This page applies to candidates who graduated in Québec or elsewhere in Canada or who hold a license in another Canadian province or territory.
Processes differ depending on your situation. In all cases, the following steps are mandatory:
- Pay the registration or file review fee, if applicable.
- Pay the annual membership fee.
- If necessary, provide proof of French proficiency in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the French Language.
This process applies to physiotherapy graduates who completed their studies in Quebec and wish to obtain a license and become a registered OPPQ member.
To obtain a license
If you hold a master’s degree in physiotherapy or a diploma in physiotherapy technology, you must apply for an OPPQ license and for first-time registration as an OPPQ member. Here’s what to do:
- Apply using the online form.
- Pay the registration fee, annual membership fee, and professional liability insurance premium.
You will need the following documents to apply online:
- An official copy of the transcript indicating the degree earned or, where applicable, any diploma supporting your application. If your degree or diploma has not yet been issued, see the FAQs below.
- A recent piece of photo ID.
- If you studied at an English-language university or cegep in Quebec, proof of French proficiency pursuant to the requirements of the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF).
Other documents may be required depending on your situation. These include:
- A letter of good standing if you are a member of another professional order in Quebec or other Canadian regulatory bodies for physiotherapy.
- Proof you passed a course to obtain a certificate of training for performing spinal and joint manipulations or a training certificate for prescribing x-rays if you wish to be licensed to perform either of these acts.
Once your payment is received, Admissions Services will review your application and issue your license.
This procedure applies only to first-time license applications.
To resume your OPPQ membership, refer to the Resuming Practice page.
If you are or have been licensed as a physiotherapy technologist (formerly a physical rehabilitation therapist or PRT) and are now applying for a physiotherapist’s license, please contact OPPQ Admissions Services at admission@oppq.qc.ca.
Fee for first-time license application
Physiotherapists
- Enrollment fee – first-time registration: $125
- Annual membership fee: April 2022 – March 2023
- Professional liability insurance premium
Physiotherapy technologists
- Enrollment fee – first-time registration: $125
- Annual membership fee: April 2022 – March 2023
- Professional liability insurance premium
You must renew your OPPQ membership and pay your annual fee no later than March 31 of each year.
If you register at any other time of year, your annual fee is prorated (i.e., you pay only for the months during which you are registered).
Knowledge of French
To receive an OPPQ license, you must be proficient enough in French to practice as a physiotherapy professional in French.
To meet this condition, anyone applying for registration must:
- Meet the conditions set out in the Charter of the French Language
OR - Obtain a certificate of French proficiency from OQLF.
To learn more, see the Knowledge of French page
Frequently asked questions about first-time registration
How long will it take to receive my license after I first apply for OPPQ membership?
Every application is processed in a timely manner. If your file is complete and you are a Quebec graduate, your application should be processed within 10 business days of receipt.
I want to apply for my license, but I still haven’t received my final transcript or diploma. What should I do?
Until your final transcript or diploma is issued, OPPQ will accept a provisional certificate of completion from the head of the physiotherapy program or from the registrar of your cegep or university.
The institution where you studied must email the certificate directly to Admissions Services at admission@oppq.qc.ca.
You will need to send OPPQ your final transcript or diploma once issued to complete your file.
How will I receive my license number?
You will receive your license number by email. All documents concerning your registration as an OPPQ member, including your license, will then be mailed to you.
I graduated in Quebec over three years ago but have never applied for a license in the province. How do I apply for my OPPQ license?
After three years, a member wishing to register with the OPPQ is considered to be resuming practice.
For instructions on how to apply, see the Resuming Practice page
Membership fees and liability insurance
I would like to become an OPPQ member, but I am still seeking employment. Which type of annual fee should I choose on the notice of annual fee?
If you are seeking employment, we suggest you choose the “Regular member in a private/public setting” category with the OPPQ insurance.
When it’s time to renew your membership (in February or March), you can then select the category that reflects your current job.
For more about reduced membership fees, see the FAQ on Renewing your membership (French only)
Where can I find details on reduced fees?
For more information, see the FAQ on Renewing Your Membership (French only)
During the registration process, I’m asked to choose between private professional liability insurance or public professional liability insurance. Which should I choose?
During the registration process, you will need to choose between private professional liability insurance or public professional liability insurance.
Depending on your situation, one of the following options will apply:
- If you are not working, choose private professional liability insurance.
- If you will be practicing physiotherapy in a private setting, choose private professional liability insurance.
- If you will be practicing physiotherapy only in a public setting, choose public professional liability insurance.
- If you will be practicing in a public setting but you also want to practice physiotherapy in other settings (e.g., volunteering at sporting events, providing professional advice to people you know), choose private professional liability insurance.
For more information, see the FAQ on Professional liability insurance (French only)
Types of licenses and categories
Who can obtain a regular OPPQ license?
