P-12, r. 8 - Regulation respecting diploma and training equivalence standards for the issue of a permit by the Ordre des podiatres du Québec

Updated to 12 December 2023

This document has official status.

chapter P-12, r. 8

Regulation respecting diploma and training equivalence standards for the issue of a permit by the Ordre des podiatres du Québec

Podiatry act

(chapter P-12, s. 3).

Professional Code

(chapter C-26, s. 93, par. c).

DIVISION I GENERAL

1. The secretary of the Ordre des podiatres du Québec must forward a copy of this Regulation to a candidate who, for the purpose of obtaining a permit from the Order, applies to have a diploma or training recognized as equivalent.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 1.

2. In this Regulation,

“credit” means the quantitative value attributed to a student’s work-load, 1 credit representing 15 hours of theoretical coursework and 30 hours of practical work, or 45 hours of clinical practicum;

“diploma equivalence” means recognition, pursuant to the Professional Code (chapter C-26), that a diploma issued by an educational institution outside Québec certifies that a candidate’s level of knowledge and skills is equivalent to the level attained by the holder of a diploma recognized as giving access to the permit issued by the Order;

“diploma giving access to the permit” means a diploma recognized, pursuant to a regulation of the Government made under the first paragraph of section 184 of the Professional Code, as giving access to the permit issued by the Order;

“training equivalence” means recognition, pursuant to the Professional Code, that a candidate’s training has enabled the candidate to attain a level of knowledge and skills equivalent to the level attained by the holder of a diploma giving access to the permit issued by the Order.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 2.

DIVISION II DIPLOMA EQUIVALENCE STANDARDS

3. A candidate who holds a diploma awarded by an educational institution outside Québec is granted a diploma equivalence if the diploma was obtained upon completion of studies at a level equivalent to university comprising a minimum of 195 credits. At least 192 of the 195 credits must be apportioned as follows:

(1)  basic sciences: a minimum of 37 credits in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology and histology, and at least 6 credits in community health and research methodology;

(2)  clinical sciences and podiatry: at least 80 credits apportioned as follows:

(a)  pathologies 16 credits;

(b)  biomechanics 4 credits;

(c)  radiology 7 credits;

(d)  podiatric orthopedics 8 credits;

(e)  pharmacology 5 credits;

(f)  emergency care / traumatology 3 credits;

(g)  podiatric surgery 10 credits;

(h)  ethics and deontology 3 credits;

(i)  clinical podiatry 24 credits;

(3)  clinical practicums in podiatry: a minimum of 69 credits apportioned as follows:

(a)  podiatry 18 credits;

(b)  podiatric orthopedics 22 credits;

(c)  podiatric surgery 20 credits;

(d)  podiatric radiology 9 credits.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 3.

4. Despite section 3, if the diploma for which an equivalence application is made was obtained more than 3 years before the date of the application and, considering the developments in the profession, the knowledge and skills certified by the diploma no longer correspond to what is currently being taught in a program of studies leading to the issue of a diploma giving access to the permit issued by the Order, a candidate who has attained the required level of knowledge and skills since being awarded the diploma is granted a training equivalence pursuant to section 5.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 4.

DIVISION III TRAINING EQUIVALENCE STANDARD

5. A candidate who demonstrates having a level of knowledge and skills equivalent to the level attained by the holder of a diploma giving access to the permit issued by the Order is granted a training equivalence.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 5.

6. In assessing the training submitted in support of a training equivalence application, the board of directors is to take particular account of the following factors:

(1)  the fact that the candidate holds 1 or more diplomas;

(2)  the nature of the courses taken, their content and their duration in hours or the number of credits earned for them;

(3)  the total number of years of schooling;

(4)  supervised practicums completed by the candidate in podiatric practice, and any other training or upgrading activities;

(5)  the nature and duration of the candidate’s experience in podiatric practice; and

(6)  any contribution to the advancement of the profession of podiatry.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 6.

DIVISION IV EQUIVALENCE RECOGNITION PROCEDURE

7. A candidate wishing to have an equivalence recognized must provide the secretary with the following documents and information:

(1)  a written equivalence application accompanied by the application examination fees required pursuant to paragraph 8 of section 86.0.1 of the Professional Code (chapter C-26);

(2)  the candidate’s complete academic record, including a description of the courses taken and their duration in hours or the number of credits earned for them, and the corresponding transcript;

(3)  a certified true copy of all diplomas held;

(4)  where applicable, proof that the candidate is or was a member of an order or recognized association of podiatrists or a true copy of any permit to practise held by the candidate;

(5)  where applicable, an attestation and a description of the candidate’s relevant work experience in the practice of podiatry;

(6)  where applicable, an attestation of successful completion of a supervised practicum or of satisfactory participation in any other training or upgrading activity relating to the practice of podiatry, and a detailed description of the content of the activity;

(7)  where applicable, any information relating to other factors the board of directors may take into account pursuant to section 6.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 7.

8. Documents in a language other than French or English submitted in support of an equivalence application must be accompanied by a French or English translation certified under oath by the translator.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 8.

9. The committee formed by the board of directors to examine equivalence applications makes the appropriate recommendations to the board of directors.

For the purposes of an appropriate recommendation, the committee may require the candidate to sit for an interview, pass an examination or serve a practicum.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 9.

10. At the first regular meeting following the date of receipt of the committee’s recommendation, the board of directors must decide to either

(1)  grant the diploma or training equivalence;

(2)  grant the training equivalence in part;

(3)  refuse to grant the diploma or training equivalence.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 10.

11. The secretary must inform the candidate of the board of director’s decision in writing by registered mail within 15 days after the date of the decision.

If the board of directors refuses to grant the equivalence or grants a training equivalence in part, it must at the same time inform the candidate in writing of any programs of study, bridging programs, practicums or examinations which if successfully completed within the allotted time would enable the candidate to be granted the training equivalence. The board of directors must also inform the candidate of the candidate’s right to apply for a review of the decision in accordance with section 12.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 11.

12. A candidate who is informed of the board of director’s decision not to grant the equivalence or to grant the equivalence in part may apply for review of the decision. The review application must be made to the secretary in writing within 30 days of receiving the board of director’s decision.

The review must take place within 60 days after the date on which the application is received by a committee formed by the board of directors, pursuant to paragraph 2 of section 86.0.1 of the Professional Code (chapter C-26), and composed of persons other than members of the board of directors or the committee referred to in section 9.

Before disposing of the review application, the committee must inform the candidate of the date of the meeting at which the review application will be examined and of the candidate’s right to make submissions.

A candidate who wishes to be present at the meeting to make submissions must notify the secretary at least 5 days before the date set for the meeting. The candidate may, however, send written submissions to the secretary at any time before the date set for the meeting.

The decision of the review committee is final and must be sent to the candidate in writing by registered mail within 30 days after the date of the decision.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 12.

13. The Provisional regulation respecting terms and conditions for issuing permits in podiatry (R.R.Q., 1981, c. P-12, r.4) is revoked.

O.C. 427-2008, s. 13.

14. (Omitted).

O.C. 427-2008, s. 14.

REFERENCES

O.C. 427-2008, 2008 G.O. 2, 1293

S.Q. 2008, c. 11, s. 212