OIEPB Program

The Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto is the new host site for the Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapists Bridging (OIEPB) Program. Website resources will be enhanced over the coming months with information on expanded program resources and registering and working in Canada.

The Bridging Program is designed to provide educational opportunities for physical therapists educated outside of Canada, who already possess specified qualifications, to develop the additional knowledge, skills and clinical reasoning required to meet Canadian entry-to-practice standards. The Bridging Program provides cultural and workplace orientation to facilitate success in the workplace.

Funding for this program is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration with additional support from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

These quick links will enable you to better navigate the information on this page:

Target Audience

If you are an internationally educated physical therapist (IEPT) and your physical therapy education has been assessed by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (The Alliance) you are eligible to apply if:

The Educational Credential and Qualifications Assessment verifies that you are eligible for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) and the Bridging Program has curriculum to resolve the gap(s); or
The Credential Assessment verifies that your education and qualifications are substantially equivalent to Canadian-educated physical therapists. You are eligible to apply for Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) but you want to enhance your preparation by attending the Bridging Program; or
You were not successful in one or more PCE attempts and you want to attend the Bridging Program.

Alliance Verification of Academic Standards

In order to participate in the Bridging Program, The Alliance must verify that you meet the threshold to apply for Bridging.

Introduction

Physical therapists (PTs) educated outside Canada often require assistance to register and practice as a physical therapist in Ontario. Assistance is most often sought in areas including:

Adapting to differences in the role and scope of practice
Meeting profession specific language proficiency requirements
Learning how to manage social and cultural differences in the workplace and generally becoming knowledgeable about “the way we do things”
Meeting legal requirements for registration

The bridging program offers academic curriculum and clinical education opportunities to:

Increase understanding of how physical therapy is practiced in Ontario
Enhance skills in managing cultural differences
Enhance PT practice knowledge and skills
Gain valuable supervised clinical experience in Ontario workplaces
Build exam taking skills for multiple choice questions (MCQ) and Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) exams
Have a mentor who is a registered physical therapist in Ontario
Address some or all of the gaps identified in your PLAR Agreement with The Alliance

Credentialing

Candidates are encouraged to consider the Bridging Program as:

You will have a professional network rather than working in isolation
Your study plan and study habits will be more structured
Your professional development will be enhanced with curriculum developed specifically for IEPTs in comparison to other university based courses which are developed for a broad audience
You may gain insights into your knowledge and skills from faculty and mentors who would not be available to you on your own
You will become familiar with the exam formats (i.e., MCQ and OSCE)
You may avoid the frustration of repeated exam failures

Failed Exam candidates are encouraged to consider the Bridging Program after the first failed PCE exam attempt as:

Your physical therapy knowledge is more current as less time has passed since you finished your education or work experience.
Your study plan and study habits will be more structured
You will join a peer support group who is preparing for the PCE
You may gain insights into your knowledge and skills from faculty and mentors who would not be available to you on your own
You will become familiar with the exam formats (i.e., MCQ and OSCE)
You may avoid the frustration and loss of confidence of repeated exam failures

Please note:

The Bridging Program does not teach basic physical therapy knowledge or skills. Applicants are expected to have current and functional knowledge of anatomy, physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, diseases and disorders, measurement principles, basic assessment skills, basic record keeping skills and knowledge of electrotherapy modalities.
The Bridging Program builds on the physical therapy knowledge and skills developed in the entry-to-practice education outside Canada and work experience as a physical therapist.
The bridging program emphasis is on guiding learners to apply their knowledge and skills in patient scenarios initially practiced in the classroom and then progressed to a clinical placement in a “host” workplace.
Not all credentialing gaps identified by The Alliance are addressed in the Bridging Program. Some IEPTs may be required to complete additional courses. OIEPB does not provide courses in the following areas: Psychology, Economics, Psychiatry and Psychological Disorders, Sociology, and Statistics.
The OIEPB program does not guarantee registration with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario or post-registration employment. It does offer opportunities, structure and support to enhance knowledge; professional and communication skills and networking opportunities to develop skills that can greatly assist you in becoming registered.

Applying for the Program

Applications Accepted Continuously

The bridging program accepts applications continuously through the year. The Comprehensive Bridging Program is offered as a block of courses taken sequentially with a group of learners admitted at the same time. The Comprehensive Bridging Program starts in the spring each year. At other times program staff will counsel applicants on relevant activities.

You may apply if you:

have gaps identified in The Alliance PLAR Agreement
are eligible for the PCE exam but want to strengthen your knowledge and skills
are a failed PCE exam candidate.

Application Deadline

Applications for the May 2012 OIEPB program are being accepted now.

Qualified applicants are invited to the Admission Assessment on a first come first served basis. Applications received after this date will be considered only if there are available spaces.

Information Sessions

Healthforce Ontario is holding an Orientation to Licensing Session for Internationally Educated Physiotherapists with presenters from the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators and the OIEPB Program.

