Simplifying event registration for continuing education programs at UBC
Published on 26 Jun 2026
The Department of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia runs several professional education programs each year, including certification exams and refresher training for physiotherapists. After their previous registration tool was discontinued, the team switched to Fourwaves for a reliable, easy-to-use way to manage registrations and payments.
Professional certification exams and continuing education programs
Higher education (University of British Columbia, Department of Physical Therapy)
Manage event registrations, review payments, and organize participant information for professional training programs.
The Department of Physical Therapy manages registration and payments for its certification exams and refresher courses on Fourwaves.
Supporting professional development in physical therapy at UBC
Continuing education is a central part of professional practice in physiotherapy. At the University of British Columbia’s Department of Physical Therapy, several programs help practicing clinicians maintain and refresh their skills.
Ana Ferraz supervises the operational delivery of these programs. As Senior Program Assistant in the department, she manages the day-to-day planning, scheduling, and administration of several initiatives, including the ACE BC Exams, the Physio Refresh program, and other professional development courses offered by the department.
These programs bring together a wide range of participants. The ACE BC Exams typically hosted between 80 and 120 candidates per exam session and were held multiple times each year. The Physio Refresh program is smaller and more focused, usually welcoming cohorts of 10 to 20 participants for targeted clinical training.
Managing these programs involves coordinating registrations, collecting payments, and overseeing participant information across multiple sessions.
These programs involve a lot of moving parts. My role is to make sure everything runs smoothly, from scheduling and logistics to participant coordination.
Senior Program Assistant, Department of Physical Therapy, UBC
The challenge: finding a replacement for a discontinued platform
Before adopting Fourwaves, the department managed registrations through another event management software. When UBC moved away from that system, the team took the opportunity to explore a more modern solution. The legacy conference management tool also had limitations. Its interface and backend tools were less intuitive, which made certain administrative tasks more cumbersome.
The department needed a new system that would allow staff to set up events easily, manage registrations without unnecessary complexity, and handle payments efficiently. UBC decided that Fourwaves was the best fit for the team.
Fourwaves: a straightforward event registration solution
Setting up their first event on Fourwaves was a simple process for the department.
Fourwaves’ interface made it easy to create registration forms and organize event information. While linking the department’s payment system required a short setup step, the process was smooth.
I didn't require any training, but Matthieu and the Fourwaves team were always available and ready to help if I had any questions.
Senior Program Assistant, Department of Physical Therapy, UBC
Both organizers and participants effortlessly adapted to Fourwaves. The registration forms are clean and easy to navigate, and Fourwaves makes it straightforward to collect participant information.
For the department, several features have proven particularly useful. Payment and refund processing are simple to manage, which helps keep financial administration organized across multiple events.
Even though the department does not currently use all available features, the Fourwaves core functionality covers everything Ana needs for managing their programs.
A practical improvement to the event registration process
Since adopting Fourwaves, the department has maintained a clear and manageable workflow for its events.
While Fourwaves did not dramatically change the structure of their internal processes, it definitely facilitated certain tasks. Creating registration forms is now faster thanks to the intuitive interface, and participant information is easier to maintain in one place.
The improved registration forms also contribute to a better experience for attendees. The forms are clean, clearly structured, and easy to navigate.
“Our event registration forms look cleaner and are more user-friendly.”
For busy clinicians registering for an exam or professional development program, that clarity makes a real difference. Instead of spending time figuring out how to complete the registration, they can move through the process in minutes and focus on preparing for the course or exam itself.
For Ana and her team, Fourwaves offers exactly what they need. It allows them to manage registrations and payments without unnecessary administrative complexity.
A reliable tool for academic programs
Today, Fourwaves continues to support the Department of Physical Therapy’s continuing education programs by providing a dependable event registration system.
As the department continues to deliver professional development programs for physiotherapists, Fourwaves remains an important part of the process. With the administrative side running reliably in the background, the department can focus on what matters most: supporting clinicians as they continue to develop their skills and advance their practice.
For departments that need a simple way to manage event registrations and participant data, Ana believes Fourwaves delivers strong value. For academic teams coordinating professional programs throughout the year, this kind of reliability makes event management in academia easier over time.
Fourwaves is an excellent event management tool for our needs. It makes it easy to create registration forms and track participant information and payments.
Senior Program Assistant, Department of Physical Therapy, UBC
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