Canadian Physiotherapy Examination

In January 2026, the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) will launch a single licensure examination. The Board of the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy supports adoption of CAPR’s single licensure examination in principle. Effective February 28, 2026 the Canadian Physiotherapy Examination (CPTE) will be the only pathway to full licensure available in Nova Scotia.

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

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.

Applicants licensed on or after September 1, 2025:

Must be registered for, and take, the next available CPTE.
Conditional supervised practice (residency) is available.

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.