Frequently Asked Questions About Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists (sometimes known as physical therapists, PTs, or physios) provide care in one-on-one and group-based settings. Physiotherapists provide care to people of all ages and work to prevent injuries, illnesses, and disability, as well as support recovery and promote independence and quality of life. They provide client-centered care to people with conditions that affect all body systems, with a focus on safe movement and function. Physiotherapists may include the following in their treatments: therapeutic exercise, hands-on (manual) therapy, acupuncture and other modalities, and self-management. All physiotherapists in Ontario must register with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario to practice, which means they are licensed independent health care professionals.  

A physiotherapist is a regulated health professional under the Regulated Health Professions Act. In Ontario, a physiotherapist must be registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario to practice, and their information will be visible on the Public Register. A physiotherapist has extensive academic and professional training including an undergraduate degree and a 24-month Master’s degree which includes over 1000 hours of clinical experience. In addition, to obtain their license to practice, a physiotherapist in Ontario must pass two entry-to-practice examinations.

A physiotherapist assistant is an individual who works under the supervision and license of a physiotherapist. They are not regulated health providers and do not hold their own license. Physiotherapist Assistants may complete a variety of education including but not limited to a 2-year Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Diploma or a 4-year undergraduate degree in kinesiology. Physiotherapists are responsible for ensuring that their assistants are competent and safe to provide care and delegate tasks, such as exercises, to them as appropriate. 

Public Register 

It depends. A registered Physiotherapist in Ontario has the authority to communicate a diagnosis to the person they are caring for, within their knowledge and scope of practice in neuromusculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems. A physiotherapist cannot communicate a medical diagnosis (identifying a disease or condition based on signs and symptoms). A medical diagnosis is communicated by a Medical Doctor or Nurse Practitioner. A physiotherapy diagnosis involves the identification of the likely cause of a sign, symptom, or condition, and treatment will be prescribed based on this analysis.  

Physiotherapists in Ontario are university-educated and registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. They provide treatment in all health care settings in Ontario including: hospitals, long-term care facilities, home care, community-based clinics, schools, private practice clinics and primary care networks.  

Learn more

If you have a concern about a physiotherapist, please contact the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. OPA cannot process complaints or engage in disciplinary action, as we are not a regulating authority. The link below details how to make a complaint.   

How to Make a Complaint 

Some physiotherapy is publicly-funded. Hospitals, long-term care homes, home care agencies, community physiotherapy clinics, Family Health Teams, and Community Health Centres are organizations that offer this service, although the extent of availability varies by region.  There may be criteria for accessing some of these services. 

• Patient Access & Payment

If you are looking for outpatient physiotherapy in a clinic, you can follow the Government of Ontario link below, which has a search function of all clinics that are part of the Community Physiotherapy Clinic program, which provide OHIP-funded physiotherapy services. Please ensure that you meet the criteria to be eligible for this service.

• Patient Access & Payment

At private clinics and home care companies, the cost of physiotherapy varies based on several factors including the location, clinic size, experience of the physiotherapist, and type of service offered. Fees often range from $100-$200 per hour, though fees can fall below or above this range. Some clinics have their fees posted on their websites, and if you are unsure, we encourage you to contact individual clinics to ask about their fees. All physiotherapists are required to communicate clear information about all fees before providing care. 

You can seek care with any physiotherapist of your choice. It may be helpful to call and ask questions to make sure there is a physiotherapist at a clinic that works with people with similar issues as you are experiencing. The Public Register of Physiotherapists includes information about the languages spoken by a physiotherapist. 

No. Physiotherapists are direct-access providers, which means you do not need a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner to receive care. However, if you are using extended health coverage to pay for your care, review your policy requirements as some insurance companies request a referral before approving claims. 

Bundled care. Talk to your surgical team. Bundled care is for after joint replacement surgery. Outpatient surgery is now through the Community Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC) program, but you can also use private insurance or see if you have a physiotherapist if your physician/NP has a team that includes a PT. 

Yes. In Ontario, children 19 and under are eligible to receive care within the Community Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC) program. You do not need a referral to receive care in this program. To find a clinic offering OHIP-funded physiotherapy, please use the link below to view the registry. You can also access care through children’s treatment centres and school-based physiotherapy. 

• Community Physiotherapy Clinic Locations

After seeking immediate medical attention, the next thing you should do is contact your car insurance company to report any injuries from the accident. Whether you are at fault or not, you are eligible to receive care through your motor vehicle insurance. Your insurance company will send you a package to file your claim, and they will likely refer you to a specific clinic. Please note that you can attend any physiotherapy clinic you like, as long as they are licensed to provide care for auto insurance claims. If you have a specific clinic in mind but aren’t sure if they treat auto injuries, please contact the clinic directly and ask. If you were a passenger in a motor vehicle accident but you have your own auto insurance, you will still receive accident benefits through your own insurance, regardless of who was at fault.  

You may be eligible for compensation from the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund (MVACF), which includes accident benefits to care for your injury as well as compensation for personal injury or property damage. Some examples of situations when this fund may be applied includes:  

• You were walking or cycling and the driver of the vehicle is uninsured
• You were an uninsured passenger in a vehicle none of the drivers involved were insured
• You can’t identify the other vehicle in a hit-and-run accident or the vehicle was stolen 

In any of these cases, you should still file an immediate police report. For further details on how to access this fund, please visit MVACF website: Government of Ontario MVACF

No. We cannot recommend specific clinics or physiotherapists as that is an important choice made by you. It is helpful to call a clinic to determine if it is a good fit for you and your needs. You can also verify that a physiotherapist you are considering is on the Public Register, which also includes any information on restrictions to their practice, include any history of disciplinary action.

• College Public Register