Changes to Registration Requirements in 2026

Changes to Registration Requirements in 2026

Update: New Information About the Conditional Resident Licence Recent changes under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) allow for the issuance of a Conditional Resident Licence that does not require completion of the written exam. This represents a change from previous guidance about registration during the exam transition period.   Click here for full details → Conditional Resident Licence during CAPR Transition

 

In January 2026, the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) will launch a single licensure examination. The Board of the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists supports adoption of CAPR’s single licensure examination in principle. This will create a change in the registration/licensing pathway.

Current State

Currently, applicants seeking registration as a physiotherapist in Nova Scotia must complete a two-part evaluation process:

• Written Component:  The Physiotherapy Competency Examination administered by CAPR. - Applicants must successfully complete the written component of the Physiotherapy Competency Examination before they are eligible to apply for registration on NSCP’s Provisional Register as a resident. Physiotherapy residents registered on the Provisional Register must practice under supervision.
• Practical Component:  Interim Competency Evaluation (ICE) process or another Canadian physiotherapy regulator’s clinical competency evaluation for full licensure.

Future State

Starting January 2026, CAPR’s single licensure examination will replace the two-exam model. At this time, NSCP will adopt the new CAPR exam (Canadian Physiotherapy Exam – CPTE) as the pathway to full registration, replacing the current two-step model. All applicants must complete the single licensure examination to be eligible for registration with NSCP.

The single licensure examination will:

• Be offered 8 times in 2026
• Be completed virtually over one day
• Include a written section and an oral, scenario-based section with a single pass mark
• Focus on critical competencies that are required to perform safely, effectively, and independently at entry to practice.

As of February 28, 2026, the interim competency evaluation (ICE) process will no longer be a pathway to full licensure. After February 28, 2026, ICE applications will no longer be accepted. Partial/incomplete applications will not be accepted. Residents must meet all eligibility requirements prior to submitting an application.

Transition Period

CAPR plans to discontinue the current written component of the Physiotherapy Competency Examination and has announced written examination dates through to the end of November 2025. CAPR’s new single licensure examination begins in January 2026. The January 2026 exam has limited seats, but subsequent exams will have unlimited availability.

The effects of the transition period will differ depending on individual situations:

For residents that were licensed prior to May 2025:

• Residency will continue until expiry (1 year from initial registration) or 2 failed attempts at a practical competency evaluation (including any administered by a Canadian Physiotherapy regulatory body or the new CAPR exam)
• May still complete ICE if eligible by February 28, 2026. After February 28, 2026, they must be registered and take the next available administration of the new CAPR exam.
• May not access the ICE process if they have not met eligibility criteria by February 28, 2026, or have not submitted a complete application by February 28, 2026.

For residents licensed between May 2025 and August 2025: 

• Residency will continue until expiry (1 year from initial registration) or 2 failed attempts at a practical competency evaluation (including any administered by a Canadian Physiotherapy regulatory body or the new CAPR exam)
• May still complete ICE if eligible by February 28, 2026. After February 28, 2026, they must be registered and take the next available administration of the new CAPR exam.
• May not access the ICE process if they have not met eligibility criteria by February 28, 2026, or have not submitted a complete application by February 28, 2026.

Applicants licensed on or after September 1, 2025: 

• Must be registered for, and take, the next available new CAPR exam.
• Supervised practice (residency) will be available for those who have successfully completed part one (written component) of the current 2 step process.
• May not access the ICE process.

All new applicants (that do not hold a current license in a Canadian jurisdiction) applying after February 28, 2026: 

• Must successfully complete the new CAPR exam and meet all other registration/licensing requirements for full licensure.
• New provisional, resident licenses will no longer be available.

 Resident licenses are:

• provisional licenses (will be conditional licenses under the RHPA)
• maximum of 1 year
• require enrollment in the next available exam
• cannot have more than one failed attempt at a practical competency process or exam (any other Canadian jurisdiction, or CAPR’s new exam) – all evaluation process/exam attempts are counted. 

Notes for transition:

• We recognize some applicants may choose to take the current written exam, to minimize delay in entering the workforce and not have access to the ICE process necessitating taking the new exam. NSCP and CAPR are factoring that into planning and will provide more information as it becomes available.

Summary Table:

NSCP FAQ – CAPR Exam Changes

Leave of Absence and Other Status Change Requests

Status Change Requests

To initiate a leave of absence from the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists (NSCP), you’ll need to follow a formal process to ensure your registration status is updated appropriately and that you remain in good standing.

