RHPA Migration Announcement

New Physiotherapy Regulations Approved Under the RHPA

Posted August 1, 2025

Effective September 5, 2025

The Government of Nova Scotia has approved new regulations for the profession of physiotherapy under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). These regulations will come into force on September 5, 2025, marking a significant step forward in modernizing how the profession is regulated in the public interest.

The final version of the regulations has not yet been published by the government. A link will be added here once they are publicly available.

About the RHPA Migration

On July 29, 2025, the Government of Nova Scotia approved new Physiotherapy Regulations under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). These new regulations will come into force on September 5, 2025.

This marks an important milestone in the College’s regulatory evolution, as physiotherapy formally migrates from the Physiotherapy Act to the RHPA. The RHPA provides a modern, consistent legislative framework for the regulation of health professions across the province. This migration reflects a broader government initiative aimed at strengthening public protection and improving regulatory consistency.

As part of this legislative change, our name will also change. Effective September 5, 2025, we will become the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy (NSRPT), with the purpose of regulating the profession in accordance with the objects set out in Section 6 of the Regulated Health Professions Act.

While our name and legislative authority are changing, our commitment to protecting the public interest through effective, fair, and transparent regulation remains unchanged.

Why This Matters

The migration of physiotherapy regulation to the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) represents more than a legislative update — it is a foundational shift in how the profession is regulated in Nova Scotia.

The RHPA provides a consistent framework that applies across health professions, promoting fairness, accountability, and transparency in regulation. By moving under this legislation, the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy gains access to modern regulatory tools and clearer processes for registration, complaints, and fitness to practice.

This change enhances our ability to:

• Focus on risk-based decision-making that protects the public more effectively
• Ensure greater consistency and fairness across the health system
• Provide clearer roles and expectations for registrants, patients, and the public
• Align with contemporary standards of professional regulation, including transparency, proportionality, and accountability

This is an important evolution in how we fulfill our mandate — one that reinforces our commitment to safe, competent, and ethical physiotherapy care in Nova Scotia.

Summary of Key Changes

The migration to the RHPA brings forward a number of structural and operational changes to how physiotherapy will be regulated in Nova Scotia. While the core mandate of protecting the public interest will remain unchanged, the new framework will provide enhanced tools and oversight mechanisms to support that work.

Governance and Legislative Authority

• The organization will continue under a new name: Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy (NSRPT)
• Beginning September 5, 2025, we will operate under the Regulated Health Professions Act and new Physiotherapy Regulations, replacing the Physiotherapy Act

Regulatory Tools and Oversight

• The RHPA will provide modernized provisions for managing complaints, investigations, and discipline
• It will authorize the use of interim measures and support risk-based decision-making
• It will strengthen pathways for addressing fitness to practice concerns

Registration and Entry to Practice

Under the RHPA, the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy will establish two registers:

• The Practicing Register, for registrants who hold a practicing license — a license issued under the Act authorizing them to engage in practice without conditions or restrictions
• The Conditional Register, for registrants who have not yet met all registration requirements and are authorized to practice subject to conditions or restrictions

Current registrants will be migrated to the new structure automatically. 

Prospective applicants should refer to Changes to Registration Requirements in 2026.

There will be no change to the registration process for applicants who are currently licensed as physiotherapists in another Canadian jurisdiction. 

Under the RHPA, the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy will continue to recognize registration from other Canadian regulators, in accordance with labour mobility principles and national agreements. 

If you hold a current licence to practise physiotherapy in another province or territory, you will continue to be eligible for registration in Nova Scotia using the existing process. 

Additional information will be posted closer to September 5, 2025. For now, no action is required.  

The new regulations clarify the Registrar’s authority to determine whether an applicant meets the requirements for registration. Registration decisions will continue to be grounded in principles of fairness, transparency, defensibility, and risk-based regulation. Where appropriate, registration policies and assessment methods will be established through policy, allowing for flexibility and responsiveness within the legislative framework.

Committees and Decision-Making

The RHPA framework provides for a committee structure that supports transparent, fair, and accountable regulatory decision-making. Many of the statutory and regulatory committees currently operating under the Physiotherapy Act will have corresponding roles under the RHPA.

These committees will migrate into the new framework, updating their mandates, composition, and processes as needed to align with the new legislation.

More information about committee roles, responsibilities, and updates will be shared in the coming weeks.

 Bylaws and Implementation Work Underway

• Draft bylaws to support the RHPA framework have been released for consultation
• Registrants, members of the public, and system partners are invited to review the proposed bylaws and provide feedback
• Public Consultations - Proposed Bylaws Under the RHPA

Oversight of the Regulator

• The RHPA will introduce a quality assurance program for regulatory bodies, meaning the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy will be subject to increased oversight, transparency, and continuous improvement expectations

Mandate and Purpose

• The public interest mandate will remain consistent, grounded in Section 6 of the RHPA
• The Regulator will continue to ensure safe, competent, and ethical physiotherapy care in Nova Scotia

What to Expect Between Now and September 5, 2025

In the lead-up to the RHPA coming into force on September 5, 2025, the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists (NSCP) will be focused on completing the core operational updates necessary to function under the new legislation.

This includes adjustments to internal policies, registration and complaints procedures, committee terms of reference, and public-facing materials. Our goal is to ensure we are fully prepared to operate within the RHPA framework on migration day.

Current registrants do not need to take any action at this time.

We will continue to provide updates as key changes are finalized and will share additional information as it becomes available. We appreciate your patience and support during this period of rapid change.

Ongoing Commitment & How to Stay Informed

As we prepare to operate under the RHPA, the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists (NSCP) remains committed to its core purpose: protecting the public through fair, transparent, and effective regulation.

While this is a time of change, our values and mandate remain consistent. Implementation efforts will continue to focus on meeting the operational requirements needed for a smooth and responsible migration on September 5, 2025, when we become the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy (NSRPT).

To stay up to date, please visit our RHPA landing page. This page will be updated regularly with new information, links, and guidance materials.

If you have questions, we encourage you to visit the RHPA landing page, where we will continue to post updates. While we may not be able to respond to individual inquiries, we will use common questions to inform future updates to our FAQ and guidance materials.