How to Pass Your Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE) Clinical Component, 5 Real Tips!
By: Holly Mitchell BA, MSc(PT)

If you have not yet completed the written portion of the Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE), check out our blog 11 Tips to Pass the Canadian Physiotherapy Competency Exam to gain some great insight!

If you have already written it, congratulations! You've made it through the written component of the PCE! Read below for some great advice and insight on how to pass your clinical component.

But before we get into our advice, the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) lists updates and important information on their website. Be sure to regularly check their website here.

The Final Hurdle

As many new physio grads and international physios probably know, the final hurdle to full independent practice in Canada is the PCE. Ten years ago I was in these shoes and getting nervous about how these impending exams would impact my future.

Looking back, I can barely remember the specifics of what I studied, but I do remember how I prepared for the Canadian physiotherapy competency exam, and for what its worth, it must have been enough because I well and truly passed the exam. I then moved on to many exciting (and sometimes frustrating) opportunities in the physiotherapy world!

Although I am unable to give any content specifics, I want to share a few tips on the preparation that helped me before and after my PCE.

If you do nothing else before the physiotherapy competency exam, at least follow these guidelines! I hope they will help to alleviate some of the pressure you may be feeling, and ease any pre-exam jitters.

5 Tips to Prepare for the Clinical Component of the PCE

1. Practice, practice, practice! 5 days a week

This advice seems obvious, but the easiest way to do this is to have already started working in a clinical position.

Hopefully, by this point, many of you will have continued working from your placements, or secured other work as a Physiotherapy Resident. This gives you the opportunity to make studying for your physiotherapy competency exam a habit and refine your patient interaction, assessment, and treatment skills daily. It provides a way for you to make clinical decisions in a real-life context, and exposes you to peers and mentors to help guide your learning.

Whether you have started working under your provisional practice license or not, be sure to form study groups and engage in practice scenarios on a regular basis. It will feel impossible at times to 'know it all' and to even know where to begin studying: so figure out what you 'don't know' by completing sample practice scenarios, and focus your book learning from the gaps you identify in practice.

If you haven't already checked out the Alliance's guide for candidates, go here for physiotherapy competency exam sample questions, physiotherapy competency exam study material, and more information.

Embodia also has a free online course that was developed during COVID-19. This course specifically talks about the virtual PCE: Preparing for the Practical Component of the Canadian Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE)

2. Know the format, expectations, and rules around the PCE

• Structure: Knowing the content is one thing; knowing what to expect with the format is another. Know the structure of the physiotherapy competency exam! How many stations are there? How long do you have at each station? What type of stations (practical or written) will there be? Nobody can be totally prepared for all the content on the exam. But at the very least don't get bamboozled by the structure. This way, you can focus on what's important - reading the question properly and answering/performing what is asked of you accurately!

• Documentation and equipment: Check what documentation and equipment you need to bring to the physiotherapy competency exam in advance and have it organized ahead of time so you're not fumbling for it the night before. Finally, be aware of the rules regarding cheating and confidentiality.
• The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators takes cheating VERY seriously: This includes discussing the content after the exam. As soon as you're done with the exam, be DONE and don't discuss or duplicate any exam content with your peers. It won't change the outcome of the exam in a positive way (besides, you already passed right?!). You're done: Go celebrate and talk about anything but the PCE!

3. You've heard it before: Safety first!

Know your precautions and contraindications: This seems so simple but is still easily forgotten in a panic situation on the clinical exam. Make safety your number one priority at all stations. Be professional in all your mock patient interactions. It's an easy way to save marks.

4. Know when to pull the plug on preparing - especially the night before

Balance is key: In the upcoming weeks, balance practice with exercise, hobbies, socializing and rest. I recommend practicing 5 days a week, not 7. The night before the exam is not a good time to be cramming and getting anxious and stressed about what you may not know. You'll lose sleep over it and it will affect your performance during the exam the next day. Remember the clinical exam is draining, intense, and 5-6 hours in length. Give yourself the best chance of getting through it by being well-rested.

5. Be confident

Believe you are competent and you will pass the clinical exam! You have done everything you can to set yourself up for success. Remember you have been getting prepared for the physiotherapy competency exam over the last two years by attending lectures, tutorials, clinical placements and studying (probably constantly!). Remember all the Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE's) you completed were physiotherapy competency exam preparation! If you cared to get as far as you have, you will do well. And if you don't know it by 11 pm the night before the exam, you'll never know it in time for this exam, so just accept this and go to bed (see tip #4!). Once the PCE is done, you will have a lifetime of opportunity to learn about all the things you didn't know - or better yet - things that you want to know that will help to transform you into a clinician with his or her own unique set of professional skills. (Stay tuned for my next blog post if you're looking for some guidance on the best courses to take once the PCE is behind you).

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.

Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."

-Helen Keller

Post Scriptum

Although this may not help you with your exam, this will help you when you are a physiotherapist (which of course, you will be after you kill this exam!)

In case you didn't know, Embodia offers a handsome collection of online physiotherapy courses and continuing education physiotherapy courses. 

We know that there are a vast amount of courses out there and it’s hard to figure out where to start, especially in the orthopedic world of physiotherapy. Don’t worry, we got you covered. Our new Orthopedics Entry to Practice course track consists of 15+ hours of content, with 5 core courses focusing on global aspects of patient care and 7 regional courses focusing on specific regions of the body. From effective integration of manual therapy to developing a hierarchical approach to assessing and treating the shoulder joint, this course track will set you up for success. 

Choose to take individual courses or sign-up from a selection of bundles to save more AND learn more.

Click here to learn more about this new course track!

Now go out there and rock that exam with style!

Blog Writer

Holly Mitchell BA, MSc(PT)