A leave of absence is typically intended for physiotherapists who are:

• Taking parental, medical, or personal leave
• Pursuing full-time studies unrelated to clinical practice
• Moving out of the province temporarily but planning to return
• Not practicing for a specific period but wishing to maintain ties to the College
• Retirement

Before Your Leave:

To initiate a leave of absence, submit a Leave of Absence Request by logging into the portal and selecting the "Leave of Absence Request" option under Status Changes.  Ensure that your Continuing Education (CE) hours and practice hours are up to date in the system before proceeding.

During Your Leave:

While on leave, your license will be inactive, meaning you are exempt from paying fees or meeting practice requirements during this period; however, you cannot practice physiotherapy.  Although optional, you are encouraged to complete and log Continuing Education (CE) hours during your leave to stay current in your practice. 

Returning from Leave:

When you are ready to return, submit a Reinstatement Request by logging into the portal and selecting "Reinstate License" under Status Changes. If you are returning from leave after September 15, consider the three-month registration option to reduce costs leading into the annual renewal period.

Finally, review and update your records to confirm that your CE hours and practice hours are accurate and complete.

FAQ

Retirement

Retiring as a physiotherapist in Nova Scotia involves several steps to ensure a smooth transition from active practice to retirement.  Licensed physiotherapist’s in Nova Scotia must formally resign their registration upon retirement. Here's what you need to know:

The next step to initiate retirement is to submit a Status Change Request by logging into the portal and selecting the "Retirement" option under Status Changes. This will ensure that your license status will be changed from active to retired/inactive.

When completing the resignation form and status change request, make sure all practice hours and continuing education (CE) hours for the past year (or the current year if resigning after the annual license renewal) are provided.

Professional Liability Insurance

It's important to note that professional liability insurance is typically tied to your active practice. Upon retirement and resignation from the NSCP, you are not required to maintain this insurance. However, it's advisable to confirm any post-retirement coverage details with your insurance provider to ensure all aspects are appropriately addressed. 

Continuing Education and Practice Hours

Accurately reporting your accumulated CE hours up to the point of resignation is necessary when completing the resignation process.  Reporting your continuing education and practice hours upon retirement and resignation, is not required.

Notification to Employers and Clients

Inform your current employer and clients of your retirement plans in advance to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of care.

Record Keeping:

Physiotherapists are strongly encouraged to securely retain the original records. Beyond their obvious obligations to current and former patients, physiotherapists and/or their estates may be called upon to produce records in the event of a later legal action or regulatory complaint. The College endorses the legislation, which advises physiotherapists to retain their patient records for at least 6 years from the date of last entry or, in the case of minors, 6 years from the time the patient would have reached the age of majority, which is 19 years in Nova Scotia.

Physiotherapists do not need to obtain patient’s consent to store their records. There are companies that will securely-store confidential records and assist in releasing specific information to designated parties as directed.

Post-Retirement Engagement

If you plan to engage in any physiotherapy-related activities post-retirement, such as mentorship or consultancy, verify if any specific registration or license is required.

Retirement FAQ

Public Consultations

Consultation: Proposed Bylaws Under the RHPA

As part of our upcoming transition to the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists is inviting feedback on its proposed bylaws. These bylaws will support the launch of our new organization, the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy, which will come into effect on September 5, 2025.

These proposed bylaws are one component of the broader legislative and regulatory foundation for the new organization, alongside the Regulated Health Professions Act, the General Regulations, and the Profession-Specific Regulations for physiotherapy. Together, these instruments define the governance, duties, and public protection mandate of the regulator.

We welcome comments from registrants, members of the public, and system partners as we work to finalize this key component of our transition to the RHPA framework.

Consultation Period:
July 31 – August 29, 2025

How to Participate:

1. Download the proposed bylaws here
2. Send your comments or questions to info@nsphysio.com by August 29, 2025.

The finalized bylaws will be considered for approval at the first meeting of the board under the RHPA on September 5, 2025.

All feedback provided is kept confidential.  Individuals names are not connected with specific feedback.  

RFP Digital Practices 2025

The Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists (NSCP) invites proposals from qualified vendors to update our database and website infrastructure by summer 2025.  NSCP is a relatively small organization operating within a virtual office environment. This project is an important aspect of our ongoing journey to modernize and enhance operational capabilities.  There are 3 distinct but integrated projects we are seeking a vendor to provide: 

• Database update 
• Website update 
• Productivity tools configuration 

This project will be informed by and integrated with 2 concurrent projects: migration to the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), and migration to the 2022 Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) dataset. With the changes required to meet the needs of an updated Act and Regulations and the new dataset requirements, we have decided to embrace the opportunity for a holistic approach to the update of our digital practices. Please download the RFP for detailed project requirements.