Working in Canada-PNE, Please help!

[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.