In Ontario, the College of Chiropractors exempts new graduates from paying a registration fee in the year their first certificate is issued. New dentists pay a proportion of the fee depending on the month they enter practice. Respiratory therapists, whether they are new grads or returning to practice after an absence, pay a proportion of the fee depending on the time of year in which they register. Nurses, doctors and midwives all pay the full annual fee no matter what.
Your College has changed its approach to registration fees a couple of times over the past decade. Most recently, members could either pay the full fee or choose to obtain a four-month certificate. This meant that if you were just beginning your career, or returning to work after starting a family, you could obtain a short-term certificate that would bridge the period between when you wanted to enter practice and our annual renewal date of April 1. This could save you several hundred dollars.
But here is what happened: time after time, some physiotherapists failed to renew these short-term certificates. At the College, we spent a great deal of time and money trying to remind them and track them down, yet year after year we discovered many who practiced without a certificate for months at a time. The College’s prime directive is to register physiotherapists to protect the public interest: the four-month certificates undermined our ability to do this and we could not permit this to continue. In June, Council eliminated the four-month certificates.
But now what?
Should we be like the regulators for nurses, doctors and midwives? We would charge the full fee for everyone. In this way, we would know that everyone was duly registered and the public interest would be protected.
Or should we be like the colleges for chiropractors and dentists and offer reduced fees for first time registrants but no one else? If we did this, we would give our newest members a head start and welcome them to practice.
Or should we be more like the respiratory therapist college and permit all registrants to pay prorated fees so they pay only for the portion of the year remaining at the time they register? This would enable new grads, and physiotherapists returning from educational, health or parental leave, to equally benefit from a fee reduction.
Council struggled with this question at its meeting in September: there were passionate arguments for all positions.
The one-fee-fits all approach is simple to administer, simple to enforce and fair because everyone pays the same fee every year. Some would argue it also more aptly reflects a professional commitment to self-regulation than the other options. When a PT takes a break from practice, he or she is still a physiotherapist. Unless you are retiring or turning to a new career, you continue to benefit from self-regulation even when you are not practicing. While you are away for a year or two, the College continues to work on your behalf to ensure the ongoing quality and guidance of your colleagues so that you return to an ever strong profession.
Also, while you are away, if you are not contributing to the cost of running the College, the rest of your colleagues must each contribute just a little bit more until you get back.
On the other hand, applicants who are just beginning their careers are likely to need all the financial support they can get and it might start them off on the right foot in terms of their relationship with the College. A more engaged professional population leads to better self-regulation.
And what about Moms and Dads returning to work after a period of staying home with babies? Or daughters and sons who have taken time off to care for aging parents? Or PTs returning to school for specialty training? The most compassionate regulator would offer assistance to these groups while their earnings were reduced. And the College has been doing this up until now with the four-month certificates. Can we take this benefit away?
Council needs to hear from you—should every registrant pay an equal annual fee or should we offer reduced fees for new members? And how about leaves of absence—should we offer fee reductions for people who need time off from practice for personal reasons?
You can weigh in the comments below, or you can click over to thecollegeasks.com and let us know what you think. If this is important to you—tell your friends to visit the website and provide feedback too.
I am looking forward to a passionate debate.
P.S. Thank you to those of you who offered comments on my last blog. And welcome, if you haven’t dropped in before.
A word about the College’s response to your comments on the blog: we read every one and we learn from you. We welcome your contribution whether you agree with my remarks or disagree. There are a few rules on the side bar that indicate that we might remove comments if they are inappropriate, but otherwise, we won’t censor you. Please don’t expect a reply to your remarks—I already had my chance to express myself, now it’s your turn.
Shenda’s Blog 
I support prorated fees in certain circumstances (not for everyone). I think individuals experiencing extenuating circumstances i.e. an unexpected situation, whether illness or stressful life event should receive special consideration at the discretion of the College, in terms of prorating of fees or fee reduction. Discretion for College staff should not be eliminated!! However, maternity and parental leaves should not be included in this category.
Also, I don’t think it is the responsibility for registrants to ‘subsidize’ those relocating to Ontario or new grads, and there are many other ways to foster positive relations between the College and new grads, rather than reducing their fees.
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I support prorated fees. Finances can be difficult when you have to take some time off for caring for an family member, for parental leave, or when just starting out your career in Ontario. I was not a practising physiotherapist when I was off on parental leave so the college didn’t have to work on my behalf just like before I went to school to be a physiotherapist so I think that argument is ridiculous. Although I can’t foresee taking advantage of this I would definitely support it.
