HomeMembership FAQs

Membership FAQs

A – Account/User Information

  1. I forgot my password. What do I do?
  2. How do I access my insurance certificate?

B – Membership Renewal

  1. How do I become a member?     
  2. When does the membership term start?
  3. How do I renew my membership?
  4. How are member fees calculated?
  5. I am not able to pay the total amount at this time. Is there a payment plan available?

C – Membership Categories

  1. Which membership type do I qualify for?
  2. I am internationally-educated and want to work in Canada. What do I do?

D – Members on Leave

  1. I am on leave or planning to be on leave. How should I renew my membership?

E – Insurance: General

  1. Do I need to be a CPA member to purchase Professional Liability (malpractice) Insurance with the CPA?
  2. How do I renew my Professional Liability Insurance?
  3. I am a student member who will be graduating (or has recently graduated). How do I purchase insurance?
  4. Do I receive a discount on my Professional Liability Insurance if I work in the public sector?
  5. I recently moved and need an updated copy of my Professional Liability Insurance certificate. What do I do?
  6. I would like to request a refund on my Professional Liability Insurance.
  7. Who can I contact for more information about Professional Liability Insurance?
  8. What is the Legal Services Package?

F – Insurance: Special Circumstances

  1. I am planning to retire or permanently discontinue practice. Can I stop carrying Professional Liability Insurance?
  2. I am on a temporary leave of absence from the profession (e.g., maternity/parental leave, illness, other). Do I need to carry Professional Liability Insurance?
  3. I will need insurance later in the year. Is it pro-rated, and how do I purchase it?
  4. What if I work at two different locations?
  5. I am a PTA. How do I purchase insurance?
  6. I am a business owner with other professionals working for or on behalf of my business and/or billing under my business name. Do I need Professional Liability Insurance to protect my business name?

G – Insurance Scope of Practice/Coverage

  1. I already have Professional Liability Insurance through my employer – why should I get my own?
  2. Does the CPA’s Professional Liability Insurance cover acupuncture?
  3. I am also a yoga/pilates teacher – will my Professional Liability Insurance cover teaching yoga/pilates classes?
  4. I am an independent contractor or a business owner, should I consider any additional Insurance?

A- Account/User Information

1. I forgot my password. What do I do?

  1. Log into your account by clicking on this link
  2. Go to the Reset password page
  3. Enter your email address, then click submit
  4. You will be sent an email with a link to reset your password.

2. How do I access my insurance certificate?

  1. Select the Log In button from the top right-hand side of the webpage
  2. After you log in you will be in your Account Centre.
  3. In the centre of the page, you will see information such as Membership Type and Branch. Just under this, you will see the heading Professional Liability Insurance.
  4. If you have paid for and for your insurance, you will see a link saying Get Insurance Certificate. Click on it.
  5. To download the certificate click on Print Certificate from the top right-hand side of the page.
  6. Ensure the printer says Save as PDF in the dialogue box
  7. Click on Save
  8. Choose where you would like to save the certificate.
  9. You have successfully downloaded your certificate.
  10. Log in to your Account Centre.
  11. Locate the hyperlink stating “Get Insurance Certificate”
  12. Click on it

If you have paid for your certificate, but don’t see it in your Account Centre, please contact information@physiotherapy.ca for help

B – Membership Renewal

1. How do I become a member?

Click on the Become a Member link and follow the prompts.

2. When does the membership term start?

Membership starts on October 1 of each year and lasts until September 30 of the following year.

3. How do I renew my membership?

You can renew your membership online through the Account Centre.

  1.  Log in to your Account Centre.
  2.  Click on Become a Member from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.

4. How are member fees calculated?

CPA membership fees are calculated based on your membership type. All CPA members also become members of a Branch, which is automatically assigned based on your province or territory of residence. The Branch fee is collected by CPA, who distributes it to the Branches on your behalf.

Student membership is free, and New Graduates receive a 50% discount.

