Recognition of equivalence for internationally trained professionals

• Checklist of documents to provide or to prepare (135 Ko)

• To submit your equivalence review application, you must mail the following documents:

  • Formulaire de demande d’étude d’équivalence des diplômes et de la formation (Equivalence review application- in French only) - (100 Ko);
    Send the completed form to the Order, together with the other required documents. Please pay particular attention to the spelling of your first and last names, which must correspond to those on your official documents;
  • Certified true copy of your birth certificate or a photocopy of your passport;
  • Certified true copy of your occupational therapy degree;
    A certified true copy is a copy of a document that has been certified by the issuer of the document as being identical to the original. Each page of the document must be so certified. The Order does not accept photocopies certified by an organization or person other than the document issuer.
    Do not send original documents unless the Order asks for them.
    
  • Official academic transcripts pertaining to the occupational therapy degree;
    Use the form available for this purpose (143 Ko)
    For more information about the transmittal method required, see Stage 1, Steps to plan/Document to obtain
  • Detailed course descriptions pertaining to the occupational therapy degree;
    For more information about the transmittal method required, see Stage 1, Steps to plan/Document to obtain
  • Detailed official certifications of successful completion of supervised clinical training;
    For more information about the transmittal method required, see Stage 1, Steps to plan/Document to obtain
  • Documents related to the degree leading to the Master’s in Occupational Therapy program (if you hold a Master’s in occupational therapy); 
    For more information about the transmittal method required, see Stage 1, Steps to plan/Document to obtain
  • Documents related to any other diploma relevant to occupational therapy; 
    For more information about the transmittal method required, see Stage 1, Steps to plan/Document to obtain
  • Évaluation comparative des études effectuées hors du Québec (Comparative evaluation for studies done outside Quebec) issued by the ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) For more information about the transmittal method required, see Stage 1, Steps to plan/Document to obtain
  • Detailed official certificates of continuing education or training;
    If you want continuing education activities you have followed to be taken into account, you must attach official certificates of the completed professional development activity indicating the title and contents of the activity, the name of the instructor, facilitator or presenter and their professional title, the number of hours of the activity, the year it was held, the location, and the name of the organizing body;
    If you want professional development activities for which you acted as instructor to be taken into consideration, you must attach a copy of the program indicating the title and contents of the activity, the number of training hours of the activity, the year it was held, the number of times it was held, the location, and the institution or organization (if applicable) for which you provided the activity;
  • Detailed official certificates of professional experience;
    A curriculum vitae may be attached in addition to the certificates if desired.
    For more information about the transmittal method required, see Stage 1, Steps to plan/Document to obtain
  • Bilan de l’expérience en ergothérapie (Statement of occupational therapy experience-in French only) (410 Kb)
    You must complete this document and attach it to your equivalence review application. The questionnaire allows you to summarize your experience in occupational therapy and compare your competencies to the requirements established by the Order to practice the profession in Quebec. 
    These requirements are described in the document Référentiel de compétences lié à l’exercice de la profession d’ergothérapeute au Québec  (Competency profile for the practice of occupational therapy in Quebec—in French only) - 1,3 Mb. 
  • I am, or have been, a member of a regulatory body: (Authorization for Release of Information (Regulatory History) form - 278 Ko);
    For more information about the transmittal method required, see Stage 1, Steps to plan/Document to obtain
  • Formulaire de déclaration d'une décision disciplinaire (Declaration of disciplinary decision form)—in French only - (209 Kb) (if applicable);
    If you have been subject to a disciplinary ruling in Quebec or elsewhere corresponding to one of the items appearing on this form, you must fill it out and send it, as indicated, to the Directeur général et secrétaire;
  • Formulaire de déclaration d’une condamnation criminelle (Declaration of criminal conviction) form—in French only (196 Kb) (if applicable);
    If you have been convicted by a Canadian or foreign court that found you guilty of a criminal offence, you must fill out this form and send it, as indicated, to the Directeur général et secrétaire;
  • Formulaire de déclaration d’une décision pénale (Declaration of penal decision) form—in French only (208 Kb) (if applicable);
    If you have been subject to a judgment in Quebec or elsewhere corresponding to one of the items appearing on this form, you must fill it out and send it, as indicated, to the Directeur général et secrétaire;
  • Proof of working knowledge of the French language;
     You must provide proof of working knowledge of the French language, in accordance with Section 35 of the Charter of the French Language. If you cannot provide such proof, check “sans objet (not applicable)” on the form.
  • Payment of fees required when submitting the request; 
    The fees required upon submitting the request are $1,201.49 ($1,045 + $52.25 GST + $104.24 QST) (CAD), which are non-refundable. The following payment methods are accepted: personal check, bank draft or postal money order payable to the Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec.
    Other fees : These fees cover only the review of your Degree equivalence application. They do not include costs related to the licence and registration on the Roll, nor those related to evaluation of competencies and bridge training. Steps to follow and fees (145 Ko).

