Applicant Who Graduated More Than 5 Years Ago From Unaccredited Training Program in Another Canadian Province

The OOAQ permit, not a diploma from an educational institution, is what grants a professional the legal right to use the reserved title of Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist in Quebec and to perform reserved acts for such professionals.

WHERE CAN I APPLY FOR A PERMIT?

You can apply for a permit by accessing the Portail OOAQ and clicking on the “Nouvelle demande : candidat ou stagiaire ” button. All phases of the application process are explained there. Before submitting your application, we recommend that you read the information below.

What documents are required for a permit application?

  1. OOAQ membership roll registration application form for applicants who graduated more than 5 years ago from an unaccredited training program in another Canadian province, on the Portail OOAQ.
  2. A certified copy of your diploma.
  3. Transcripts, stamped by the university where you received your training.
  4. Attestations of clinical practicum hours, stamped by the university where you receive your training.
  5. University course syllabi, specifying the content and the number of hours related to each course. Syllabi must describe the training content that was current in the period during which the applicant took the courses.
  6. Proof of knowledge of the French language, as set out in section 35 of the Charter of the French Language. If you cannot submit such proof at the time of your application, you may be eligible for a temporary permit.
  7. Attestations of employment.
  8. Attestations of continuing education.
  9. Proof of successful completion of online training related to the functioning of the Quebec professional system and the healthcare and education systems. (You will receive instructions to register for this training once all the documentation required to process your application has been received.)

What is a certified copy?

This is a photocopy of an original document that is certified as a true copy by the issuer or a Commissioner of Oaths. Certified true copies of original documents must be clear, legible and complete.

Important instructions concerning required documents that you must upload

  • Required documents must be legible (ideally, nothing handwritten).
  • You must upload each required document individually, in either PDF, Word, JPEG or Excel format.
  • Required documents may be comprised of several separate originals (for example, required document No. 4 “Course Syllabi” may be made up of several original sheets of paper). You must merge separate original pages together into one uploaded document, and this applies to each document required.
  • If you are unable to merge your separate originals together into a single document, please find a resource to do so before uploading your required documents. 

What are the costs?

The application fee is $1221.03 (taxes included). This fee is non-refundable.

You may pay the fee by credit card directly through the Portal or by cheque. Your application will not be processed until we receive your payment.

Once your application has been processed, you may register on the membership roll by paying the membership dues, professional liability insurance and contribution to the Office des professions. The amount of the dues is revised annually and varies according to the period of the year when you register. Details regarding charges related to registration on the membership roll for the current year are located in the “Documents” section of the Applicant from Canada page. Please note that when you register for the first time, an admission fee of $250.65 (taxes included) will be charged.

When can I become a member of the Order?

When your application is complete, it will be submitted to the Admissions Committee, in accordance with the Règlement sur les normes d’équivalence aux fins de la délivrance d’un permis par l’Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec and according  to the date of its next meeting. Please consult the meeting schedule to determine the best time to submit your application.

Committee members will issue recommendations to the Board of Directors, which will render a final decision regarding your equivalence.

The Board will contact you within 15 days following its decision. You will receive a copy of this decision via email, along with instructions on the procedure to follow and the date on which your permit will be issued.

Since files are submitted to two separate bodies, you must allow at least 6 weeks for processing, not counting vacation periods.

Am I eligible for a temporary permit?

If you do not meet the requirements of the Charter of the French Language regarding the appropriate level of knowledge of French but you do meet the conditions for practice of the profession, you may obtain a temporary permit valid for a maximum of one year.

This “temporary” permit will be issued by the Order, along with a registration form for the French exam given by the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF).

The “temporary” permit may be extended three times with permission from the OQLF. For each renewal, the applicant must sit the exams held in accordance with OQLF regulations. Once these authorized renewal periods have expired, applicants must have passed the OQLF exam in order to obtain a regular permit from the Order.

How do I register on the OOAQ membership roll?

Once your application for a permit has been accepted, you will receive a letter specifying the fees payable for registration on the membership roll. Admission fees will be required when you register for the first time. Registration on the membership roll takes place via payment of membership dues and professional liability insurance and must be renewed annually. The registration year begins every April 1st and ends every March 31. Therefore, for example, if you become a member in September, you will pay only 75% of the membership dues.

Only registration on the Order membership roll grants you the right to use the title of Audiologist or Speech-Language Pathologist and to perform reserved professional acts.

By registering on the roll, you make a commitment to comply with the Code of Ethics and Order regulations. Thus, you make a commitment to share the same high standards with respect to ethics, conduct and professional competence as the other members of your profession.