Maintenance of Credentials - Canadian Physiotherapy Association

Every 3 years, holders of the Sport Physiotherapy Canada (SPC) post-graduate SPC Certificate (hereafter called Certificate), and post-graduate Diploma (hereafter called Diploma) are required to present the following documentation in support of maintenance of their status. The Credentials Compliance Team is a branch of the Sport Physiotherapy Canada (SPC) National Executive Committee who ensures ongoing review and development of the SPC Credential Program. As part of their duties, this committee ensure that all credential holders have the appropriate experience and meet the minimum requirements for Maintenance of Credentials and will be in charge of reviewing all Maintenance of Credentials applications. In order to use an SPC Credentials title, market yourself as a credentials holder or apply for a position that requires it, you must maintain your credentials.

TIMELINE

The “3-year” timeline is calculated from January 1st of the year you successfully completed the practical examination to December 31st three years later. Requirements must be completed within this timeline.

To maintain Sport Physiotherapy Canada Credential Program status, you must have a current Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) and SPC membership. You must also hold liability insurance which provides the insured party protection while treating Canadian athletes both inside and outside of Canada. Additionally, you must maintain under one of the following three categories:

1) Maintenance Option A: Full Credentials Maintenance

This maintenance option is for full Certificate or Diploma credential holders who provide on-field coverage and:

May be applying to/or who are involved with Major and Developmental Games selection.
May be examining or mentoring within the SPC Credential Program curriculum.

Requirements for Full Credentials Maintenance:

Current CPA and SPC membership
Current Red Cross First Responder for Health Care Professionals Certification (or equivalent)
Continuing Education: A minimum of 60 hours attending post-graduate courses or conferences relevant to the SPC Credential Program curriculum during the past three years. The hours obtained during the First Responder course do count towards the 60-hour requirement.
Practical Experience: A minimum of 200 hours of clinical and/or on-field work in sports physiotherapy during the past three years. This includes employment and/or volunteer work. Of these 200 hours, a minimum of seventy-five (75) hours of on-field (on-site) experience is required; event name, date and hours must be logged.

2) Maintenance Option B: Mentor and/or Examiner

This maintenance option is available for full Certificate or Diploma credential holders who are no longer performing on-field (on-site) work but would like to maintain their credentials and be able to mentor and/or examine within the SPC Credential Program. Credential holders maintained at this level are NOT eligible for Major & Developmental Games selection.

Requirements for Mentor and/or Examiner Maintenance:

Current CPA and SPC membership
Current Red Cross First Responder for Health Care Professionals Certification (or equivalent)
Continuing Education: A minimum of 60 hours attending post-graduate courses or conferences relevant to the SPC Credential Program curriculum during the past three years. The hours obtained during the First Responder course do count towards the 60-hour requirement.
Practical Experience: No practical experience is required for this maintenance level. However, if credential holders later decide to perform greater amounts of on-field work or would like to apply for Major Games, they would be required to meet the minimum requirements for Full Credentials Maintenance (Option A), as listed above and re-submit the Maintenance of Credential documents and fees.

3) Maintenance Option C: Clinician

This maintenance option is available for full Certificate or Diploma credential holders who are no longer performing large amounts of on-field (on-site) work but would like to maintain their credentials. Credential holders maintained at this level are NOT eligible for Major & Developmental Games selection and CANNOT Mentor nor act as an Examiner for the SPC Credential Program.

Requirements for Clinician Maintenance:

Current CPA and SPC membership
Continuing Education: A minimum of 40 hours attending post-graduate courses or conferences relevant to the SPC Credential Program curriculum during the past three years.
Practical Experience: No practical experience is required for this maintenance level. However, if credential holders later decide they would like to be more involved, they would be required to meet the minimum requirements for either Full Credentials Maintenance (Option A) or Mentor and/or Examiner Maintenance (Option B), as listed above and re-submit the Maintenance of Credential documents and fees.

POLICIES

APPLICATION AND PAYMENT

Maintenance of Credentials Application Form: APPLICATION FORM
Please send the completed form as a PDF to the Credentials Officer at credentials@sportphysio.ca titled ‘Maintenance of Credentials’ along with your most recent First Responder certification
After approval, an invoice of $125 (+tax) will be sent to your application email
Official completion letter will be sent to you. Please keep this for your records.

Following payment, you will be sent your official letter of completion and your credentials will be updated in your account. You will also be provided access to the Core Competency Courses within your credential level.

Please be advised that a late fee applies for all forms received past the expiration of your previous Maintenance of Credentials. Starting January 1, 2025 late Maintenance will be charged $50 (+tax) per year. All Credentials are processed from January to December of a 3-year calendar block, and the renewal deadline is December 31^st.

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