FAQs

A.    To access the SPC website your membership to CPA and SPC must be current. Go to one of the login sections of the website. To login use your email that was used for your CPA membership and hit forgot password. A password will be emailed to you. You can change to your own preferred password from your profile.

A.

Simply follow this link to post your job: http://www.sportphysio.ca/sportphysiou/my-career-path/ Once you are done the posting will be approved by SPC and it will show up here: http://www.sportphysio.ca/careers/ 

A. Non- SPC courses can be advertised for a fee. The fee is $100/per ad. You can contact SPC directly support@sportphysio.ca to arrange the posting. If you have multiple courses throughout a year that you would like posted please contact us directly as we do have a yearly posting package. Note that when all possible we try and include the course postings in our newsletter- this is pending space and timing. Also note that each ad will contain a disclaimer that the course ad is an advertisement and not an endorsement from SPC. SPC also reserves the right to decline a course ad.

A.Simply check our front page for up coming events or browse the event page:
Here is a calendar view of upcoming courses http://www.sportphysio.ca/calendar-of-upcoming-events/
Here is a list view of upcoming courses http://www.sportphysio.ca/events/ 

A.If we have availability we sometimes fit clinic based courses into our schedules with the priority going to member clinics. Contact program@sportphysio.ca for further information.Note in order to run a course we need a minimum of 6-8 people. Contact us to discuss the opportunity.

A.    Student membership allows immediate networking with local physiotherapists involved in sport physiotherapy.  There are often great learning opportunities for shadowing at events to gain exposure and confidence in on-site coverage.  Having access to the extended, member’s only portion of our website gives you access to increased resources such as our technical newsletter Momentum, reduced rates on items such as courses and conferences, in addition to the other valuable, relevant information regarding sport injury rehabilitation.  Being a student SPC member and even getting involved with the provincial division helps ensure a student is well-positioned to be involved in sport physiotherapy early in his/her career.

You will still have access to all the services you had as a student plus being able to enter the post-graduate Credential Program for sport physiotherapy.

A.    Your malpractice insurance that you purchased though the CPA program will covers you where ever you practice in Canada as long as it falls under your scope of practice of what a physiotherapist should do. If you need more information we suggest you contact the provider directly.

A.     The territorial limit for this program through the CPA is Canada wide , which means you will only be covered for litigation brought forward in Canada for your services that we’re provided as a physiotherapist. You may provide services outside of Canada, however please be aware that if a lawsuit was brought forward and the legal proceedings  take place in another country, the policy will not respond. For this reason we recommend that you provide services to Canadian patients only while out of country.

The Policy Wording States,

Coverage Territory: is extended to anywhere in the world for a maximum period of 90 days from the date of departure from Canada but only while any insured is:

(a) accompanying Canadian Athletes or patients on trips;
(b) attending academic courses, or;
(c) participating in professional exchange programs

A.     Each physiotherapist’s expertise and the needs of the Team being served will vary.  Consideration such as the physiotherapist’s specific training – holding of SPC Certificate or Diploma credentials for example – should be taken into consideration.  Other areas of expertise as well as breadth of experience all should be taken into consideration when trying to answer this question.
Sport Physiotherapy Canada has established quidelines to help the team manager, Coach, Event Organizer or the Physiotherapist themselves answer this question.

A.    To begin, you will need to be a member in good standing with CPA and SPC.  You will also need to have a current First Responder or Sport First Responder certification from a recognized National organization such as the Canadian Red Cross or St. John Ambulance.  Sport Physiotherapy Canada offers First Responder courses.

You will then need to complete the Credential Program Application Form and submit the form along with the required supporting documentation and application fee to SPC.  Got to your profile or this page to access the form and more information on the Credential Program.

Once your application form has been successfully processed you will receive the Credential Program Syllabus.  This document outlines all other steps in the Credential process in detail. You can also view the details at each level here.

