Physical Therapy Program

Vision Statement

Excellence, innovation, and social accountability in physical therapy education, research and clinical practice.

Mission Statement

Through educational, research, and service activities, the PT program:

  • Trains future physical therapists to become experts in optimizing health, function and participation of individuals in society.
  • Contributes to research and scholarly endeavours, including knowledge creation, dissemination and implementation.
  • Promotes equity, diversity and inclusion in health care education, research and practice.

Values

In pursuing our Vision and Mission, the PT program is guided by the over-arching core values of:

  • Integrity – includes accountability, fairness, honesty, respect, transparency.
  • Professionalism – includes adaptability, collaboration, compassion, ethical behaviour, ongoing learning.
  • Wellness – includes mental and physical health, safety, support, sustainability, work-life balance.

 


Physical therapy (physiotherapy) is a primary care, autonomous, client-focused health profession dedicated to improving quality of life by:
  • Promoting optimal mobility, physical activity and overall health and wellness;
  • Preventing disease, injury and disability;
  • Managing acute and chronic conditions, activity limitations and participation restrictions;
  • Improving and maintaining optimal functional independence and physical performance;
  • Rehabilitating injury and the effects of disease or disability with therapeutic exercise programs and other interventions; and
  • Educating and planning maintenance and support programs to prevent re-occurrence, re-injury or functional decline.

(Canadian Physiotherapy Association)

Physical therapists use exercise, physical modalities, manual therapy approaches, assistive devices and lifestyle management to help individuals obtain maximal functional potential. The physical therapist is a health professional who contributes to the multidisciplinary team through patient evaluation, treatment planning and delivery, education, research and consultation in clinics, industry and the community.  

The academic/clinical program in physical therapy consists of seven consecutive semesters over 18 months, following a qualifying year consisting of professional and interprofessional education courses in physical therapy. Clinical experience is provided in the teaching hospitals of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, and other affiliated centers. The clinical affiliations completed over the 18 month program exceed 1,000 hours of clinic-based experience. The credit weighting for this program is 63 credits.


The Master of Science (Applied) in Physical Therapy at McGill University 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 awarded to the program for the period until May 15, 2029. A description of Accreditation – Fully Compliant follows.

More details regarding the definitions of the levels of accreditation are available at http://www.peac-aepc.ca/english/accreditation/levels-of-accreditation.phpo or by contacting Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada, Suite 26, 509 Commissioners Road West, London, Ontario, N6J 1Y5, (226) 636-0632, www.peac-aepc.ca.

 

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.

STUDENTS–IMPORTANT TO NOTE
→ 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 (alliancept.org) for information regarding the process to become licensed as a physiotherapist in Canada following graduation.

 

 


 

 

Students may also enter an undergraduate BSc (Rehabilitation Science) program following a Quebec Collegial Program in Sciences or equivalent. Following graduation from this program, students may apply directly to the professional Master’s program without completing the qualifying year.

 

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