OBTAINING A PERMIT TO PRACTICE
Applicants must obtain a permit before becoming a member of the Order. The permit attests that the applicant has met the basic requirements in order to practice the profession of speech-language pathologist or audiologist in Quebec.
A person who holds an OOAQ permit must then register on the membership roll every year in order to be allowed to use the title of Speech-language pathologist or Audiologist and practice these professions.
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?
- Proof that you hold legal authorization to practice, as well as proof that such legal authorization is not subject to any restriction or limitation (verification of registration form). Such proof must be emailed directly by your provincial regulatory body to the Order at the following address: admission@ooaq.qc.ca.
- Attestation of knowledge of the French language. Once you complete your attestation of knowledge of the French language, you must also include 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.
- 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 are the costs?
The application fee to examine is $189.71 (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 Board of Directors. Please consult the meeting schedule to determine the best time to submit your application.
You will receive a copy of the Board’s decision, within 15 days following the date on which it is rendered, along with information on the procedure to follow and the waiting period before your permit is issued.
Only registration on the Order membership roll entitles you to use the title of Audiologist or Speech-Language Pathologist and to perform reserved professional acts in Quebec.
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.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YOUR SURNAME AND GIVEN NAMES
As specified in the Politique concernant le nom du professionnel et les demandes de changement de nom (Policy regarding a professional name and requests for name changes, in French only) please enter your surname and all given names listed on your supporting documentation. Applicants will be registered on the Order membership roll under the surname and given names they specified on their application forms and must practice their profession under those names.