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The Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols in Alberta
Alberta's Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols fund up to 10 or 21 combined therapy sessions within 90 days for sprain, strain and whiplash injuries, depending on classification. The AB-1 notice goes in inside 10 days; our Edmonton front desk handles it and the AB-2 plan.
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What the protocols do
Alberta’s Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols Regulation funds a defined course of treatment for sprain, strain and whiplash injuries. Notice of claim goes in within 10 days. WAD I and first or second degree sprains get up to 10 combined treatments; WAD II and third degree get up to 21 — until whichever comes first, that count or 90 days.
Alberta’s Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols Regulation exists to remove the delay between a collision and treatment. Where you fall inside it, you can begin care without waiting for insurer approval. The College of Physiotherapists of Alberta puts it plainly: you do not have to get insurance approval to start treatment under these protocols.
That matters clinically, not just administratively. Early gentle movement is what current whiplash evidence supports, and a four-week approval delay works directly against it.
What it covers, and how much
- WAD I, and first or second degree sprains and strains — up to 10 combined physiotherapy, chiropractic and adjunct therapy treatments
- WAD II, and third degree sprains and strains — up to 21 combined treatments
- Coverage runs until you reach that treatment count or 90 days from the collision, whichever comes first
- WAD III and IV fall outside the protocols and are handled through the standard policy route
The paperwork
An AB-1 notice of claim within 10 days of the collision, and an AB-2 treatment plan completed by your treating clinician. Both are routine and both are handled at the front desk here.
The AB-2 is where your injury is classified, which determines whether you fall in the 10-treatment or 21-treatment band.
When the protocols run out
Reaching the treatment limit or the 90-day mark does not mean treatment stops. It means further care requires insurer approval, supported by a report from your clinician explaining what has changed and what is still needed. Most people with ongoing symptoms at 90 days do continue — it simply moves to the approval route.
From 1 January 2027 the funding landscape behind this changes substantially under Alberta’s Care-First system.
Related questions
How many treatments does Section B cover?
Under the treatment protocols, WAD I and first or second degree sprains get up to 10 combined treatments. WAD II and third degree sprains get up to 21. Coverage ends at that count or 90 days after the collision, whichever comes first.
What happens after the protocols run out?
Treatment can continue, but it requires insurer approval supported by a clinician’s report setting out what has changed and what is still needed. Most people with ongoing symptoms do continue treating.
Do I need insurer approval to start treatment?
Not under the protocols. The College of Physiotherapists of Alberta confirms you do not need insurance approval to begin treatment under this framework, provided notice of claim is filed within 10 days.
What happens if I miss the ten-day window?
Treatment is still funded under Section B, but outside the protocol structure, which means the insurer may ask for more information before approving it. Book as soon as you can and tell the front desk the collision date.
What is a treatment block?
A defined number of visits funded for a diagnosis under the protocols, for example a set number for a grade 2 whiplash injury. If you need more after the block, the physiotherapist submits a request with the reasons.
Who decides my diagnosis grade?
The assessing practitioner, from the examination findings, using the grading system in the protocols. The grade is explained to you at the first visit and recorded in the report to the insurer.
Talk to a physiotherapist in Edmonton
Vertex Physiotherapy is at 6958 76 Ave NW #205, Edmonton, AB T6B 2R2. Call (825) 525-2852 or book online, and we will match you with a physiotherapist who works with this regularly.