Key takeaways.
- You do not need a doctor's referral. In the first 12 weeks after a reported crash, physiotherapy is pre-approved by ICBC.
- Bring your ICBC claim number and Personal Health Number if you have them, plus any emergency room or imaging paperwork.
- The first visit covers your history, a safety screen, a physical exam, and a written plan you can follow.
- We bill ICBC directly for covered visits, so there is nothing to pay upfront.
- Wear or bring clothing you can move in, so the physiotherapist can examine you.
What to bring to your first visit.
A few things make the first appointment go faster. None of them stop you being seen if you forget, but they help us start treatment sooner rather than spend the visit chasing paperwork.
- Your ICBC claim number, if you have one. Reporting the crash to ICBC opens the claim and gives you this number.
- Your Personal Health Number, the number on your BC Services Card.
- A short description of the crash: how it happened and where you were hit.
- A rough symptom timeline: when the pain or stiffness started and how it has changed since.
- Any paperwork from the emergency room, a walk-in clinic, or imaging such as X-rays.
- Clothing you can move in. The physiotherapist needs to see the area move, so loose or athletic clothing is easier than work clothes.
What actually happens at the assessment.
At our clinic we book a longer initial assessment, so there is time to listen, screen, and plan rather than rush straight into treatment. The first visit usually moves through five stages.
History. The physiotherapist asks about the crash, your symptoms, your health background, and what you are trying to get back to at work and at home. This is where the symptom timeline you brought is useful.
Safety screen. Before any hands-on work, the physiotherapist checks for warning signs that point to something needing a doctor's attention first. If anything flags, they tell you and recommend the right next step.
Physical exam. The physiotherapist looks at how the injured area moves, where it is tender, how strong it is, and how it responds to gentle testing. This is why clothing you can move in helps.
Diagnosis or working hypothesis. Sometimes the cause is clear after the exam. Often it is a working idea that gets refined over the next few visits as the physiotherapist watches how your symptoms behave. Either way they explain what they think is going on in plain terms.
A written plan. You leave with a plan: what the treatment will focus on, what you can do at home, and a sense of the next steps. Nothing about your recovery should feel like a mystery when you walk out.
No referral needed, and we handle the ICBC billing.
You do not need a doctor's referral to start physiotherapy after a crash. ICBC pre-approves a set of treatments in the first 12 weeks after a reported crash, and physiotherapy is one of them. The no-referral and pre-approval rules are set out on ICBC's treatment-access page.
We bill ICBC directly for covered visits, so for most people there is nothing to pay upfront. We confirm your claim and allotment with ICBC before treatment begins. If you want to understand exactly how the claim number and booking work together, our guide to your claim number and booking walks through it step by step. For the full list of what is and is not covered, see what ICBC actually covers in the first 12 weeks.
What happens after the first visit.
The first assessment sets the direction. From there, most recoveries combine hands-on treatment to settle symptoms and restore movement with active rehab to rebuild strength and capacity. The physiotherapist adjusts the mix as your symptoms change.
Active rehab is the exercise-based part of recovery, usually led by a kinesiologist, and it is pre-approved under ICBC alongside your physiotherapy. Our guide to active rehab and kinesiology explains how it fits in and when it usually starts. You do not need to decide any of this before your first visit. That is what the assessment is for.
Common questions.
What should I bring to my first ICBC physio appointment?+
Bring your ICBC claim number and your Personal Health Number if you have them, a short description of the crash, and a rough timeline of how your symptoms have changed since. Any paperwork from the emergency room or imaging helps. Wear or bring clothing you can move in. If you do not have your claim number yet, we can still see you and sort the billing afterwards.
Do I need a referral?+
No. In the first 12 weeks after a reported crash, physiotherapy is pre-approved, so you do not need a doctor's referral to start. ICBC sets out the no-referral and pre-approval rules on its treatment-access page. You need your claim number and Personal Health Number, not a referral letter.
How long is the first assessment?+
We typically book a longer first visit than a follow-up, because the first appointment has to cover your history, a safety screen, a physical exam, and a written plan. We would rather give that the time it needs than rush it. Your physiotherapist will confirm the length when you book.
Will I get treatment on the first visit?+
Often, yes. Once the assessment is done and the physiotherapist is confident it is safe, the first visit usually includes some hands-on treatment and a few starting exercises. If something needs to be checked by a doctor first, the physiotherapist will tell you and treatment can wait until that is clear.
What if I do not have my claim number yet?+
You can still book and be seen. We handle the ICBC billing for covered visits, and we can confirm your claim details with ICBC after the appointment. Reporting the crash to ICBC opens the claim and gives you the claim number, so do that as soon as you can.
Related reading
Got a claim number?