Professional Liability Insurance and Divisions are additional fees and can be added when you renew your membership, or at a later date.

The membership/insurance term starts October 1 if application completed on or before October 1st, and expires September 30. Membership and insurance fees are pro-rated daily, if purchased after October 1st but Division fees are not pro-rated.

To get an exact quote, please get in touch with one of CPA’s Member Services representatives at information@physiotherapy.ca or at 1-800-387-8679.

5. I am not able to pay the full amount at this time. Is there a payment plan available?

The CPA provides an option for monthly pre-authorized payments (PAP) to spread the cost of membership fees over the year. If you select this option, you will be charged a one-time administration fee of $25 plus tax. Simply select the monthly payments option at the end of your renewal application to choose this option.

C – Membership Categories

1. Which membership type do I qualify for?

Please see here for a complete list of membership types and descriptions.

2. I am internationally-educated and want to work in Canada. What do I do?

Please contact the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) to get your credentials assessed and to access resources on working in Canada. You can email them at email@alliancept.org or call them at 416-234-8800

D – Members on Leave

1. I am on leave or planning to be on leave. How should I renew my membership?

Members on leave or planning to be on leave will qualify for a 40% discount on membership fees for the length of time on leave under the following circumstances:

  • They must be full members who will be, or who plans to be, on maternity/paternity/caregiving leave for at least three (3) consecutive months of the current/upcoming membership year (October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024).
  • They must be full members on sick/disability leave for at least three (3) consecutive months.

Once members meet this eligibility criteria, they must notify a CPA Membership Specialist of the estimated beginning and end dates of the leave at information@physiotherapy.ca or at 1-800-387-8679. The Membership Specialist will then calculate the 40% discount for the time period of the member’s leave and apply the discount to the upcoming year’s membership fees.

Please note that no refunds will be afforded if the actual leave dates differ from those provided.

E – Insurance: General

The following Insurance FAQs were prepared in partnership with BMS Canada Risk Services Ltd. (BMS), the broker for the CPA member liability insurance program. They are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute professional broker advice. Full terms and conditions of the policy, including all exclusions and limitations are described in the policy wordings, a copy of which can be obtained from BMS.

1. Do I need to be a CPA member to purchase Professional Liability (malpractice) Insurance with CPA?

Yes, the CPA’s Professional Liability Insurance program is available to members only.

2. How do I renew my Professional Liability Insurance?

If you are a physiotherapist renewing your Professional Liability Insurance, you can renew your policy online at the same time you renew your membership.

If you are renewing your Individual Cyber Security & Privacy Liability and/or business insurance (e.g., Clinic Professional Liability Insurance, Commercial General Liability Insurance, Clinic/Business Package, Employment Practices Liability Insurance, and/or Business Cyber Security and Privacy Liability), you may do so once you have renewed your membership and individual Professional Liability Insurance with the CPA. These policies are administered by BMS and a unique renewal link will be emailed to you. Visit www.cpa.bmsgroup.com to apply online or contact BMS at 1-855-318-6136 or at cpa.insurance@bmsgroup.com.

3. I am a student member who will be graduating (or has recently graduated). How do I purchase insurance?

Benefit from a 50% discount on Insurance and Membership when you upgrade your Student Membership to the New Grad Category!

Here is how to upgrade your Student membership to New Grad: 

  • If you start working or need insurance before October 1st. Visit www.physiotherapy.ca and log in to your account. Once in the Account Centre, click on Upgrade Your Membership to upgrade to the New Grad member type and purchase insurance. You will pay a pro-rated fee for membership and insurance until September 30, 2024. Once you have completed your purchase for that membership period, you may renew for the new membership and insurance period (Oct. 1, 2024 – Sep. 30, 2025)  at the New Grad rate by contacting the CPA Member Services Team at information@physiotherapy.ca or 1-800-387-8679.
  • If you start working or need insurance on October 1st or after. Visit www.physiotherapy.ca and log in to your account. Once in the Account Centre, click on Become a Member for October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. Then upgrade your membership to the New Grad member type and purchase insurance for the full membership year (October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025).  

