEB has approved your credentials, the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) can be taken during two testing windows each year: mid-April and late November/early December. You are strongly encouraged to wait until all clinical rotations have been completed before sitting the NAVLE. This usually means waiting until November – December as these are invaluable for providing the general clinical awareness and experience needed to pass the NAVLE.

    Once you successfully complete the NAVLE, you will be granted a Certificate of Qualification (CQ). You must complete this exam within 2 attempts, otherwise an additional Clinical Proficiency Exam (CPE) is required.

  3. Apply for Registration with Provincial College
    A CQ or completion of the examination process is a prerequisite to apply for a general veterinary license in all the provinces of Canada. You will then need to apply to register with the provincial college. You can use the ICVA Licensing Boards web page to find the licensing board for each province. The licensing authorities in any province may require further examinations in addition to or in lieu of those required to obtain a CQ.

  4. Complete additional steps for provincial membership as needed, such as the College of Veterinarians of Ontario’s (CVO) Jurisprudence Exam.

Provincial Requirements

While all Canadian provinces require you to have passed the NAVLE in order to become licensed to practice, some provinces have additional licensing requirements, such as the College of Veterinarians of Ontario’s (CVO) Jurisprudence Exam. Check the website for the provincial regulatory body where you intend to practice:

About the navle

The examination consists of 360 multiple-choice questions, answered on computer at a private testing center. Sixty of the items are unscored pretest items, but the identity of these items is not apparent, and they are dispersed throughout the test. Approximately 15% – 20% of the items on the NAVLE include graphic or pictorial information relevant to the item (photograph, radiograph, drawing, chart, etc.).

  • All NAVLE items are relevant to entry-level private clinical practice.
  • There is a total of 6.5 hours test time (6 blocks of 65 min each)
  • A total of 45 minutes of break time can be taken during the day (including lunch)
  • The pass mark is 70%


Because of this large number of questions and the time constraints, being successful requires a sensible exam strategy and familiarity with the format (lots of practice tests!)

In most cases, provincial regulation requires applicants to pass the NAVLE within two attempts.

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