PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
How to become a pelvic floor physiotherapist
Different provinces have different regulations, so it is important to contact your provincial college to find out what their regulations and training requirements include for pelvic floor physiotherapists. Students and recent graduates should note that some provinces do not allow students or physiotherapy residents to practice pelvic floor physiotherapy.
Often, a physiotherapist will begin offering pelvic floor physiotherapy services after completing an introductory course that includes training in internal (vaginal and rectal) examination and treatment. There is currently no specific pelvic floor physiotherapy curriculum offered in Canada, and course content differs between providers. There are many Canadian companies who offer pelvic health continuing education courses. Please check out our monthly course e-blasts to see available courses.
Pelvic floor physiotherapists treat patients with a wide variety of health challenges, such as fecal and urinary incontinence, retention and urgency, painful intercourse, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic/genital pain. Since introductory courses often cover only urinary incontinence, many pelvic floor physiotherapists choose to do several courses in different domains of pelvic floor physiotherapy to ensure that they can treat all populations and all health challenges that fall under the practice of pelvic health physiotherapy.
We recommend contacting your provincial college with any further questions you might have about how to become a pelvic floor physiotherapist.
Women's Health Clinical Specialist Program
Becoming a Clinical Specialist gives you recognition as a leader in your field. The right combination of experience and education provides you with an opportunity to distinguish yourself.
The CPA Clinical Specialty program certifies physiotherapists who have focused their careers and can demonstrate advanced clinical competence, leadership, continuing professional development, and involvement in research in a specific area of practice.
This self-directed program consists of a written portfolio submission and an oral presentation that is assessed by a panel of peers. The components of the program allow candidates to demonstrate their professional competencies and development as a clinical specialist.
The program is targeted to candidates who have a minimum of five years of full-time applied clinical experience and a minimum of 300 clinical contact hours per year for the past five years in the clinical specialty area.