Credentialling Process FAQs for Refugees and Protected Persons

I am a refugee/protected person in Canada. Can I apply to CAPR to get my physiotherapy education assessed?

Yes, CAPR assesses physiotherapy education for any applicant, regardless of their immigration status in Canada, which includes refugees/protected persons. Please refer to our Credentialling Application Process Guide for more information.

What documents do I need to provide to prove my status a refugee/protected person in Canada?

Any one of the following documents can be used to prove your immigration status:
-Letter of decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
-Confirmation of Permanent Residence document
-Verification of Status document
-Refugee Protection Claimant Document
-Immigration Record of Landing document
-Protected Persons Status Document
-Letters issued by CIC indicating that an individual’s application for protection has been allowed (successful Pre-Removal Risk Assessments PPRA)

If I am a refugee/protected person in Canada, how do I identify this when I apply to CAPR?

You will need to include a cover letter mentioning this information with your application form. We will then contact you to get more information about your situation to provide you with more guidance on how to proceed with the assessment of your physiotherapy education.

I do not have any educational documents with me and I am unable to get access to these documents from my home country. Can I still apply to CAPR?

Yes, you can still apply to CAPR. However, we will need more information from you as to why you are unable to get these documents from your home country and we may need to conduct research about this matter. CAPR has an alternative evaluation process for applicants who cannot access documents from their home country and we can determine if you qualify for this process. See question 5 for information on the alternative evaluation process.

What is the alternative evaluation process and who is eligible for this process?

The alternative evaluation process is designed for those who are unable to document their qualifications for certain reasons, such as limited access to their educational institutions or inability to access resources in their home country. This process is different from the regular CAPR process in that we will require different documents and evidence to prove an applicant’s education. Examples of documents or alternative evidence may include, but are not limited to:
-sworn affidavits
-witness statements/testimonials
-professional license/membership information
-applicant copies of transcripts/educational records
-demonstration of competencies through interviews, examinations or sample work.

Each applicant’s situation is unique, therefore, the process for alternative evaluations will depend upon your situation and what documents you currently possess or have access to. Please contact our office for more information.

I am able to contact my institution in my home country to obtain educational documents. Can I still apply to CAPR under the alternative evaluation process?

No, if you are able to arrange for the required educational documents to come from your home country to our office, you will not qualify for the alternative evaluation process. You must apply for credentialling under our regular process. Please review the credentialling section of our website for information on how to apply.

I was deemed qualified to pursue credentialling with CAPR under the alternative evaluations process. Will my credentials be assessed faster than regular applicants?

Under the alternative evaluations process, there is no guarantee your assessment will be processed quicker than a regular applicant’s assessment. Since the alternative evaluations process is unique to each applicant’s situation, it can take some time to gather the required evidence or documentation that we need. That means it could possibly take more time or the same amount of time as it would to process a regular file. CAPR does not guarantee any particular timeframes for reviewing educational documents under the alternative evaluations process.