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I also support prorated fees for those who have been on leave or just starting out with one’s career. Finances are difficult and any bit helps.
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I support prorated fees ( paying for the block of months when you are practicing) irrespective of the reason of being away for several months ( caregiving commitments, family leave, world travel). Although I am supportive of ‘new’ registrants coming into the college I would argue that as a veteran member of the college I may need less input than a new grad/new registrant so intuitively can’t support reduced college fees for new registrants. The professional associations provide reduced fees for new grads which I completely support. Great to have the discussion and be able to give input, thank you.
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Providing reduced fees for new graduates would be my choice as it would give them a chance to get established financially , especially in these early difficult times; and how well I remember those days 47 years ago when I started my career as a physio. A little compassion goes a long way.
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I support re-in statement of the four month registration. This would benefit those returning to the practice after a leave of absence, whether it be for parental leave, new grads entering the practice, those returning to practice after an absence, etc. It would also benefit individuals who are planning to retire and not work the full year. Whether a person plans, when renewing the license to only work for part of the year and therefore have the opportunity to pay a pro-rated amount or is returning to practise after being off for a period is inconsequential; whichever, both groups should be treated equally.
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Regardless of the individual status; all physiotherapists should pay an equal registration. There are too many scenarios for exemption available. We are a full time profession and need continued recognition from the public. I say every registrant needs to be totally devoted to this profession and it should start at registration.
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I have commented many times, over the years, that there should be reduced fees for part-time physios. …I have never received any comment back. It makes no sense to me that I should pay the full fee every year, when I only work 2 days each week, compared to a full time therapist, obviously making a lot more money than myself !!!! Half the fees is appropriate for part time therapists to pay……NOT new grads……they are making full time wages!!!!!
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I feel prorated fees for the registration as better option than quarterly or annual registration charges. This way the physiotherapists are registered for the remaining year and any unethical practices while not-registered (as evidenced with quarterly registration processes) can be avoided. Also, I feel irrespective of new or old graduates everybody should pay equal registration as the expectation for service delivery by the public stays similar for both of them and both of them are equally recognized by the College. However, prorated fees while keeps the same annual fees, basically exempts the newly licensed therapists from paying the fees for the months prior to getting their licence.
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I am semi-retired and my hours are few but I want to contribute to the college so with many of us approaching this status will we be considered for a modified semi-retired category under so many hours?
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The fees are so outrageously high that I think we should definitely give a break to the new grads. Writing and passing the PNE should give you your first year of registration. I don’t understand how a pro rated system can be so unwieldy for the college. You pay pro rata for the months remaining in the year then the full amount at renewal time in April. I also support the view of the part timers who have to pay full fees. I work full time and can barely afford the fee, I had to stop my CPA membership when the college fees went up. I would love for the college to represent the real working world and not just academia.
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The College’s prime mandate is to protect the public. Since when does it care who pays what fees? Or who can afford what fees? If the public can be protected with less money, then I suggest the fees be lowered for all registrants. (By the way, here’s an cost saving idea: Why not move the College’s Office to less expensive real estate?) Otherwise, everyone should pay the same fee, without exception.
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I prefer the prorated fee for new physiotherapist or returning P.Ts. The 4 month fee was limiting, for example, if a physiotherapist was not starting back in December then the only other option is to pay the full fee. This is why the prorated fee, in my opinion is the best option.
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I believe prorated fees are best. This way you only have to pay for the time you are actually practicing. How the system works now is unfair for those on parental leave and the 4 month fee was limiting depending on when you started your family. I understand it is more difficult to keep tabs on physiotherapist this way, but just because it is easier doesn’t mean it is fair. We should only have to pay for when we are practicing and not when on parental leave or extended sick leave, etc.
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I have been in touch with the College regarding this specific topic in the past. When I was moving from Alberta to Ontario, I ending up paying full college fees in Ont. to pracise for 3 months. The College had not been working to my benefit for the other nine months I was practising. The Alberta College at that time had a very fair pro-rated fee system. I think it is unfair to have all practitioners pay for a full years fees because some others have been negligent in renewing their 4 month fee. Is it possible they may renew more readily if the fee schedule was seemingly more fair?
