Changes to Registration Examination Requirement in 2026

Relevant Legislation

The requirements for applicants to be registered on the Active Register are set out in Regulations. The current Regulations state that the examination is defined as an examination approved by the council. The requirements for registration state, “the applicant must have (i) on or after January 1, 2002, successfully completed a physiotherapy education program approved by the council, and passed the examination”. Registration on the Examination Candidate register would occur after successfully passing the Written Exam through the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators. An Examination Candidate could then move to the Active register upon successful completion of a clinical evaluation as defined in Registration and Licensing Policy 3.8 Approved Entry-to-Practice Examination. The Regulations require amendments as the examination will no longer be divided into two separate sections which will impact current graduates’ ability to register with the College. The College has engaged the Legislative Unit with the Manitoba government to address these changes.

Current State

Currently, applicants seeking registration as a physiotherapist in Manitoba must complete a two-part examination:

1. Written Component: The Physiotherapy Competency Examination administered by CAPR.
2. Clinical Component: Manitoba’s Practice Based Competency Assessment or another Canadian physiotherapy regulator’s clinical competency evaluation for full licensure.

Applicants must successfully complete the written component of the Physiotherapy Competency Examination before they are eligible to apply for registration on CPM’s Examination Candidate register. Examination Candidates registered with CPM must practice under supervision.

Once the Examination Candidate successfully completes an approved clinical evaluation, they are moved to the Active Register and authorized to practice independently.

Applicants must complete the single licensure examination to be eligible for registration with the CPM.

The single licensure examination will streamline the registration process. Applicants will apply directly for registration on the Active Register once they successfully passed the single licensure examination. This means an end to the need for supervision of Examination Candidates as the applicant will be directly admitted to the Active Register and authorized to practice independently as soon as they are registered in Manitoba.

Transition Phase

During the transition from a two-exam model to a single-exam model, applicants and Examination Candidates on the Register must pay close attention to deadlines and other limitations to ensure they can act on the options available to them. While options are presented, they are subject to deadlines.

• 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.
• Manitoba’s PBCA will be discontinued in 2026. The last date to register as an Examination Candidate to work under supervision and proceed with the PBCA will be October 2, 2025. Anyone registering on or before this date will need to have proof of successfully passing the Written Component of the CAPR exam in the 2 years preceding OR show proof of registration for the November 2025 written*.
• 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 cost of the new CAPR examination has not yet been finalized. However, it will not exceed the previous CAPR combined written and clinical examinations ($2,815).

* Failure of the Written Examination through CAPR in November 2025 would result in needing to proceed to the single examination. There will be no opportunity to proceed with the PBCA without a successful pass on the Written Component.

Options:

For a limited time, applicants have more than one option available to them to move to the Active register in Manitoba.

Key Takeaways

• Applicants who plan to become registered as an Examination Candidate on or before October 2, 2025, will need to follow the two-exam pathway.
• Applicants waiting for the new CAPR single licensure examination in 2026 will need to be mindful of seat availability for the first administration and timelines for release of results before being eligible to apply for registration with CPM.

For current Examination Candidates (excluding Re-Entry candidates)

Examination Candidates who are already registered can pursue two options to meet the clinical competency examination requirement for admittance to the Active Register

1. Successfully complete Manitoba’s PBCA or another clinical evaluation approved by Council (ACEBC or the OCE).

OR

2. Successfully complete the new CAPR single licensure examination. The first administration is January 2026. The January 2026 exam has limited seats, but subsequent exams will have unlimited availability. The timelines for release of results are estimated to be 4 – 5 weeks.

Important: Currently, registration on the Examination Candidate register cannot exceed two years or three failed clinical exam attempts, whichever comes first. The change in exam models does not change this legislated requirement. Examination Candidates on the Register must pay close attention to deadlines and other limitations to ensure they can act on the options available to them.

Resources

• Please monitor CAPR and CPM websites for further details and updates.
• Visit CAPR website for information about the PCE written component.
• Visit CAPR website for information about the single licensure exam, cost, eligibility.
• Visit the College website for information about the PBCA: Practice Based Competency Assessment
• Contact Us