RHPA Migration

Effective September 5, 2025, the Government of Nova Scotia approved new regulations for physiotherapy under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), and our name has changed from the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists (NSCP) to the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy (NSRPT).

Please note that updates to our content and logos are underway, and our commitment to protecting the public remains unchanged.

Approaching 90 Days Under the RHPA: An Update from the Registrar

As we approach 90 days of operating under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy (NSRPT) continues to make steady, deliberate progress in implementing the new legislative framework while ensuring stability for registrants and the public. The first three months have focused on establishing core RHPA requirements and preparing for the next phase of development.

Progress in the First 90 Days

•  Website and Communications Updates: Major updates have been completed to re-organize and refresh content for applicants and the public, ensuring clarity around RHPA processes and expectations. Work on updated physiotherapist (registrant) information is underway, with substantial additions planned for release in the next 90 days.
• Registration Framework Implemented: The Practicing and Conditional Registers are fully operational, and RHPA-aligned registration pathways are now embedded in routine decision-making.
• Committee Re-Organization in Progress: Work continues to transition statutory committees to RHPA-aligned structures, including updated mandates and terms of reference. This re-organization will continue into early 2026 as committees are re-established under the new requirements.
• Professional Conduct Pathways Maintained: RHPA-based inquiry, investigation, and decision-making processes are active and in use. These pathways are being kept operational and updated as we go, with more formal and comprehensive work planned for future phases.
• Quality Assurance Program (QAP): NSRPT has completed and submitted the provincial Regulator QAP survey—an important first stage in this new requirement. We now await validation and further direction from the Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) as the process continues

What’s Coming in the Next 90 Days

The next phase of work will deepen RHPA implementation and help lay the foundation for NSRPT’s longer-term regulatory strategy:

•  Completion of Registrant Website Content: Updated guidance for physiotherapists—including standards, regulatory expectations, and duty-to-report information—will be added as the website redevelopment continues.
• Committee Transition Work Continues: Finalizing committee structures, roles, and training materials will be a key focus as we prepare to stand up the RHPA-aligned committees through the winter.
• Policy and Bylaw Alignment: Additional bylaw refinements and RHPA-aligned policy updates will be reviewed and advanced for Board consideration.
• Strategic Planning Foundations: Insights from the RHPA transition and the initial QAP work are informing NSRPT’s upcoming three-year strategic planning cycle. Early progress has been made in the first 90 days; more substantial development is expected in the next 90 days.
• NSRPT remains committed to protecting the public, supporting registrants through this transition, and building the structures required for a modern and effective RHPA-aligned regulatory system. Thank you for your continued professionalism as we move forward

Mark Williams,  NSRPT Registrar/Executive Director

RHPA Migration Announcement

New Physiotherapy Regulations Approved Under the RHPA

Posted August 1, 2025

Effective September 5, 2025

The Government of Nova Scotia has approved new regulations for the profession of physiotherapy under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). These regulations will come into force on September 5, 2025, marking a significant step forward in modernizing how the profession is regulated in the public interest.

The final version of the regulations has not yet been published by the government. A link will be added here once they are publicly available.

About the RHPA Migration

On July 29, 2025, the Government of Nova Scotia approved new Physiotherapy Regulations under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). These new regulations will come into force on September 5, 2025.

This marks an important milestone in the College’s regulatory evolution, as physiotherapy formally migrates from the Physiotherapy Act to the RHPA. The RHPA provides a modern, consistent legislative framework for the regulation of health professions across the province. This migration reflects a broader government initiative aimed at strengthening public protection and improving regulatory consistency.

As part of this legislative change, our name will also change. Effective September 5, 2025, we will become the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy (NSRPT), with the purpose of regulating the profession in accordance with the objects set out in Section 6 of the Regulated Health Professions Act.

While our name and legislative authority are changing, our commitment to protecting the public interest through effective, fair, and transparent regulation remains unchanged.

Why This Matters

The migration of physiotherapy regulation to the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) represents more than a legislative update — it is a foundational shift in how the profession is regulated in Nova Scotia.

The RHPA provides a consistent framework that applies across health professions, promoting fairness, accountability, and transparency in regulation. By moving under this legislation, the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy gains access to modern regulatory tools and clearer processes for registration, complaints, and fitness to practice.

This change enhances our ability to:

• Focus on risk-based decision-making that protects the public more effectively
• Ensure greater consistency and fairness across the health system
• Provide clearer roles and expectations for registrants, patients, and the public
• Align with contemporary standards of professional regulation, including transparency, proportionality, and accountability

This is an important evolution in how we fulfill our mandate — one that reinforces our commitment to safe, competent, and ethical physiotherapy care in Nova Scotia.

