If after reading the information below, you have questions about the Practice Based Assessment please email edr@scpt.org 

Background
Due to a variety of factors, primarily COVID-19 public health measures, the Physiotherapy Competency Exam Clinical Component (PCE CC) has not been available since 2019.  In response to this situation the Saskatchewan College of Physical Therapists (SCPT) amended its Regulatory Bylaws in 2021 to allow for an alternative assessment to the PCE CC when the PCE CC was unavailable for more than one year.

The SCPT considered partnering with a variety of entities to offer an alternative clinical examination process but the associated timeline to implement was deemed too lengthy and the risk associated with COVID too great.  Therefore, a practice-based assessment was determined to be the most appropriate at this time.

SCPT Council approved a practice-based assessment program in late October 2021, to address the licensure needs of candidates who have been unable to access the PCE CC.  Following the initial rounds of the assessment, Council approved adjustments to the PBA in May 2022.  These adjustments are reflected in the information below.

Assessment Components

The SCPT Practice Based Assessment will consist of the following components, each weighted accordingly:
 

• Yellow Flag: a response, or part of a response, that raises mild to moderate concern about the individual’s ability to practice independently
• Red Flag: a response, or part of a response, that raises significant concerns regarding the applicant’s ability to practice safely and competently as an independent practitioner

Each component will be pass/fail, with the full percentage being given for a pass and 0 for a fail for each component.

Candidates must pass at least 4 of 5 components and have an overall total score of 70% to pass the assessment.

Eligibility Criteria and Application Process

Applicants to the SCPT Practice Based Assessment must have:

1. a Restricted Licensed with the SCPT,
2. a minimum of 1,200 hours of practice under supervision while holding a Restricted License in Saskatchewan,
3. not have attempted the CAPR PCE-Clinical and/or alternatives more than two (2) times (individuals will have a maximum three (3) attempts of the CAPR PCE-Clinical and/or alternatives), and
4. not have any prior or outstanding complaint or discipline history.

Restricted Licensees will receive notification when application windows for the next round(s) of the SCPT Practice Based Assessment will be open. They can then utilizing an application form in their SCPT profile (details to access this form will be communicated when the application window opens) to apply for the round.  As part of the application form, the individual will be required to provide verification of hours worked as well as information regarding all positions that have been held as a Restricted Licensee, dates spent with each position and contact information for individuals listed as supervisors on their supervisory agreement forms.

Please only apply to the program if you meet the eligibility requirements (i.e. hold a restricted license and have completed at least 1,200 practice hours at the time of application).  Additional rounds and application windows will be made available to meet demand for the program and as additional individuals meet the admission criteria.

The SCPT EDR will communicate to all applicants as to their acceptance. 

If accepted, a member of the Evaluation Committee will contact applicants with further details regarding submission of assessment tools and paperwork as well as to arrange the interview component.

Schedule

Fall of each year
- 1-2 rounds of the PBA, accommodating 15 candidates each

Spring of each year
- 1 round of the PBA, accommodating 15 candidates

Note: the exact number of rounds and dates will depend on the volume of candidates eligible at the time.  Efforts will be made to accommodate all eligible candidates.

Cost

A non-refundable application fee of $600 will be charged at the time of application.

Evaluation Committee

The SCPT Practice Based Assessment will be administered by the Evaluation Committee comprised of Physical Therapists with a minimum of 10 years of practice experience in Canada and who hold a full practicing license in Saskatchewan. 

The committee will include representation from:

• public and private practice settings
• rural and urban practice settings
• the three primary areas of practice in physical therapy (MSK, Neuro, Cardio-Resp)
• at least one specialty area of practice
• physical therapists who have been internationally educated

The Evaluation Committee will coordinate and perform all aspects of the assessment and make its recommendations to the SCPT Registration Committee who will then provide results to the SCPT Executive Director and Registrar.