Can’t pay all at once?
No problem! A monthly payment option is available for a small administration fee of $25 (not applicable to insurance fees)

4. Do I receive a discount on my Professional Liability Insurance if I work in the public sector?

If 90% or more of your work is done in the public sector, you are eligible for a 15% discount on your Professional Liability Insurance.

Public sector: Services are provided in a publicly funded in-patient or out-patient environment. Public sector practice examples include physiotherapists employed by:

  •   hospitals
  •   long-term care facilities
  •   rehabilitation centers
  •   schools
  •   home care settings
  •   services provided are funded by provincial health insurance or are federally funded

5. I recently moved and need an updated copy of my Professional Liability Insurance certificate. What do I do?

Please update your new address in your Account Centre under My Profile and save the update. Then, under the Insurance section of the Account Centre, next to the insurance option listed, click on Get your Insurance Certificate for an updated copy.

6. I would like to request a refund on my insurance.

The CPA’s Professional Liability Insurance is non-refundable.

7. Who can I contact for more information about insurance?

Please direct all insurance-related questions to our broker, BMS, at 1-855-318-6136 or cpa.insurance@bmsgroup.com.

8. What is the Legal Services Package?

This provides CPA members access to unlimited telephone legal advice for any personal or business-related legal question throughout the year. Additionally, members gain access to a document library of more than 150 legally drafted templates. Members can also have simple legal documents (of up to 8 pages) reviewed by a lawyer.

You can purchase the Legal Services Package (annual cost is $39) when you renew your membership online. You can also contact CPA’s Member Services representatives for assistance at information@physiotherapy.ca or at 1-800-387-8679.

F – Insurance: Special Circumstances

The following Insurance FAQs were prepared in partnership with BMS Canada Risk Services Ltd. (BMS), the broker for the CPA member liability insurance program. They are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute professional broker advice. Full terms and conditions of the policy, including all exclusions and limitations are described in the policy wordings, a copy of which can be obtained from BMS.

 1. I am planning to retire or permanently discontinue practice. Can I stop carrying Professional Liability Insurance?

All members with a Professional Liability Insurance policy through the CPA program automatically benefit from a 10-year Extended Reporting Period (ERP) at no additional charge.

This means that if a new claim were to be made against a retired member within the first 10 years of their PLI policy expiring, the member could report the claim under their last active policy.

Note that the ERP applies only to new claims that are first discovered and filed after the member has discontinued practice and in respect of professional acts, errors or omissions committed prior to the expiry of their last active policy.

Members who continue to deliver services or who remain in active practice (for financial gain or otherwise) must maintain an active PLI policy and cannot rely on ERP.

Please make sure to keep a copy of your most recent insurance certificate as evidence of coverage. You may access your certificate in your Account Centre online or by contacting one of the CPA’s Member Services representatives at infomation@physiotherapy.ca or at 1-800-387-8679.

2. I am on a temporary leave of absence from the profession (e.g., maternity/parental leave, illness, other). Do I need to carry Professional Liability Insurance?

All members with a Professional Liability Insurance policy (PLI) through the CPA program automatically benefit from a 10-year Extended Reporting Period (ERP) at no additional charge.

This means that if a new claim were to be made against a member who is taking a temporary leave of absence from the profession, the member could report the claim under their last active policy.

Note that the ERP applies only to new claims that are first discovered and filed after the member has discontinued practice and in respect of professional acts, errors or omissions committed prior to the expiry of their last active policy.

Members who continue to deliver services or who remain in active practice (for financial gain or otherwise) must maintain an active Professional Liability Insurance policy and cannot rely on ERP.