A regular license is issued to any candidate for professional practice who meets one of the following conditions, provided they have appropriate knowledge of French:
- You hold a degree or diploma that entitles you to an OPPQ license and that is recognized by the government under section 1.14 or 2.12 of the Regulation respecting the diplomas issued by designated educational institutions which give access to permits or specialist’s certificates of professional orders.
OR - You are recognized as holding an equivalent degree, diploma, or education under the Règlement sur les normes d’équivalence de diplôme et de formation aux fins de la délivrance d’un permis de physiothérapeute ou de technologue en physiothérapie.
OR - You are legally licensed to practice as a physiotherapist in another Canadian province or territory under the Règlement sur les autorisations légales d’exercer la profession de physiothérapeute hors du Québec qui donnent ouverture au permis de physiothérapeute délivré par l’OPPQ.
OR - You have met the conditions set out in the Règlement sur la délivrance d’un permis de l’Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec pour donner effet à l’arrangement conclu par l’Ordre en vertu de l’Entente entre le Québec et la France en matière de reconnaissance mutuelle des qualifications professionnelles.
What are the membership categories?
Any licensed physiotherapy professional may register as an OPPQ member in one of the three membership fee categories: regular, outside Quebec, or retired.
Regular member
A regular member is entitled to practice their profession in Quebec. A reduced membership fee may apply subject to certain conditions determined by OPPQ.
Member outside Quebec
A member outside Quebec is a member whose professional activities are exclusively outside Quebec.
For information purposes:
Retired member
A retired member is a member who is 55 years of age or older and has ceased all professional or volunteer physiotherapy activities.
This process applies to candidates who are physiotherapy graduates of a Canadian university outside Quebec and who have passed the written component of the CAPR exam.
To obtain a license
To be granted a regular OPPQ license, you must successfully complete the clinical component of the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (written) administered by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) and a comprehensive examination showing that you have integrated the program material (clinical).
Until you successfully complete the clinical component, you may be eligible for a temporary restrictive license to practice as a physiotherapist under supervision.
Step 1: Apply for equivalency as a Canadian graduate candidate
To obtain a temporary restrictive license, you must have graduated from a recognized physiotherapy program in Canada in the past three years and must apply for an equivalency by submitting:
- The Application for Equivalency for Canadian Candidates Form (French only).
- Payment of the $114.98 fee for file opening and review (fee includes tax and can be paid by cheque, credit card, or money order).
- Proof you passed the written component of the CAPR Physiotherapy Competency Examination.
- Proof you are registered for a comprehensive examination showing that you have integrated the program material (clinical component) administered by an OPPQ-approved institution.
- A certified true copy of the academic transcript or diploma supporting the application (if these documents are not available at the time of application, submit a confirmation that you completed the university program and earned a master’s degree in physiotherapy).
- The Internship Supervisor’s Commitment Form (French only).
Step 2: Obtain a temporary restrictive license
Once OPPQ approves your application for equivalency, you will need to fill out the First-time License Application for Physiotherapists – Quebec (including fee schedule) (French only) to obtain your temporary restrictive license.
This license lets you practice as a physiotherapist in Quebec under the supervision of an internship supervisor.
Step 3: Obtain a regular license
Once you complete the equivalency process, you will be eligible for a regular license. Submit the following:
- Proof you passed a comprehensive examination showing that you have learned the program material (clinical component) administered by an OPPQ-approved institution.
Submitting your application
Send all your applications:
- by email to Admissions Services at admission@oppq.qc.ca
OR - by mail to:
Service de l’admission
Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Quebec
7151, rue Jean-Talon Est, bureau 700
Anjou (Quebec) H1M 3N8
OR - by fax to 514-351-2658 provided you send your photo identification by email or mail and make your payment by credit card.
Knowledge of French
To receive an OPPQ license, you must be proficient enough in French to practice as a physiotherapy professional in French.
To meet this condition, anyone applying for registration must:
- Meet the conditions set out in the Charter of the French Language
OR - Obtain a certificate of French proficiency from OQLF.
To learn more, see the Knowledge of French page
Frequently asked questions about first-time registration
How will I receive my license number?
You will receive your license number by email. All documents concerning your registration as an OPPQ member, including your license, will then be mailed to you.
I would like to become an OPPQ member, but I am still seeking employment. Which type of annual fee should I choose on the notice of annual fee?
If you are seeking employment, we suggest you choose the “Regular member in a private/public setting” category with the OPPQ insurance.
When it’s time to renew your membership (in February or March), you can then select the category that reflects your current job.
For more about reduced membership fees, see the FAQ on Renewing your membership (French only)
During the registration process, I’m asked to choose between private professional liability insurance or public professional liability insurance. Which should I choose?
During the registration process, you will need to choose between private professional liability insurance or public professional liability insurance.