Those that are requiring time away from practising are unlikely making the income that would support paying fully, and my opinion is that if there was a “quarterly” pro-rated fee you may have more compliance. Those people that are not practising are less likely to be requiring the College service, and that should reflect the need for less funding on the College’s part.
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I think the fee is too high for all physiotherapists. Now with the government reform in the funding system, there are a lot of physiotherapists who could be basically out of jobs. And nobody knows how long this could last. What does the fees cover and what has the College has done to protect the profession? I did not have a good experience with the College as they were not helpful at the event of my registration number was being stolen and misused by other facility which I did not even work at. When I called the College, they only told me at the time that they could not do anything as the registration number was not confidential. And they even asked me to approach the facility directly to tell them not to use my registration number. I felt I was hopeless with the College. At the end, that was resolved on the court only because the insurance company filed a fraud claim towards one of the employee. Finally,that facility wrote a letter that I have never worked with them and the signature was not from me. And now with the funding change, the College never comes out and say anything to support the physiotherapy care for the Seniors and help to prevent the big companies to monopolize the contracts from the LTC facilties. And yet, we as individual physiotherapists, still need to pay such a high fee.
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Fees should be lover for semi retired/part time working physiotherapists. I do not support reduced College fees for new registrants. College fees are so high, that College should verifie their expences and lower fees for all physiotherapists. d
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You can please some of the people all of the time, and you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. Develop a system that is as fair as possible while requiring minimal staff time to administer. My personal preference would be monthly pro-rated fee with a slight reduction for full year to encourage people to register for the full year. Part time or full time doesn’t make much difference from the regulator’s perspective.
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I note that you have addressed many different scenarios regarding the fees, except for retirees, casual employees or inactive status catagories. At one time, some or these were options but have now been removed. As one who has recently retired, and works only casual weekends, but would like to remain informed and maintain my status with the college; is a full fee necessary in that instance? If a new Grad warrants a reduced fee, what about the retired Physio who has paid the full fee for 38 years? Should that not warrant some consideration? I believe the fees are extremely high as it is, but on a Retirees wage with only a few days to supplement the income, the cost effectiveness has really come into question. The 4 month certificate is absolutely no solution in this situation. Those of us who work on a casual basis to keep up our skills and keep our finger in the pie as it were, should not be required to the same amount as Physios who work full time. I see no fairness in that fee schedule.
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Like many others, I believe in prorated fees for part-time practicing physiotherapists, and lower fees for new grads. For the part-timers – I’d base it on CPA membership categories: 800 hours per year or less worked gives you a lesser College fee (say 60% of full fee). If you work over 800 hours per year, you pay full. As for new grads – yes they may be making full-time salary but these days they are most likely several thousand dollars in debt with tuition from their undergraduate and now graduate programs, plus the cost of the PCE. Give them a break!
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Although not all PT’s work full-time, we are all hopefully are full time professionals and representatives of physiotherapy. I therefore struggle with the suggestion of reduced fees for part-time PT’s, however in light of the CPA/OPA offering this option, I’m not completely against it either. Just keep in mind that more and more PT’s are working part-time these days and if these people are paying less, fees across the board for all registrants will probably go up to compensate.
Although we all complain about fees, I do not feel our fees are excessive. Don’t get me wrong I don’t wish for them to be any higher but when you look at the CPO in comparison to other regulatory bodies in Ontario, our fees are reasonable and in line with our income potential. To those suggestion that they “can’t afford it”, I;d point out that our fees are $2 a day. This is not prohibitive. One less trip to Tim Horton’s. And to those who say they had to cancel their CPA membership due to high College fees, I say that if you are going to be a professional, membership in both the CPO and the CPA should not be an either/or proposition.
It’s unfortunate that the 4 month option did not work well. I do support prorated fees in circumstances such as parental leave or for new grads; particularly for new grads who often graduate in the Autumn and only have 4-6 months of work available to them before the next renewal in April. Although one could argue convincingly that prorated fees should also cover leaves due to illness etc I think the line needs to be drawn somewhere and I do not think this should be allowed. My rationale is that prorated fees for sick leave are much more difficult for the College to administer due to the unpredictability of a sick leave occurrence and duration, as well as difficulty determine what qualifies as being “sick enough” to warrant the prorated fee. Parental leaves and new grads starting work are predictable in both start and end date.
Thanks for the opportunity to provide feedback.
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I suggest pro rated fee with post dated cheque for the date of the next renewal to prevent from having to chase.
