Working in Canada-PNE, Please help!

[tea]

Hi again

I've noticed that you are from Calgary? Is that right? Are you working there or somewhere else? I had an interview with Calgary health region yesterday. They came up to London UK, to recruit nurses & physios for Calgary. So maybe I'll end up working there if I get accepted by Alliance first. Could you please tell me a bit about Calgary, which hospital would you recommend etc. Do you have a rotation system for physio 1(I was told you have 2 mnth rotations in each area). How much support from senior do you get? And do you have regular in-service training?
Sorry to bother you with all this, but It's really helpfull to hear it from the physio! I am a junior physio who hasn't managed to get a junior rotation post in Uk for ages( like tousand others) and would like to do it in Canada, as it would be easier to pass the exam.

Thank you again for your help

Thea

[morwenna]

Hi Thea,
I have been in Canada since Oct 2005 (from Sussex originally), and took my written test here in Jan 06.

If you were told CHR has 2 months rotaions for junior physios then I expect you are better informed than I am! I did not get into a hospital post, but joined the region in Home Care, which was sort of like community physio, but I had a case coordinator's role, so I had to case manage clients and arrange personal care and equipment etc, as well as (and in many cases instead of!) carrying out PT treatments.
I have just started in a rehab centre run by "Care West" which is a private, not-for-profit company which is funded by the region for it's long term and rehab clients.

In my experience, there are mainly PT1's who can be anything from just qualified to dinosaurs such as myself! New grads can get jobs in private care or in hospitals, and it seemed to me that it was up to the individual to be responsible for their professional development, with little structure such as in the UK. PT2's are likely to be clinical leads, ie superintendent grades. I haven't met many!

It likely is different within an acute hospital, as there is more opportunity for supervision, support and teaching than in the areas where I have worked. There are certainly loads of internal and external courses, and CPD is a matter which will soon be enforced as it was being threatened to in the UK (has it happened yet??) I think it odd that they seem happy to allow a new grad loose unsupervised in clients' homes, and it can be extremely isolating too, so I'd recommend a hospital post to any new PT, personally.

I'm surprised to hear that they were recruiting for PT's in England, though I know they are chronically short of nurses! You can check out Calgary Health Region, including vacancies, on their web-site, and also look at the College of Physical Therapists of Alberta, and the Canadian Association of Physical Therapists for more job opportunities.

It is a wonderful place to live, especially if you are into winter sports and mountainy stuff! I don't really find huge differences in practice here, compared to the UK, some things seem better, others worse!, but that's life!

One thing ... Calgary is still in "boom town" mode. It is not that cheap a place to live even compared to the UK!

Let me know if I can help in any way.....

[tea]

Hi again

I have more questions for you, if you don't mind.I am actually surprised to hear that life is expensive in Calgary. I was told that Alberta is the richest province in Canada and has the cheapest cost of living? I have the info pack about Alberta and it seams like the best place to be. I am trying to make up my mind where to go actually. Ideally I would like to work in BC.But sice I talked to those people form Calgary health region I've been thinking about this option too. They will even cover the cost of moving. But there is one problem though. I rang the College of PT in Alberta yesterday and they told me that I can't get a temporary licence unless I pass the theory part of PNE. They changed the rules in October 06. In BC you can actually get temp. licence as soon as you pay for the PNE, which I think is reasonable. I don't think i'll be able to pass the practical part if I don't work there prior to exam.
Did you work in Calgary before compleeting PNE?

Much appreciated

Thea

[morwenna]

Hi,

Calgary is indeed a boom town, which has led to sky-rocketting in house prices mostly, as the city has grown at such a rate in the last 3 years, with many folks relocating here from other parts of Canada as well as abroad. The cost of rentals is also correspondingly high, and I guess you would be renting at least to start with.... and the availablity correspondingly low, with anything decent being snapped up. Check out www.Homerent.ca . Cars and gas (petrol) are of course cheaper, utility bills fairly high, car insurance is astronomical, and grocery bills for 4 of us are the same or maybe higher than I used to spend in England. Overall we do not find we are substantially better off, but then we have gone a little mad and bought a GORGEOUS house, and we like to ski etc, which is a bit of a money-burner!

The only more expensive cities to live are Toronto and Vancouver.
http://www.2ontario.com/welcome/coca_701.asp
If you are coming from London though, you will probably find it cheaper here!!

What makes Calgary (or rather Alberta) cost of living cheaper is that we pay only GST (Goods and service tax - like VAT) and not Provincial sales tax, PST, which all other provinces pay as well as GST. Also I believe Alberta personal income tax is amongst the lowest of all provinces.

Many other provinces have much lower housing costs, but possibly fewer opportunities too, and often lower wages. Rural areas as opposed to cities may also give the same options.

I had heard that Alberta PT's had changed the rules re the PCE/PNE. As it happened, I did not work before I had passed my written exam, but I would have done if I had been able to get a job! Once you do pass the written there should be no problem in working under mentorship while you study for your clinical part.

Check out www.BritishExpats.com where you will get lots of information from people who are thinking about emigrating, doing it, have done it, or are Canadians who just like to join in! You can ask for everyone's opinions, but be warned some people are not happy and will tell you why!

That said, we love it here!

[slegs9]

hi,
Thanks for the information. ur really very good at giving guidance. I am planing to come to canada by next year and looking for the information, at present i am working in UK.Please do let me know abut the process.
Thanks

[morwenna]

Hi Slegs,

Check out the web-site for the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators.

http://www.alliancept.org/

This gives information regarding credentialing process, and then look at the Physiotherapy association or College for the province you are interested in registering in.

Each province has it's own rules and requirements, but most require you to pass the Alliance's competency exam, which you can only challenge having had your credentials examined for equivalency to Canadian training first.