Training Equivalence

Under the Règlement sur les normes d’équivalence aux fins de la délivrance d’un permis par l’Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec, applicants who do not hold a graduate degree but do have related training and work experience in the field of speech-language pathology or audiology may apply for training equivalence. These applicants must demonstrate that their experience enabled them to acquire the skills equivalent to the skills of those with diplomas issued in Quebec (a graduate-level degree), as set out in the regulation.

Microcredit for professionals trained abroad

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.

Video on the equivalence precess for obtaining a practice permit

Consult this informative video to help you in your training or diploma equivalence process. The topics covered are the preparation of the file, the filing and processing of the request, the decision and possible appeals, the available ressources, and more.

What documents are required for a permit application?

  1. The original document entitled Évaluation comparative des études effectuées hors du Québec (Comparative Evaluation of Studies outside Quebec) issued by the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration du Québec. (The waiting period to obtain this document may be several weeks. We therefore encourage you to obtain this document before engaging in any other procedures with the OOAQ.)
  2. The Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology equivalency request form, on the OOAQ Portal.
  3. A certified true copy of your diploma.
  4. Transcripts, stamped by the university where you received your training.
  5. Attestations of clinical practicum hours, stamped by the university where you receive your training.
  6. University course syllabi, specifying the content and 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Attestations of employment since you obtained your diploma.
  9. Attestations of continuing education.
  10. Your resume.
  11. 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 by a recognized authority of the country or territory that issued the document. 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. 

Language of Documents 

If you are submitting documents written in languages other than French or English, you must provide a French or English translation, certified as accurate by a member of the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (professional order representing translators, terminologists and interpreters in Quebec) or an authorized consular or diplomatic representative.

Missing Documents

If you do not have access to a diploma, transcript or course syllabi, you must send a declaration, given under oath, specifying the reasons why these documents are missing from your application for equivalence and confirming the existence of such documents in the past. It would be useful to provide a list of courses you took and a summary of the course content, as the case may be.

Recovery of Original Documents Submitted

All documents submitted to the Order for examination of your file will be digitized and destroyed once your application has been processed. If you send original documents and wish us to return them to you, please specify this in your submission. You will be billed for mailing costs.

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 Candidat de l'international 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 file 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 can I appeal a decision?

Applicants whose diploma or training equivalence is not recognized by the Board of Directors, or whose training equivalence is only partially recognized, may request a review within 30 days following the date on which they received the Board’s decision. They may then submit their comments in writing or ask to be heard by the members of the Equivalency Review Committee.

To appeal a decision, please fill out the form (in French only) provided for this purpose and email it to the attention of the Order Secretary at: secretariatgeneral@ooaq.qc.ca

Reviews are conducted within 60 days following the date on which the Equivalence Review Committee received the request.

NOTE

Permit application procedures are independent of immigration procedures. It is important for you to be aware that immigration procedures do not fall under the jurisdiction of professional orders.

Please see our FAQ section: Immigration – for more information.

Registration on the Membership Roll (dues)

Once your application for a permit is accepted, you will receive written information specifying the dues you must pay to register on the Membership Roll. Administration fees are required when you register for the first time. Registration on the Membership Roll requires payment of dues and professional liability insurance premiums and must be renewed annually. The registration year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31 of every year. Therefore, for example, if you become a member in September, you will pay only 75% of the dues amount.

Only registration on the Membership Roll of the Order entitles you to use the title of Audiologist or Speech-Language Pathologist and perform reserved professional acts.

By registering, you commit to compliance with the Code of Ethics and Order regulations. You therefore commit to sharing the same high standards with respect to ethics, conduct and professional competence as all other members of your profession.