International Admissions

International admission is on a competitive basis. The following are the minimum criteria for entry:

• Candidates must hold an entry-level degree in physical therapy with a minimum B+ average (76%) in senior-level requirements
• Candidates must have a minimum of one year of recent clinical experience in orthopaedic physical therapy and have completed 30 hours of clinical mentorship in manual therapy (see below for details)
• Candidates must have successfully completed the Level II Upper and Lower courses and examinations in the Canadian Physiotherapy Orthopaedic Division Advanced Orthopaedic Manual and Manipulative Physiotherapy program, or an equivalent (as an example: Orthopaedic Manual Therapy)
• Candidates must be physical therapists registered in British Columbia: a courtesy registration for international therapists can be obtained from the College of Physical Therapists of B.C.
• Meet the minimum English language requirements

Malpractice insurance is mandatory.

Students who are aiming in the long term to emigrate and practice physiotherapy in Canada are responsible for organizing any travel documents or visas. Assistance with preparing for the national licensing exam is available through our department: Internationally Educated Physiotherapist (IEP) Exam Preparation Program.

Tuition

Total course and lab fees for GCOMPT (21 credits) were $16,075.45 for international students for the 2022 September start. Please note that these fees are paid on a course-by-course basis, with the majority of the course and lab fees due in January; see Important Dates and Deadlines for details.

Please note that students are also responsible for paying fees to the UBC Alma Mater Society, some of which can be opted out. Information on those fees can be found on the UBC Academic Calendar(part-time schedule).

Students are also responsible for organizing a clinical mentor, and for paying any costs associated with this. Students are responsible for any costs associated with travel to and from UBC, and maintaining professional registration and appropriate insurance liability.

GCOMPT Application Process

 The following is a summary of the steps you need to take to complete your application for the certificate program. If you have not done so already, review the section Admission Requirements to ensure you are eligible. In addition, please read the note at the bottom of this page regarding the MRSc program.*

1. Ask your current or previous academic institution(s) to send us the following:
   A copy of your official transcripts. These records must be received in official university envelopes, sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution. Please submit copies from each college and/or university you attended (or are currently enrolled). If these are not in English or French, please provide an official translation. If this requires opening a transcript, please order an extra one for yourself for this purpose. The transcripts received at UBC must be sealed by the issuing institution.
2. Send us the following documents:
   1. Proof of registration (or eligibility) with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (formerly CPTBC).
   2. Letter from employer verifying 1-year experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy
   3. Proof of Level II exam completion
   4. Proof of clinical mentorship completion (10 hours direct and 20 hours indirect, with FCAMPT registrant)
3. If the language of your entry-level PT degree was not English, ask the testing centre to send your English Language test results directly to us.

Transcripts and English language test results must be mailed directly to us at the address below. Other materials may be mailed or emailed.

Mailing Address
Graduate Certificate in Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy
Department of Physical Therapy
2177 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
V6T 1Z3

Contact Information
Email: GCOMPT.admin@ubc.ca
Tel: 604 874 4111 x21810
Fax: 604 822 1870