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Canada · Licensing exam

CAPR language requirements for internationally educated physiotherapists

If you were educated as a physiotherapist outside Canada, you have to show you can work in English or French before you can sit the Canadian Physiotherapy Examination. The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) checks this at the start of credentialling: it can’t begin assessing your application until it has a language test report that meets its minimums. CAPR’s language requirements come from its Language Proficiency Policy, which accepts tests in both languages.

  • 2 yearsHow long a score counts, from the test date
  • 6 countriesWhere your training can exempt you
  • October 8, 2026Revision date on CAPR’s policy
Read the language policy

Updated November 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

What are CAPR’s language requirements?

Besides a minimum score in each skill on an accepted test, the policy asks for:

  • All of those minimums from the same sitting. Scores from different sittings can’t be combined.
  • Official scores sent to CAPR by the testing agency itself.

Accepted tests and minimum scores

CAPR accepts the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General test, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in General Training or Academic, the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core, the Test d’évaluation du français (TEF) and the Test de connaissance du français (TCF). The minimum for each skill:

TestReadWriteListenSpeak
CELPIP General9888
IELTS7.06.57.06.5
PTE Core78797176
TEF, after Dec 10, 2023503472462494
TEF, Oct 2019 to Dec 10, 2023533500500500
TCF5241250312

The older TEF row starts on October 1, 2019. CAPR accepts TEF Canada, TEF Quebec and TEF 5 épreuves, and TCF Canada, TCF Quebec and TCF Tout Public. None of the tests has an overall minimum.

The one exception to the single-sitting rule is IELTS One Skill Retake, which counts if it meets the IELTS General Training or Academic minimum.

Prepare for CELPIP →Prepare for IELTS →Prepare for PTE Core →Prepare for TEF or TCF Canada →

Who doesn’t need a language test

You can skip the test if either of these is true:

  • You did all of your entry-to-practice physiotherapy education, classroom and clinical, in Australia, France, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States.
  • You did all of your primary and secondary schooling in Canada.

Hong Kong and South Africa are on the Pre-Approved Pathway list but not on this one, so training there doesn’t exempt you from the test.

Regulators can ask for more

CAPR encourages you to check with the regulator in the province or territory where you want to work, because each may have different language requirements. It names one: parts of Manitoba’s policy differ, so if you plan to be licensed there, the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba has the details.

Compare the pathways →
Sources: CAPR and 1 more. Checked November 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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