physical therapist descent working with patient

Master of Physiotherapy (MHSc)

Physiotherapy is a self-governing profession that promotes fitness, health and wellness. The profession provides frontline client-centered healthcare services to help clients maintain and improve their functional independence; and prevent and manage pain, physical limitations, disabilities, and limits to participation in their activities (Canadian Physiotherapy Association, 2000). The goal of the physiotherapy program is to train bilingual physiotherapists who can serve francophone clients in Ontario and French-speaking communities across Canada and to foster excellence in research and teaching.

The program

Consortium National de Formation en Santé (CNFS)

The Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS) is a national association of post-secondary institutions that offer educational programs in French for various health-care professions. 

The CNFS aims to improve access to health-care services in French in minority language communities by training Francophone health-care professionals and by supporting research related to this training and to the needs of these communities. 

The University of Ottawa is one of 16 CNFS member institutions. 

Its role is to support the health-care sector students, professors, researchers, professionals and supervisors who are involved in its targetted programs in three faculties, namely the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Health Sciences, and the Faculty of Social Sciences. 

Program accreditation

The programme maîtrise ès sciences de la santé en physiothérapie at the University of Ottawa has completed the accreditation review process administered by Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada (PEAC). PEAC is an incorporated body under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and operates as the accrediting agency for physiotherapy education programs in Canada. The status of Accreditation – Fully Compliant was granted to the program until April 30, 2028. A description of Accreditation – Fully Compliant follows.

Accreditation: Fully compliant

  • A program is in compliance with 100% of the accreditation criteria within the Accreditation Standards.
  • There are no criteria in non-compliance.
  • There could be identified concerns that the program must improve upon and report back about in Progress Reports.
  • If progress is not made, the program’s accreditation status could be changed to partially compliant or probationary at any time in the six-year accreditation cycle.

For students

  • If a program loses its accreditation status, its students may not be considered graduates of an accredited physiotherapy education program.
  • Students must be considered graduates from an accredited physiotherapy education program in Canada in order to be eligible to write the Physiotherapy Competency Exam and be licensed to practice physiotherapy in Canada.
  • The program’s accreditation status is important to graduating students with regards to becoming licensed to practice physiotherapy in Canada. It is recommended that students contact the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators for information regarding the process to become licensed as a physiotherapist in Canada following graduation.

More details regarding the definitions of the accreditation levels can be found on the AEPC website, or by contacting:

Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada
509 Commissioners Road Ouest, suite 26
London, Ontario N6J 1Y5
226-636-0632
www.peac-aepc.ca