Frequently Asked Questions - Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy ...

Who Does What for the Exam Program?
Physiotherapy Competency Examination — FAQs
Many individuals and groups are involved in the exam program. Most of them are volunteers who
use their clinical, management and measurement skills to provide advice to The Alliance. Some of
the groups are listed below.
WRITTEN TEST DEVELOPMENT GROUP AND WRITTEN ITEM GENERATION TEAMS
Physiotherapists from across Canada who develop and revise questions for the Written Component.
CLINICAL TEST DEVELOPMENT GROUP AND CLINICAL ITEM GENERATION TEAMS
Physiotherapists from across Canada who develop and revise stations for the Clinical Component.
EXAM STEERING GROUP
The Chairs of the Written and Clinical Test Development Groups, who provides advice and guidance
on the operation of the exam program.
BOARD OF EXAMINERS
Physiotherapists from across Canada who sets the standard for passing the Physiotherapy
Competency Examination. The Board of Examiners includes one or more bilingual physiotherapists.
The Board reviews critical incidents and sets passing scores for the exams.
EVALUATION SERVICES COMMITTEE
A group of physiotherapists, measurement experts and credentialing experts who provide oversight
for the credentialing and exam programs. The Evaluation Services Committee is responsible for
setting and monitoring standards for the credentialing and examination programs and assuring the
effective delivery of these services.
Do you decide whether a candidate can be registered or licensed to practice physiotherapy?
The Alliance does not decide who can be licensed to practice physiotherapy because The Alliance is
not a regulator. We provide exam results to the physiotherapy regulators. The regulators make
decisions about who can and can not register to practice.
The regulator’s role is to protect the public. Regulators do this through various processes, including
registration requirements. Some regulators in Canada require successful completion of the PCE as a
condition of registration. Some regulators will allow you to work under a temporary certificate of
registration while you are waiting to complete the PCE. Each regulator has different processes and
rules that apply if you fail a component of the exam.
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