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Curriculum

Competency-based PT education

Queen’s University’s Physical Therapy (PT) Program is transitioning to a new model of learning: competency-based education(CBE).

Starting in September 2023 with the incoming PT class of 2025, students will participate in a new curriculum that builds essential competencies as they train to become practice-ready physiotherapists.

CBE organizes curriculum around essential competencies and milestones (e.g., competencies related to physiotherapy expertise, communication, collaboration, leadership, management, scholarship, and professionalism) rather than content areas. A milestone is an ability expected of a physiotherapist at a specific stage in their training. Together, many milestones make up a competency. CBE is structured to progress through milestones over time, and revisit concepts at increasing levels of complexity.

Key highlights: 

  • Frequent, low stakes, and meaningful assessments to provide feedback for learners to help them progress towards competency.
  • Custom-designed online system for tracking progress and providing ongoing feedback.
  • Placements: Five clinical and 1 academic (1025+ total hours).
  • Developmental steps that allow students to grow as trainees – from an initial stage of requiring assistance, to performing clinical tasks, to unsupervised execution.
  • Program based on the National Physiotherapy Entry-to-Practice Curriculum Guideline.

Competency-Based Education

What is CBE and how does it work?

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Weekly Schedule

Training is comprised of 3 time periods: Foundations of Physiotherapy, Core of Physiotherapy Practice, and Transition to Physiotherapy Practice. Students will also participate in a research project during their second year.

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Student-Centred Learning

A spiral curriculum will see concepts and milestones revisited at increasing levels of complexity, with well-defined learning outcomes. Our learner-centered program will incorporate Adult Learning Theory, Situated Learning Theory, and Transformative Learning Theory.

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Compassionate Physiotherapists

Our essential competencies prepare physiotherapy learners to address the needs of communities: embrace social responsibility; act with professional integrity; use anti-racist approaches to practice; provide culturally safe care; and practice with cultural humility.

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If you have additional questions, please contact us.