Knowledge of the French Language

The Charter of the French Language states that professional corporations shall not issue permits except to persons whose knowledge of the official language is appropriate to the practice of their profession.

A person is deemed to have the appropriate knowledge if :

1. he has received, full time, no less than three years of secondary or postsecondary instruction provided in French;
2. he has passed the fourth or fifth year secondary level examinations in French as the first language;
3. from and after the school year 1985-86, he obtains a secondary school certificate in Québec.

In all other cases, a person must obtain a certificate issued by the Office québécois de la langue française or hold a certificate defined as equivalent by regulation of the Government.

The professional corporations may issue temporary permits valid for not more than one year to persons from outside Québec who are declared qualified to practise their profession but whose knowledge of the official language does not meet the requirements stated above.

The permits envisaged before may be renewed, only three times, with the authorization of the Office québécois de la langue française and if the public interest warrants it. For each renewal, the persons concerned must sit for examinations held according to the regulations of the Government.

Contact us to obtain the forms necessary for the delivery of a license by the Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec.