Searching advice about Canada

[bigchris]

Hello.

I'm looking for some advice or little gems of information that anyone might have about moving to Canada to practise please. I'm a 4 year post grad UK Physio with 4 yrs NHS rotational experience and 2 yrs+ private practice MSK.

I've read up all i think i can about the application process and i have recently sent off all of my paperwork to 'The Alliance' for credentialling, so i'm just waiting to hear back about that (fingers and everything crossed it will all go without any issues!)

I suppose I would like to know some real life experiences about Canadian Physiotherapy...... is the Job situation and employability in Canada as good as i'm hoping it is?

Can anyone suggest any particularly nice places to start out/ move to?(I appreciate its a pretty expansive question as Canada is MASSIVE with all types of climactic conditions)

I guess I'm looking for better, more snowy winters with the option of good skiing, and warm summers, and above all good job/ career prospects.

Can you offer any advice about 'the big move' and how it has affected family that have travelled with you?

Any and all information/ experiences, good & bad would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much in advance

Chris

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[physio48]

Hi,

If you like snow, then Calgary may be an option depending on what other family members work is. We have crazy weather here, which makes life interesting. But some good clothing, snow tires and away you go (lots of sunshine). Close to the mountains for skiing/hiking/ridding etc. Weather which changes in hours from + 9 to -18 and snow, also goes the other way to lovely warm weather in the middle of winter!

The credentialing process can be slow, took a year for me just to get a reply, but I believe they have improved it recently. The exams are the hard part. You have to totally relearn everything and some as they go into a lot more details in areas we did not cover at uni. Also you need to know everything for the exam, not something we ever had to do in the UK. I have found after failing the first time I had to spend nearly 8 months trying to retrain my brain to think totally differently to the way we were taught and we practiced in the UK. You need to practice lots and lots of exam questions as well as following the exam blue print. There is a good course at the Uni of BC online which is also helpful. There is a lot of stuff that is different, but how do you know what is different, in one book it says this (UK book) US book say something different, Aus book different again, which is right, what book/papers/techniques did they use in their Canadian training, we don't know, that is what I find so frustrating about the test. With the US exams there are many books to guide you, but not for the Canadian exam, (note different for US exam) happy days.

Move is fun, shipping suff takes 3 + months depending on weather. Things are a lot more expensive here, houses, bills, food etc, Cars, electronic cheaper and gas. You need health ins here too to cover some of you health care.

My advice is pass first exam before coming here as difficult to work without it even as a physio assistant. In some places including here you cant work as an assistant.

Check out a number of places to see what fits you and your budget and interests from BC, Calgary, Toronto etc.

Good Luck,



Wages are better, lots of private practice here as they don't have typical outpts MSK like UK you go to a private clinic and get treatment on your health insurance.

[prichards]

Hi Chris

Im kind of in the same boat as you, 33 years old with similar level of experience. I have completed the bridging program but am yet to decide whether to continue with the exams. I hear Vancouver is great but very expensive to live and buy accommodation. That kind of puts me off, since I'm at an age where it would be nice to maybe buy property in the near future. Im also not entirely sure I want to live and work abroad again, since I already spent some years working in Singapore. It was a great experience, but part of me is tired of not living at 'home'. I am just about to start looking for work in the UK again after quitting my job in Singapore. Just wondered where you are at with the Canada stuff? Would be good to hear from you.

*Would also be good to hear from anyone else who knows what the MSK employment situation is like in Toronto, as this is where I am considering going to if I go ahead with the exams*

Regards

Paul

[angeloptrp]

Is there someone Asian Physiotherapist here working in NZ?
I need some advice.
Thank you.

[qJaiPT]

Hey guys,

Here is a facebook group for people studying for the PCE in toronto, many are PT residents that are currently working.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PCEclinicalcomponent/

I personally work in Toronto and I am constantly hearing about new job opportunities in private practice msk, hospitals, and community health. So i think there should be some good job prospects depending on where in toronto you would like to live and what type of practice.

Hope this helps!

[Dechinekedkk]

Qjaipt. Please I want to know more about the credentialing and written exam process/part