A Comparison of Clinical Exams: British Columbia vs. Alberta

In the journey to becoming a licensed physiotherapist in Canada, candidates in British Columbia (BC) and Alberta must undergo clinical competency examinations. In this blog post, we will explore these two exams and shed light on their respective formats.

BC Alternate Clinical Evaluation:

  • The BC Alternate Clinical Evaluation is a practical assessment consisting of 8 stations, along with a designated break station. Each station presents a unique question or scenario that candidates must address.

  • These stations are designed to align with the 2018 Blueprint established by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators, as well as the 2017 Competency Profile.

  • Conducted in-person at the University of British Columbia Point Grey Campus.

  • Each station lasts for ten minutes, comprising a 2 minute reading period followed by an 8 minute interaction. This format ensures that candidates can demonstrate their knowledge, decision-making abilities, and interpersonal skills within a limited timeframe.

Post-Graduate Clinical Examination (Alberta):

  • The Post-Graduate Clinical Examination is a clinical competency exam approved by the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta (CPTA) Council, in accordance with section 3(c) of the Physical Therapists Profession Regulations.

  • Successful completion of this exam is mandatory for admission to the CPTA's General Register and for independent practice in Alberta.

  • The Post-Graduate Clinical Examination is an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) that consists of 12 in-person, hands-on clinical stations held in Edmonton, Alberta.

  • The exam content domains are based on the 2018 Physiotherapy Competency Examination Blueprint by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators.

Similarities between the BC and Alberta Clinical exams:

  1. Format: Both are practical assessments with multiple stations where candidates address unique questions or scenarios.

  2. Blueprint Alignment: Both align and are based on the 2018 Physiotherapy Competency Examination Blueprint by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators.

  3. In-Person: Both evaluations are conducted in-person, at specific locations (University of British Columbia for BC Evaluation and Edmonton for Alberta Examination).

  4. Time Limit: Each station has a designated time limit. BC Evaluation allows 10 minutes per station (2 minutes reading, 8 minutes interaction). The time allocation for each station in the Alberta Examination is not specified.

Need help preparing for your Clinical Exam?

If you are looking for extra help or guidance in your preparations for your Clinical Exam you can sign up for our self-paced online course . Our course has been designed to help prepare you for an in-person clinical competency exam - you will find informative videos, study tips and mock exam stations. You can sign up for a free preview to see if its the right fit for you - you’ll be able to check out the course curriculum and will gain access to a our ligament testing module for free.

Colin Wong