SPC Core Competency Courses

Sport Physiotherapy Canada (SPC) developed its own structured education pathway to assist individuals wishing to pursue a career working in sport and to proceed through SPC’s Credential Program. The pathway, comprised of two entirely virtual Courses titled Fundamentals and Advanced Core Competency Courses, aims to promote standardized, evidence-informed and accessible education relating to the field of Sports Therapy. Knowledge and skill gained from each Course will allow practitioners to work confidently and effectively with athletes both clinically and on the field at regional, national and international levels in either amateur or professional sport.

The Fundamentals and Advanced Core Competency Courses are designed to be completed sequentially to also help interested candidates prepare to challenge SPC’s Written and Oral Practical Exams to become a SPC Certificate and then SPC Diploma holder.

Each course offers a variety of didactic and interactive online sessions (IOS), delivered by experts from across Canada, and may be completed from anywhere, anytime over the course of a predefined period. The virtual format will allow flexibility to accommodate various schedules and time zones, while permitting full time work; registrants may complete modules at their own pace from the comfort of their home, work or on the road traveling with athletes or athletic teams!

The following tables outline preliminary schedules, access to courses content as of January 13th, 2023:

FUNDAMENTALS COURSE | CERTIFICATE LEVEL
Interactive Online Sessions will begin the week of January 30th, 2023
Week 1 – Unit 1: Introduction to Sport Physiotherapy | Guylaine Boutin, Pht, Dip Sport PT, RISPT
Week 2 – Unit 2: Emergency Care | Christian Seguin, BScPT, Dip Sport PT, CGIMS, Sport Physiotherapist; Susie Renaud, M.Sc. BScPT, Dip. Sport PT. RISPT, Physiothérapeute/Physiotherapist
Week 3 – Unit 3: Concussion | Kathryn Schneider, PT, PhD, Dip Manip PT, Clinical Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy; Pierre Fremont, MD, PhD, FCFP (SEM)
Week 4 – Unit 4: Introduction to Taping, Wrapping and Strapping | Genevieve Renaud, BSc.PT, MClSc.PT, Dip. Sport PT, RISPT, FCAMPT; Philippe Maheu, Sport Physiotherapist/Physiotherapeute Sportif, MClSc (Manip Ther), BSc PT, FCAMPT, CGIMS, Dip. Sport Physio, RISPT
Break
Week 6 – Unit 5: Equipment and Protective Gear | Laura Lundquist, PT FCAMPT, Dip Sport PT, RISPT; Shannon Estabrooks, Physiotherapist (PT), Dip Sport PT, RISPT
Week 7 – Unit 6: Functional Return to Sport | Scott Fraser, Sports Physiotherapist, BScPT, Dip Sport PT, RISPT; Ryan Leaver, DPT, Dip Sport PT, SCS
Week 8 – Unit 7: Sport Event Massage | Remo Bucci, RMT, CSMTA (SF), Lead Sport Therapy CSIO on behalf of Canadian Sport Massage Therapy Association (CSMTA)
Week 9 – Unit 8: Parasport | Nancy Botting, Physiotherapist, BPHE, BScPT, Dip. Sport PT; Sport Scientist Canada (SSC)

ADVANCED COURSE | DIPLOMA LEVEL
Interactive Online Sessions will begin the week of February 6th, 2023
Week 1 – Unit 1: Advanced Topics in Sport Physiotherapy | Guylaine Boutin, Pht, Dip Sport PT, RISPT
Week 2 – Unit 2: Emergency Care II | Christian Seguin, BScPT, Dip Sport PT, CGIMS, Sport Physiotherapist; Susie Renaud, M.Sc. BScPT, Dip. Sport PT. RISPT, Physiothérapeute/Physiotherapist
Week 3 – Unit 3: Advanced Taping, Wrapping and Strapping | Genevieve Renaud, BSc.PT, MClSc.PT, Dip. Sport PT, RISPT, FCAMPT; Philippe Maheu, Sport Physiotherapist/Physiotherapeute Sportif, MClSc (Manip Ther), BSc PT, FCAMPT, CGIMS, Dip. Sport Physio, RISPT
Week 4 – Unit 4: Sport Orthopedics and Clinical Reasoning | Amanda Joaquim, PT, FCAMPT, SPD, MSc.PT, MClSc, BSc Hons. RISPT; Meghan Buttle, Senior Physiotherapist CSIO, FCAMPT, Dip Sport PT
Break
Week 6 – Unit 5: Applied Exercise Science | Doug Stacey, Sports Physiotherapist, Dip Sport PT; Jovana Smoljanic, Sports Physiotherapist, Dip Sport PT, Exercise Physiologist
Week 7 – Unit 6: Performance Nutrition and Rehabilitation | Ricky Ng, Registered Dietitian, RD-CSSD, IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition (IOC-D), ISAK-1, Performance Nutrition Director Las Vegas Raiders
Week 8 – Unit 7: Athlete Mental Wellness and Performance | Leah Ferguson, Ph.D, Associate Professor (Kinesiology) USask, Mental Performance Consultant (MPC)
Week 9 – Unit 8: Clean Sport | Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) – True Clean Sport Module

Dates correspond to the week that Interactive Online Sessions (IOS) with instructors for each Unit. The remaining course material may be completed at the participant’s own pace, outside of the indicated timeline. Exact IOS dates and times, as well as Unit order, will be confirmed in the Course Syllabus and are subject to change.