Summary of Key Changes

The migration to the RHPA brings forward a number of structural and operational changes to how physiotherapy will be regulated in Nova Scotia. While the core mandate of protecting the public interest will remain unchanged, the new framework will provide enhanced tools and oversight mechanisms to support that work.

Governance and Legislative Authority

• The organization will continue under a new name: Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy (NSRPT)
• Beginning September 5, 2025, we will operate under the Regulated Health Professions Act and new Physiotherapy Regulations, replacing the Physiotherapy Act

Regulatory Tools and Oversight

• The RHPA will provide modernized provisions for managing complaints, investigations, and discipline
• It will authorize the use of interim measures and support risk-based decision-making
• It will strengthen pathways for addressing fitness to practice concerns

Registration and Entry to Practice

Under the RHPA, the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy will establish two registers:

• The Practicing Register, for registrants who hold a practicing license — a license issued under the Act authorizing them to engage in practice without conditions or restrictions
• The Conditional Register, for registrants who have not yet met all registration requirements and are authorized to practice subject to conditions or restrictions

Current registrants will be migrated to the new structure automatically. 

Prospective applicants should refer to Changes to Registration Requirements in 2026.

There will be no change to the registration process for applicants who are currently licensed as physiotherapists in another Canadian jurisdiction. 

Under the RHPA, the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy will continue to recognize registration from other Canadian regulators, in accordance with labour mobility principles and national agreements. 

If you hold a current licence to practise physiotherapy in another province or territory, you will continue to be eligible for registration in Nova Scotia using the existing process. 

Additional information will be posted closer to September 5, 2025. For now, no action is required.  

The new regulations clarify the Registrar’s authority to determine whether an applicant meets the requirements for registration. Registration decisions will continue to be grounded in principles of fairness, transparency, defensibility, and risk-based regulation. Where appropriate, registration policies and assessment methods will be established through policy, allowing for flexibility and responsiveness within the legislative framework.

Committees and Decision-Making

The RHPA framework provides for a committee structure that supports transparent, fair, and accountable regulatory decision-making. Many of the statutory and regulatory committees currently operating under the Physiotherapy Act will have corresponding roles under the RHPA.

These committees will migrate into the new framework, updating their mandates, composition, and processes as needed to align with the new legislation.

More information about committee roles, responsibilities, and updates will be shared in the coming weeks.

 Bylaws and Implementation Work Underway

• Draft bylaws to support the RHPA framework have been released for consultation
• Registrants, members of the public, and system partners are invited to review the proposed bylaws and provide feedback
• Public Consultations - Proposed Bylaws Under the RHPA

Oversight of the Regulator

• The RHPA will introduce a quality assurance program for regulatory bodies, meaning the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy will be subject to increased oversight, transparency, and continuous improvement expectations

Mandate and Purpose

• The public interest mandate will remain consistent, grounded in Section 6 of the RHPA
• The Regulator will continue to ensure safe, competent, and ethical physiotherapy care in Nova Scotia

What to Expect Between Now and September 5, 2025

In the lead-up to the RHPA coming into force on September 5, 2025, the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists (NSCP) will be focused on completing the core operational updates necessary to function under the new legislation.

This includes adjustments to internal policies, registration and complaints procedures, committee terms of reference, and public-facing materials. Our goal is to ensure we are fully prepared to operate within the RHPA framework on migration day.

Current registrants do not need to take any action at this time.

We will continue to provide updates as key changes are finalized and will share additional information as it becomes available. We appreciate your patience and support during this period of rapid change.

Ongoing Commitment & How to Stay Informed

As we prepare to operate under the RHPA, the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists (NSCP) remains committed to its core purpose: protecting the public through fair, transparent, and effective regulation.

While this is a time of change, our values and mandate remain consistent. Implementation efforts will continue to focus on meeting the operational requirements needed for a smooth and responsible migration on September 5, 2025, when we become the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy (NSRPT).

To stay up to date, please visit our RHPA landing page. This page will be updated regularly with new information, links, and guidance materials.

If you have questions, we encourage you to visit the RHPA landing page, where we will continue to post updates. While we may not be able to respond to individual inquiries, we will use common questions to inform future updates to our FAQ and guidance materials.