Most regulatory Colleges will require their registrants to demonstrate that they are covered with a certain amount of Professional Liability Insurance, even after they have ceased patient care. ERP coverage may be suitable to demonstrate to the College that appropriate on-going coverage is in place for registrants on a temporary leave of absence from the profession. Please check with your provincial/territorial regulatory body for specific information about insurance requirements in your jurisdiction.

Note that your regulatory body may require you to have an active Professional Liability Insurance policy in place to provide patient care. This means that you must have an active Professional Liability Insurance policy in place when you choose to return to professional practice.

3. I will need Professional Liability Insurance later in the year. Is it pro-rated, and how do I purchase it?

Yes! The Professional Liability Insurance is pro-rated daily with a common expiry date of October 1 each year. You may add insurance at a later date by logging into your Account Centre and clicking on Add Professional Liability Insurance or by contacting one of the CPA’s Member Services representatives at information@physiotherapy.ca or at 1-800-387-8679.

4. What if I work at two different locations?

The CPA’s Professional Liability Insurance extends to services you deliver in Canada, including if you practice in more than one location, provided you are working within your scope of practice as a physiotherapist.

5. I am a PTA. How do I purchase insurance?

PTA members may purchase an insurance policy directly through our broker, BMS, online at www.cpa.bmsgroup.com or by contacting them at cpa.insurance@bmsgroup.com or 1-855-318-6136.

6. I am a business owner with other professionals working for, or on behalf of, my business and/or billing under my business name. Do I need Professional Liability Insurance to protect my business name?

Yes, you may require additional policies beyond your individual Professional Liability Insurance. Please contact BMS at 1-855-318-6136 or cpa.insurance@bmsgroup.com for further information, to purchase business insurance, or to discuss your specific business coverage needs. You can also apply online at www.cpa.bmsgroup.com.

G – Insurance: Scope of Practice/Coverage

The following Insurance FAQs were prepared in partnership with BMS Canada Risk Services Ltd. (BMS), the broker for the CPA member liability insurance program. They are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute professional broker advice. Full terms and conditions of the policy, including all exclusions and limitations are described in the policy wordings, a copy of which can be obtained from BMS.

1. I already have Professional Liability Insurance through my employer – why should I get my own?

BMS recommends that you check with your provincial regulator as you may be required to hold your own Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) policy as a condition of registration.

Even if this is not the case in your jurisdiction, you may want to consider purchasing your own insurance coverage. An employer’s PLI policy may have restrictions that limit your insurance protection. For instance, many employer insurance policies don’t include the coverage required to defend yourself against a complaint made to your regulatory College.

If you work in public practice and are relying on your employer’s PLI policy, you may be left to manage your defense independently and/or pay for legal defense services and any other expenses out of pocket.

2. Does the CPA’s Professional Liability Insurance cover acupuncture?

The CPA Professional Liability policy covers all activities within the scope of practice of a physiotherapist, including acupuncture. Please note that the CPA’s Professional Liability Insurance policy does not provide coverage for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and TCM acupuncture as this is not within a physiotherapist’s scope of practice. If you require insurance coverage for your TCM acupuncture practice, please contact BMS at 1-855-318-6136 or cpa.insurance@bmsgroup.com.

3. I am also a yoga/pilates teacher – will my Professional Liability Insurance cover teaching yoga/pilates classes?

If you have purchased individual Professional Liability Insurance through the CPA Program, you are eligible to purchase additional professional liability insurance to extend to to cover any yoga/pilates activities delivered outside your scope of practice as a physiotherapist, such as when teaching group classes.

You may purchase this coverage directly from our broker, BMS, by contacting cpa.insurance@bmsgroup.com or 1-855-318-6136.

4. I am an independent contractor or business owner, should I consider any additional Insurance?

Yes, you may require additional coverage beyond your individual Professional Liability Insurance policy. Please contact BMS at 1-855-318-6136 or cpa.insurance@bmsgroup.com for further information, to purchase business insurance, or to discuss your specific business coverage needs. You can also apply online at www.cpa.bmsgroup.com.