A.    No, the process is designed to have you enter the Credential program at least a year before you intend to participate in your first written examination.  We want to be sure you have sufficient time to prepare, work with your Mentor and gain the knowledge and skills to be successful.

From the time your Credential Program Application is approved you will have up to 3 years to apply and participate in the Certificate level examinations.  If you do not move to this level in that time you simply need to re-apply to the program.  This helps us ensure you are still interested and that all of your program requirements are still valid.

A.     Yes, you are welcome to have as many Mentors as you believe you need to be successful in the program.  However, be sure that the Mentor you choose to complete the Mentor reports and examination recommendation is from the SPC approved Mentor list.  If you have been accepted to the credential program you can access the SPC Mentor List from your profile’s program resources. You will also get a list emailed to you upon acceptance to the program.

A.    No you do not have to do the practical exam that follows right after your written examination, although most candidates do.  Our policy states: “After completing the written component, the candidate must attempt the oral/practical component at one of the next three practical/oral examinations.  Failure to do so will result in the candidate having to repeat all the requirements for that level.”

A.     Yes there is a deadline for applying to write either the Certificate or Diploma exam – the deadline for applications is September 15th of each year.  All of the required documentation, along with the application fee, must be received or post-marked by this date to be accepted.  There are no exceptions for late submissions.

The Exam Application Form (Go to your profile or this page to access the form) must be sent by the deadline along with the following:
·      A typed summary of the log book (not the whole log book)  – reviewed and signed by your mentor
·      Your mentor’s letter of recommendation
·      Proof that you are a Physiotherapy graduate and a current member of both CPA and SPC
·      Copy of your current/valid First Responder or Sport First Responder Certification – from a recognized National organization
·      The Application Fee

A.     Yes, every 3 years you will need to go through our Maintenance of Credentials process to ensure your credential remains active.  If you do not maintain your credential, we will move you to our inactive list and you will not be eligible to apply for Major or Developmental Games.

Maintaining your credential is not hard.  Go to your profile or this page  to access the Maintenance of Credentials form.  You will need to submit this completed form along with your maintenance fee and the documentation needed showing that you have completed at least 60 hours of Continuing Education and 200 hours of practical experience since you received your Certificate or since you last completed your Maintenance of Credentials.  Remember – 75 of the 200 hours must be on field (on site) experience.

To maintain your credentials you must remain a member of Sport Physiotherapy Canada at all times.  You can submit your documentation to SPC at any time in the year your Maintenance is due up to September 15th .  After the September 15th deadline your credentials will be moved to the Inactive life and there is an additional fee for late submission/re-activation.

The process is the same for both Certificate and Diploma Credentials.

A.    No, your Credential will simply be moved to Inactive status but it will remain in your records.  After the Maintenance of Credentials Deadline passes (September 15th of each year) we review the status of all members who were due to Maintain in that year.  If a member has not submitted documentation (and been successfully reviewed) then we simply will move their status from Active to Inactive.

At ANY time, when you have acquired what you need to submit your Maintenance of Credentials materials you can send the documents into our National office.  The only difference is that you will pay a slightly higher fee  –  the regular Maintenance fee plus a “late” fee.  As soon as we have your documents, and they are successfully reviewed, we will change your status back to Active.  It is important to note that while you are on the Inactive list you will not be eligible to apply to major or developmental games.

A.   A physiotherapist who holds their Certificate Level credentials has demonstrated knowledge and skills in sport physical therapy that contribute to the assessment and treatment of athletic injuries in the clinical and field (acute care) setting. A Certificate Holder demonstrates competence in working independently at an athletic event and has sufficient knowledge and experience to attend to injuries and needs that may occur.

A. At the Diploma level the physiotherapist is able to look after the total needs of an athletic team. These needs include: pre-season conditioning, training camp, acute injury care, and complete rehabilitation of the athlete back to competitive level. These skills are also demonstrated in the physiotherapist’s clinical practice. Upon completion of the Diploma, a member will be entitled to call themselves a “Sport Physiotherapist” (dependant on provincial licensing regulations).