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I think the respiratory therapist college approach is the best. A prorated fee for the portion of the year seems the fairest to me.
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As a mother of 2 young children, returning to work with the 4-month option was a great financial benefit. I suggest a pro-rated fee for those who have to take a leave of absence or for those who are newly starting out in our profession.
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Personally I think it would be a good idea to have everyone paying the same price if they are going to be working more than six months at a time. If working less than six months then you pay half the fees. As for new grads they should pay their full fees and then, as you were concerned about, we are all carrying the financial burden ourselves. If people are not paying fees and you are having to chase them then perhaps you could do as they do with motor licenses and have everyones fees paid on their birthdays so they won’t forget and it would be easier to follow up on them.
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I see the merits of all your points- the reality you dont mention is the financial strain many of us feel as salaries for hospital PT’s were frozen for years and our compensation has never reflected our years of experience on most salary grids- our actual income has shrunk relatively over the years as a result and i find the college fee and the association fee a real burden financially though clearly essential to our practice. I do question if the college is as frugal with our money as we have to be to support families on our income- i would like to see prorated fee for anyone renewing at some point other than april- this would help new grads starting mid year and those returning from leaves. New grads and foreign trained PT’s would also be helped financially by keeping the gap between liscensing exams and liscence receipt as short as possible so they càn work at full pay as soon as posible
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I believe fees should be pro-rated for those entering the profession, either as a new grad, as a new Physiotherapist to Ontario or Registrants returning from a leave of absence. It’s just my personal belief of fairness in these economic times.
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Pro-rated is okay, as well as 4M practice. Paying for full year does not guarantee registrants would notify the college (or not at all) if they start or end a job.
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As a physiotherapist I would suggest that the new graduates should be exempted from registration fee for the first time or if it is not possible then it should be 50% less as compared to old practitioner in the field.other than this what ever is the case full fee should be charged even from those who are returning to practice after an absence.
thanks with regards. Sincerely Ahmad Ali Khan pt
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I would say that reduced fees are a good idea for PTs taking a leave from work for personal reasons like parental leave and also the same for new registrants as a good will gesture. It is like welcoming them into the practice.
Thanks 🙂
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One fee fits all sounds fair to everyone but still I feel that under compassionate ground we should think about new registrants and physiotherapists who were away from work for any reason to pay reduced amount of fee as because they need college assistance when they don’t have enough earnings for that year specially when they have families and they have to financially support their family too.
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I feel that the pro-rated fees for new graduates or those returning to the profession from a leave is fair. The onus should be on the individual to renew their 4-month certificate in a timely manner as the onus is on every physiotherapist to renew their annual membership with the College by March 31st. What I find frustrating is that the process is changing too frequently and information does not seemed to be shared with members when they are making decisions about what to do with their membership.
I was off on maternity leave in 2011 when the inactive status was done away with. I only learned when going on my second maternity leave in 2013 that there is a $100 fee to register if you have been on leave for over a year even though it apparently existed during my first maternity leave (it did not apply to me but it would have been good to know). I also had challenges with the process on how to resign my membership at that time. Upon return to practice, I missed some crucial emails related to jurisprudence because my membership had been resigned at the time the emails were sent out. While the onus is on the individual to be current, it is impossible to navigate the website and get every piece of information required. Some of the information is out of date. For example, according to the website you can still get a 4-month certificate up until Dec 1, 2013, which apparently is no longer the case.
Communication needs to be improved. Perhaps an electronic package should be provided to registrants when they resign or when they plan to return from a leave. This package should cover ALL of the options rather than leave it to one person at the College to disseminate all of the information. I’m not sure why the inactive status was done away with but it would also be an option to continue to permit those on leave to receive emails from the College while they are on leave and therefore remain current with changes that take place.
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I whole-heartedly agree with the statement that communication between the College and its members is sadly lacking at times. I have worn the brunt of the College’s wrath personally and believe me when I say that it is a very upsetting thing to have happen. Unfortunately, I feel that no matter how much information you provide the College at times they set their agenda and that is the end of the matter.
Perhaps there should be a page that all physiotherapist can get onto with all of the information and fees to pay when either beginning, starting out in the field, or returning to physiotherapy. This would save a lot of stress and looking for this information and help out tremendously.
Please take heed of the previous comment and this one and get up a page showing everything that is required for all of these circumstances.
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Prorated is fair to all
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