The workshop takes place on Friday March 9, 2012 from 10am to 1pm at Healthforce Ontario, 169 Queen St East, 2nd Floor, Toronto.

To register please review the Orientation details.

Requirements

Alliance Verification

The Alliance must provide verification of educational equivalency or qualification to apply for the PCE.

English Language Proficiency

English proficiency is a key requirement for professional communications within physical therapy practice. Therefore, language proficiency test scores are an essential part of the application process. To succeed in the academic program, applicants are expected to be strong in all areas of English language communication (reading, writing, speaking and listening). While the program does offer skill development in professional communication, candidates who require additional language support are advised to obtain these skills prior to applying to the OIEPB program (for example language skill courses available through community programs).

Applicants whose primary language is not English or who graduated from a university where the language of instruction, examination and clinical placement was not English must show successful completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language iBT (TOEFL iBT), (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) with minimum scores of:

Internet-based test: 92/120 overall and 20/30 on the writing and speaking sections

A copy of TOEFL iBT results must be included in your application package or, if your TOEFL iBT test is pending, you must include confirmation that the test is scheduled.

Alternatively, if The Alliance verifies that English was the primary language of instruction, examination and clinical placement in the entry- to-physical therapy practice education program, the TOEFL iBT is not required.

Immigration Status

Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada , which can be verified by Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant status or permanent residency card or open employment authorization which does not limit studies and work in health care.

Ontario Resident

Applicants must be living in Ontario; verified by a rental agreement or an Ontario driver’s licence.

Applicants must be available to meet academic expectations for:

Hours in classroom and home-based studies
Clinical placements (minimum 8 weeks full time)
Basic computer literacy with daily computer and email access

Program Fees and Expenses

Learners will be responsible for paying: Application fee ($100 non-refundable); Assessment fee ($150 non-refundable) TOEFL language testing fee and Tuition fees paid in instalments ($6,000).

Applicants identified as needing language development will be required to take an additional language course. This English language course will require additional tuition fees.

In addition to OIEPB tuition fees, plan for approximately $500 for textbooks or resources depending on the books you already have. The bridging program also has a lending library.

Expenses incurred during clinical internships will vary depending on the location of the placement (e.g., travel to organization, relocation costs, fees for immunizations, police record check).

Guidance about seeking financial assistance is available.

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities has introduced an Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program that provides bursaries of up to $5,000 to internationally trained individuals participating in eligible Ontario Bridging Training programs offered by Ontario colleges and universities. These bursaries cover participants’ direct education costs not covered by the Ontario Student Assistance Program. Such costs can include tuition, books and equipment. The Ontario Bridging Assistance Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP) is a pilot project that will be available until March 31, 2012

For more information, including a list of who is eligible and eligible Ontario Bridge Training programs, visit the OBPAP webpage. Please note all applicants who are offered Admission and meet the financial and immigration status criteria should apply for the OBPAP bursary.

Admission Process

A three-stage screening process will determine your admission to the program.

Stage 1: Review of Application Documents

Your application with supporting documentation will be reviewed for completion and match with the application requirements. Using the consent you provide on the Application Form OIEBP staff will contact The Alliance to verify that you meet the threshold for application and to verify any other information based on your individual circumstances.

If your file is incomplete you will not be considered for the next stage of the admission process. There are no exemptions from the language proficiency requirements.

All communication from the OIEPB program with applicants is by email. Please ensure you check your email account daily.

Stage 2: Admission Assessment

The Admission Assessment is a competency-based assessment designed to assess your current physical therapy knowledge, clinical reasoning, physical therapy practice skills and practice readiness.

Up to 60 qualified applicants will be invited to attend the Admission Assessment Day. Assessments are tentatively scheduled on Feb 10 and Feb 29 (dates to be confirmed). You must be in Toronto to attend one of the Admission Assessment Days. There is no off-site assessment option.

Program staff will use the Admission Assessment results to determine if your learning needs can be addressed through the Comprehensive Bridging Program or a Modular Program.

Stage 3: Offer of Admission Emailed

Offers of admission to the OIEPB Program will be emailed to selected candidates after the Admission Assessment Days and at least a month before classes begin in May 2012.

Based on the individual’s results in the Admission Assessment up to 20 applicants may be offered admission to the Comprehensive Bridging Program beginning in May 2012.

Ten (10) qualified applicants may be offered admission to a new Modular Bridging Program.

Please note: Admission to the OIEPB program is competitive.

Application Form

The application form is available online. You must first download and save the Application Form. You can also contact us at iept@utoronto.ca to request an application form.

The application form is available to download here: OIEPB Application Form

Please complete the form, print and mail it along with the required documentation as indicated on the application form to the following address:

OIEPB Admissions
The Department of Physical Therapy
University of Toronto
160-500 University Ave
Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7

Please note: There are limited spaces available for entrance into the program. It is not guaranteed that all candidates who meet admission requirements will be offered admission.

Contact Information

If you have additional questions, please contact the Program Assistant by email at iept@utoronto.ca or call 416-946-8560.