Depending on your situation, one of the following options will apply:
- If you are not working, choose private professional liability insurance.
- If you will be practicing physiotherapy in a private setting, choose private professional liability insurance.
- If you will be practicing physiotherapy only in a public setting, choose public professional liability insurance.
- If you will be practicing in a public setting but you also want to practice physiotherapy in other settings (e.g., volunteering at sporting events, providing professional advice to people you know), choose private professional liability insurance.
For more information, see the FAQ on Professional liability insurance (French only)
Working as a physiotherapy professional in Quebec
In what sectors do physiotherapy professionals work in Quebec?
Physiotherapists and physiotherapy technologists can work in both the government-funded public sector (hospitals, specialty centres, etc.) and the private sector (independently or with a private physiotherapy or other practice).
For more information on the job market and wages, see the following websites:
Types of licenses and categories
What types of licenses does OPPQ issue?
OPPQ issues three types of licenses for physiotherapists and physiotherapy technologists: regular, temporary restrictive, and temporary licenses.
Regular license
A regular license is issued to any candidate for professional practice who meets one of the following conditions, provided they have appropriate knowledge of French:
- You hold a degree or diploma that entitles you to an OPPQ license and that is recognized by the government under section 1.14 or 2.12 of the Regulation respecting the diplomas issued by designated educational institutions which give access to permits or specialist’s certificates of professional orders.
OR - You are recognized as holding an equivalent degree, diploma, or education under the Règlement sur les normes d’équivalence de diplôme et de formation aux fins de la délivrance d’un permis de physiothérapeute ou de technologue en physiothérapie.
OR - You are legally licensed to practice as a physiotherapist in another Canadian province or territory under the Règlement sur les autorisations légales d’exercer la profession de physiothérapeute hors du Québec qui donnent ouverture au permis de physiothérapeute délivré par l’OPPQ.
OR - You have met the conditions set out in the Règlement sur la délivrance d’un permis de l’Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec pour donner effet à l’arrangement conclu par l’Ordre en vertu de l’Entente entre le Québec et la France en matière de reconnaissance mutuelle des qualifications professionnelles.
Temporary restrictive license
The temporary restrictive license is issued to candidates who, by decision of the OPPQ Executive Committee, must complete refresher training or a bridging program as part of their application for degree, diploma, or education equivalency.
Temporary license
A temporary license is issued to candidates who graduated outside Quebec and who do not yet meet the French language requirements under the Charter of the French Language.
This license is valid for one year and may be renewed consecutively up to three times, with authorization from the OQLF.
What are the membership categories?
Any licensed physiotherapy professional may register as an OPPQ member in one of the three membership fee categories: regular, outside Quebec, or retired.
Regular member
A regular member is entitled to practice their profession in Quebec. A reduced membership fee may apply subject to certain conditions determined by OPPQ.
Member outside Quebec
A member outside Quebec is a member whose professional activities are exclusively outside Quebec.
For information purposes:
Retired member
A retired member is a member who is 55 years of age or older and has ceased all professional or volunteer physiotherapy activities.
This process applies to physiotherapists with a regular license issued in another Canadian province or territory.
Canadian regulatory bodies governing the physiotherapy profession support mobility within Canada. Established under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and implemented under a regulation, an agreement establishes the conditions for recognizing physiotherapists who are legally licensed to practice in a given provincial jurisdiction.
If you no longer hold a valid physiotherapy license, you should contact the relevant authorities to sort out the situation before you apply for a license.
To obtain a license
If you hold a regular physiotherapy license issued in Canada (outside Quebec), you must apply for an OPPQ license and for first-time registration as an OPPQ member. Here’s what to do:
- Submit application using the online form.
- Pay the registration fee, annual membership fee, and professional liability insurance premium.
You will need the following documents to apply online:
- A recent piece of photo ID.
- A letter of good standing from the Canadian governing body for physiotherapists that issued your license and, if you belong to another governing body for a profession in Quebec, from that governing body.
You will also have to prove that you are proficient enough in French to practice as a physiotherapist in Quebec, otherwise you may be issued a temporary license.
Once your payment is received, Admissions Services will review your application and issue your license.
Knowledge of French
To receive an OPPQ license, you must be proficient enough in French to practice as a physiotherapy professional in French.
To meet this condition, anyone applying for registration must:
- Meet the conditions set out in the Charter of the French Language
OR - Obtain a certificate of French proficiency from OQLF.
To learn more, see the Knowledge of French page
Frequently asked questions about first-time registration
How will I receive my license number?
You will receive your license number by email. All documents concerning your registration as an OPPQ member, including your license, will then be mailed to you.
I would like to become an OPPQ member, but I am still seeking employment. Which type of annual fee should I choose on the notice of annual fee?