Online via ELearning Platform

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION (Until January 4th, 2023)
SPC Members: $1645 (+tax) CAD
Non Members: $1945 (+tax) CAD

REGISTRATION (on or after January 5th, 2023)
SPC Members: $1695 (+tax) CAD
Non Members: $1995 (+tax) CAD

FUNDAMENTALS Registration HERE
ADVANCED Registration HERE
When filling the form through the registration link, ensure you are using the email address attached to your CPA membership to have the member discount automatically apply. If it is still not appearing, please contact treasurer@sportphysio.ca. Please check your spam folder if you do not receive a receipt.

ENROLLMENT POLICY

• ALL are welcome to enroll (SPC Members and Non-members)
• Minimum requirements for on-field hours as well as mentorship hours are NOT required to enroll in core courses
  • Minimum requirements necessary for all SPC credential program/exam applications
• Current First Responder certification is NOT required to enroll in core courses but is recommended
• Must be a SPC Certificate holder, Diploma candidate, Diploma holder or have taken the Fundamentals course in order to enroll in the Advanced Course
• Enrollment in both Fundamentals and Advanced courses simultaneously is NOT permitted at this time*

*Exceptions may be made for approved SPC mentors, examiners and Diploma holders in good standing with up to date maintenance of credentials

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellations received 2 weeks prior to the official course start date will receive a full refund minus a $250 administrative fee. Any cancellations received within 2 weeks of the official course start date will not receive a refund. Deferrals will be possible and accepted for an additional $50 administration fee – requests must be received no later than 1 week prior to the official course start date.

1. How often will the Core Courses run?
   Courses will run twice annually; late summer/fall + winter/early spring sessions, ahead of SPC’s Written and Oral Practical examinations, respectively
2. If you can complete course material from ‘anywhere, anytime’ during the predefined period, why are there specific dates/times associated with each Unit?
   Dates correspond to the interactive online sessions (IOS) that will be hosted and moderated by instructors for each Unit. The remaining course material may be completed at the participant’s own pace, outside of the indicated timeline. IOS details will be communicated to participants closer to course start dates.
3. Are mentorship hours required to enroll in Core Competency Courses?
   No. Mentorship hours will be mandatory to apply for the Oral Practical exams starting in 2023. Changes to minimum requirements, along with updated resources (including mentorship logbooks, objectives and references etc.) will be shared upon application.
4. Are current SPC First Responder (SFR) certifications required to enroll in Core Competency Courses?
   No. SFR training is recommended but NOT required for course enrollment. However, current SFR certification is mandatory to apply to challenge both Certificate & Diploma designations.
5. Are minimum ‘on-field’ hours required to enroll in Core Competency Courses?
   No. Minimum on-field hours are NOT required for Course enrollment. However, minimum on-field hours are required to apply to challenge both Certificate and Diploma designations.
6. Is completion of Core Courses mandatory prior to SPC’s written credential exam?
   No. Though review of course materials may be advantageous to those preparing to challenge the written portion of the credential program examinations, candidates may complete course material at their own pace during the one-year access period. Course enrollment and completion will be mandatory at or before the Oral Practical exam before corresponding designations (Certificate or Diploma) will be granted.
7. Is Core Course completion mandatory to obtain SPC designations?
   Yes. Effective spring 2023, credential program candidates will be required to present a valid Core Course certificate of completion at or before the Oral Practical examination before SPC designations will be granted for the given credential.
8. Is there a maximum allowable time between Course registration and completion of the Written Exam for the respective SPC credential (Certificate or Diploma)?
   Yes – 3 years, in keeping with SPC Maintenance of Credentials (MoC).
9. Are Diploma candidates required to enroll in and complete the Fundamentals Course if they attained their Certificate prior to 2023?
   No. Diploma candidates will NOT have to complete the Fundamentals Course if they were Certificate holders prior to 2023. As of fall 2022, registration into the Advanced course will be mandatory ahead of challenging the Diploma examinations.
10. Are members who have successfully completed the written examination but have yet to challenge the Oral Practical examination for a given credential still required to enroll in and complete the Core Competency Course for that designation?
    Yes. Credential program candidates who have yet to successfully complete both written and Oral Practical examinations for a given credential will be required to enroll in and complete the Fundamentals or Advanced Core Competency Course before they will be able to obtain the Certificate or Diploma designations, respectively.
11. How long would a unit take to complete?
    Here are some course unit estimates, please note that everyone’s personal experience could vary:
    – 1 to 4 hours of online course material
    – 1 to 2 hour interactive sessions
    – Clean Sport and Parasport also have external modules, which could add an additional 1 to 3 hours for those units
12. Can I extend access to the course?
    Registration includes one year to complete the course; however, if you would like to extend access to complete the course or simply want access to the resources, an extension can be provided at:
    – $100 (+tax) for an additional 6 months
    Please email support@sportphysio.ca to inquire for an extension.

Summer/Fall 2023 – stay tuned!