General Process

• The full Evaluation Committee will be organized into 2-3 Assessor Groups each consisting of four evaluators.
• Accepted Restricted Licensees will be assigned to an Assessor Group (subject to any conflicts of interest) in clusters of 5-10 licensees.
• Each assessor in the Assessor Group will be responsible for conducting one component of the assessment (i.e., ACP, Chart Audit*, RL Interview, Supervisor Interview, CCP*).  *One assessor will be responsible for both the Chart Audit and CCP components.
• Once all assessment components have been completed for each Restricted Licensee assigned to the Assessor Group, the Assessor Group will meet to discuss each component and their recommendation for each licensee.
• The Assessor Groups will then come together as the full Evaluation Committee to review and discuss each licensee’s assessment to ensure consistency between Assessor Groups.
• The Evaluation Committee will provide the evaluations and their recommendation for licensure to the SCPT Registration Committee.
• The Registration Committee will review and provide results to the Executive Director and Registrar who will ensure the licensee meets all requirements for full licensure in Saskatchewan.

FAQs

1. Who developed the SCPT Practice Based Assessment?

The SCPT Registration Committee developed the Practice Based Assessment at the request of the SCPT Council.  The SCPT Council approved a practice-based assessment program in late October 2021, to address the licensure needs of candidates who have been unable to access the PCE CC.  Revisions to the PBA were approved in May 2022.

2. How much does the assessment cost?

A non-refundable application fee of $600 will be charged at the time of application.

3. Why was 1,200 hours chosen and what if I don’t have 1,200 practice hours yet?

Practice hours is a necessary part of this practice based assessment.  1,200 practice hours was chosen, in part, because it matched the hours required every 5 years to meet SCPT requirements to meet currency of practice/competence for practicing members.  Additionally, this quantity is also similar to other requirements for similar assessments that are being considered by other provinces.

If you do not yet have 1,200 practice hours, additional application windows will be made available in the months to meet demand for the program and as additional individuals meet the admission criteria.

4. Do all 1,200 hours need to be obtained at one place of employment/position or with one supervisor?

No, you can obtain the required 1,200 practice hours from a number of physical therapy positions/employment.  When starting the PBA the SCPT will work with you to identify the most appropriate supervisor for the PBA.  The general guideline is that the most current supervisor will be chosen, provided that they have been your supervisor for at least 6 weeks.  If they haven't, we will consider previous supervisors.  Specific exceptions to this guideline will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis at the time of starting the PBA.

5. Who decides if I pass or fail?

The SCPT Practice Based Assessment will be administered by the Evaluation Committee comprised of physical therapists with a minimum of ten years of practice experience in Canada and who hold a full practicing license in Saskatchewan.  The committee will include representation from both public and private practice settings, rural and urban practice settings, representation from the three primary areas of practice in physical therapy (MSK, Neuro, Cardio-Resp), at least one specialty area of practice, and at least one internationally educated physical therapist.

The Evaluation Committee will coordinate and perform all aspects of the assessment and make its recommendations to the SCPT Registration Committee who will then provide results to the SCPT Executive Director and Registrar.

6. How are the components assessed?

Each component is assessed on items specific to the component:

• individual items on the ACP
• knowledge and communication skills demonstrated for each question and overall throughout the interview
• identify any practice flags or areas of concern that should be noted prior to moving the applicant forward to full licensure
• individual items on the chart audit template
• CCP requirements specific to each domain

 As well as any identified flags will be taken into account:

• Yellow Flag: a response, or part of a response, that raises mild to moderate concern about the individual’s ability to practice independently
• Red Flag: a response, or part of a response, that raises significant concerns regarding the applicant’s ability to practice safely and competently as an independent practitioner

7. How will the interviews be conducted?

Interviews with applicants and supervising PTs will be done by Zoom or another online platform.

8. What if I fail the Practice Based Assessment?

Should an applicant be unsuccessful in meeting the requirements of the Practice Based Assessment for licensure on their first attempt, and the CAPR PCE Clinical Component continues to be unavailable, they may either:

1. Complete an additional 600 practice hours under supervision, with supervisory reports being submitted to the SCPT once a month during that period.  They would then be eligible to re-apply for licensure through the Practice Based Assessment Program, completing the same steps as are required for all applicants; or
2. Request an extension to their Restricted License until such time that the CAPR PCE Clinical Component becomes available once again, and then complete that as their clinical requirement for licensure.

9. Will other provinces accept the SK Practice Based Assessment or the resulting SK Full License?

A general consensus of other Canadian licensing jurisdictions indicates that individuals who receive a full practicing license utilizing the SCPT Practice Based Assessment would be considered for license in other jurisdictions.  However, acceptance of a Saskatchewan license is up to the receiving province/territory; as such you should consult the province in which you may be seeking licensure.

Questions about the Practice Based Assessment can be sent to edr@scpt.org