If you are seeking employment, we suggest you choose the “Regular member in a private/public setting” category with the OPPQ insurance.
When it’s time to renew your membership (in February or March), you can then select the category that reflects your current job.
For more about reduced membership fees, see the FAQ on Renewing your membership (French only)
During the registration process, I’m asked to choose between private professional liability insurance or public professional liability insurance. Which should I choose?
During the registration process, you will need to choose between private professional liability insurance or public professional liability insurance.
Depending on your situation, one of the following options will apply:
- If you are not working, choose private professional liability insurance.
- If you will be practicing physiotherapy in a private setting, choose private professional liability insurance.
- If you will be practicing physiotherapy only in a public setting, choose public professional liability insurance.
- If you will be practicing in a public setting but you also want to practice physiotherapy in other settings (e.g., volunteering at sporting events, providing professional advice to people you know), choose private professional liability insurance.
For more information, see the FAQ on Professional liability insurance (French only)
Working as a physiotherapy professional in Quebec
In what sectors do physiotherapy professionals work in Quebec?
Physiotherapists and physiotherapy technologists can work in both the government-funded public sector (hospitals, specialty centres, etc.) and the private sector (independently or with a private physiotherapy or other practice).
For more information on the job market and wages, see the following websites:
Types of licenses and categories
What types of licenses does OPPQ issue?
OPPQ issues three types of licenses for physiotherapists and physiotherapy technologists: regular, temporary restrictive, and temporary licenses.
Regular license
A regular license is issued to any candidate for professional practice who meets one of the following conditions, provided they have appropriate knowledge of French:
- You hold a degree or diploma that entitles you to an OPPQ license and that is recognized by the government under section 1.14 or 2.12 of the Regulation respecting the diplomas issued by designated educational institutions which give access to permits or specialist’s certificates of professional orders.
OR - You are recognized as holding an equivalent degree, diploma, or education under the Règlement sur les normes d’équivalence de diplôme et de formation aux fins de la délivrance d’un permis de physiothérapeute ou de technologue en physiothérapie.
OR - You are legally licensed to practice as a physiotherapist in another Canadian province or territory under the Règlement sur les autorisations légales d’exercer la profession de physiothérapeute hors du Québec qui donnent ouverture au permis de physiothérapeute délivré par l’OPPQ.
OR - You have met the conditions set out in the Règlement sur la délivrance d’un permis de l’Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec pour donner effet à l’arrangement conclu par l’Ordre en vertu de l’Entente entre le Québec et la France en matière de reconnaissance mutuelle des qualifications professionnelles.
Temporary restrictive license
The temporary restrictive license is issued to candidates who, by decision of the OPPQ Executive Committee, must complete refresher training or a bridging program as part of their application for degree, diploma, or education equivalency.
Temporary license
A temporary license is issued to candidates who graduated outside Quebec and who do not yet meet the French language requirements under the Charter of the French Language.
This license is valid for one year and may be renewed consecutively up to three times, with authorization from the OQLF.
What are the membership categories?
Any licensed physiotherapy professional may register as an OPPQ member in one of the three membership fee categories: regular, outside Quebec, or retired.
Regular member
A regular member is entitled to practice their profession in Quebec. A reduced membership fee may apply subject to certain conditions determined by OPPQ.
Member outside Quebec
A member outside Quebec is a member whose professional activities are exclusively outside Quebec.
For information purposes:
Retired member
A retired member is a member who is 55 years of age or older and has ceased all professional or volunteer physiotherapy activities.
Scheduling an appointment
Candidates can meet with OPPQ by appointment only.
To schedule a phone or a virtual appointment, please write to admission@oppq.qc.ca.
Additional information
To learn more about regulations and other aspects of your future profession, see the Member section (French only)
If you have any questions, email OPPQ Admissions Services at admission@oppq.qc.ca.
If you are dissatisfied with the way your application was processed
1) For questions about or problems with your application
You can contact OPPQ Admissions Services at admission@oppq.qc.ca.
2) If you are still dissatisfied
You can contact the Commissioner for Admission to Professions (in French, Commissaire à l’admission aux professions).
The Commissioner for Admission to Professions is an independent government agency associated with the Office des professions du Quebec.
The Commissioner may:
- Review any complaints regarding access to a profession
- Verify any processes or activities associated with access to a profession
The Commissioner assesses the admissions process based on several criteria (fairness, objectivity, impartiality, transparency, efficiency, timeliness). After review, it may propose solutions to the candidate and recommend that OPPQ review the admission file.
Visit the Commissioner for Admission to Professions website (French only)
Please note:
Only OPPQ can decide whether your qualifications will be recognized and which knowledge and skills, if any, you need to acquire to become an OPPQ member.
Recourse to the Commissioner will not lead to your qualifications being reassessed or the OPPQ decision on recognizing your qualifications being appealed or reviewed.