Conditional Resident Licence during CAPR Transition

For New Graduates and Internationally Educated Physiotherapists

Purpose

Under current NSRPT policy, applicants seeking registration as a physiotherapist in Nova Scotia must complete a two-part evaluation process:

1. A written examination — the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) administered by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR)
2. A practical evaluation — typically the Interim Competency Evaluation (ICE), or another clinical evaluation accepted by a Canadian physiotherapy regulator

This model requires applicants to pass the written exam before being eligible for supervised practice, and then complete a second assessment for full licensure.

However, as the Canadian Physiotherapy Examination (CPTE) is scheduled to launch in January 2026, many applicants face a dilemma: taking the current written exam now, only to later sit the CPTE — effectively completing two separate exams. This duplication is not necessary for public safety and is the result of outdated legislative requirements.

With the shift to the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), NSRPT will now have regulatory flexibility to issue Conditional Licenses without requiring completion of the written PCE. This is a significant change. It enables eligible new graduates and internationally educated applicants to begin supervised practice without writing an exam that may soon be obsolete.

NSRPT and CAPR are actively coordinating during this transition. More details will be provided as national implementation of the CPTE progresses.

This Conditional Resident License is a practical and time-limited solution that supports workforce access while maintaining public protection through structured supervision. It reflects our evolving regulatory tools under the RHPA and our commitment to reducing unnecessary barriers to licensure during the national examination transition.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a Conditional Resident License, applicants must:

• Be eligible to write the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (QE) or the Canadian Physiotherapy Examination (CPTE)
  Applicants who have exhausted all permitted exam attempts are not eligible to apply under this pathway
• Graduate from an accredited physiotherapy program
  Internationally educated physiotherapists (IEPTs) must submit a Verification Request Form from CAPR
• Be registered and accepted in the next available sitting of the CPTE
• Have a confirmed employment offer from a Nova Scotia physiotherapy employer
• Submit a signed supervision agreement from the employer outlining supervision arrangements (link to form)
• Submit a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) completed within the past six months
• Fulfill all standard registration documentation requirements, including:
  • Government-issued identification (e.g., birth certificate, passport, or work visa)
  • Photograph (not required if photo ID is submitted)
  • Proof of graduation
    A digital image of the original degree or diploma is accepted. Applicants who have not yet convocated may submit a letter from their program director confirming successful completion. A copy of the degree must be provided once it becomes available. This is not required for applicants currently practicing in Canada.
  • Curriculum vitae, including education and clinical/non-clinical work history
  • Regulatory history from any jurisdiction practiced in during the past five years
  • Proof of professional liability insurance meeting the minimum coverage requirement ($5 million)
  • Two reference letters (personal, professional, or work-related)
  • International criminal record check, if applicable
    A copy submitted to CAPR may be accepted if still valid
  • Payment of applicable fees

The Conditional Resident License must be issued before the applicant begins employment orientation or any patient care.

License Conditions

The Conditional Resident License carries specific limitations designed to ensure public protection and maintain accountability during the examination transition period. The following conditions apply:

• Validity:
  The license is valid for a maximum of twelve (12) months from the date of issuance. It is non-renewable.
• Expiry:
  The license will expire on the earlier of:
  • The date the license reaches its maximum duration of 12 months, or
  • The applicant has failed two attempts at any clinical entry-to-practice examination accepted by the Regulator

Accepted exams include:

• The Canadian Physiotherapy Examination (CPTE)
• The British Columbia Clinical Exam
• The Alberta Clinical Evaluation
• The Ontario Entry to Practice Exam
  Note: Failures are cumulative across all jurisdictions and formats.

• Restricted Practice:
  Conditional license holders must practice under supervision and in accordance with the terms of their signed supervision agreement and Regulator policy. They may not work independently or supervise other registrants.

Important: This pathway will close to new applicants after CPTE results from the July 2026 sitting are released.
Licenses issued before that time will remain valid for their full term, unless they expire earlier due to the conditions above.

Implementation Timeline

The Conditional Resident License will be available to eligible applicants until the release of results from the July 2026 sitting of the Canadian Physiotherapy Examination (CPTE).

Following that date, the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy will evaluate the continued need for this license category, based on:

• Workforce access and system impact
• Availability and scheduling of the CPTE
• Overall effectiveness of the transition process

Any decisions to extend, revise, or discontinue the Conditional License will be communicated in advance through the Regulator’s website and official channels.

Download the CAPR Verification Request Form  

Contact

For questions or support related to the Conditional Resident License or the RHPA transition, please contact:

Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists (NSRPT)
 Email: info@nsphysio.com
 Phone: 902-510-0737
 Or, visit our RHPA landing page for updates and resources

Please note: While we may not be able to respond to every individual inquiry, we will use common questions to inform updates to our FAQ and guidance materials.