• Translation of documents written in a language other than French or English

  For more information about the transmittal method required, see Stage 1, Steps to plan/Document to obtain

• Warning

  Failure to respect the documentary requirements may result in delays. The Order may request additional information from you or may need to contact the document issuer for verification.

  Any false representation will lead to the rejection of your application. The Order reserves the right to carry out checks at any time.

• Degree equivalence—evaluation of your degrees

  Once we have received all the required documents and your file is complete, it will be submitted to the Degree Assessment Subcommittee.

  Degree Assessment Subcommittee
  This subcommittee is responsible for examining the documents related to your degrees in order to identify the similarities and differences of your competencies with those acquired by someone with a degree giving access to the license (i.e. a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from one of the five Quebec university programs).

  The result of this analysis is then sent to the Admissions Committee.

  Admissions Committee
  This is the committee responsible for reviewing equivalence applications. It will make a preliminary decision based on your degrees.

  The decision may be to:

  • Recognize the degree equivalence, or
  • Not recognize the degree equivalence:
    • Either a complete refusal, or
    • A bridge training prescription (valid for 3 years) which, once completed, leads to the recognition of training equivalence.
      
      

  Representations before the Admissions Committee
  Before making a decision, the Admissions Committee will give you the opportunity to submit any new facts or explanations that could modify its decision. Such representations can be made in writing or in person.

  Processing time 
  The time required for the committee to make a preliminary decision is about three months. The committee meets approximately every six weeks and your file must have been received at least two weeks prior to the meeting. Check the Admissions Committee meeting schedule. If you make representations, add an additional two to three months.

• Training equivalence—assessment of your occupational therapy competencies

  If the decision of the Admissions Committee does not recognize the degree equivalence, you will then have to decide if you would like to undergo an evaluation of your occupational therapy competencies. This evaluation allows for establishment of training equivalences (i.e. acquired skills).

  Evaluation juries
  The evaluation of your occupational therapy competencies takes place before a jury of three people. Once the evaluation is completed, this jury sends the results of this evaluation to the Admissions Committee.

  Procedure 
  The evaluation can be done in either French or English, depending on your choice. An advanced level of French language proficiency is strongly recommended in order to be able to provide a complete demonstration of your competencies. 

  The evaluation is held at the head office of the Order over two days with a minimum interval of one week in between:

  DAY 1 : Case study

  • For preparation: You will be provided with an example of a case study to allow you to prepare for the evaluation. A preparatory interview with the admissions coordinator is also possible;
  • On the evaluation day: You will have to answer questions on two case studies covering diverse clienteles.

  DAY 2 : Simulated work situation

  • For preparation: At the end of the first evaluation day, you will be given the documents needed to carry out simulated work situations. At that time you can also familiarize yourself with the material that will be used; 
  • On the evaluation day: The work simulation situations include an interview, two evaluations and two interventions.

  Fees: You must pay the fees required for the evaluation prior to the first evaluation day.

  Planning the evaluation
  The date of the evaluation is determined with the candidate. However, you should allow about two months to plan and confirm the evaluation dates. For the evaluation itself, you will need to come to Montreal the two days of the assessment.

  Admissions Committee
  After examining all the elements of your file, including the result of the competence assessment if applicable, the Admission Committee will make a preliminary decision on the recognition of training equivalence.

  The decision may be to:

  • Recognize the training equivalence, or
  • Not recognize the training equivalence: 
    • Either a complete refusal, or
    • A bridge training prescription (valid for three years) which, once successfully completed, leads to the recognition of training equivalence.
      
      

  Representations before the Admissions Committee 
  Before making a decision, the Admissions Committee will give you the opportunity to submit any new facts or explanations that could modify its decision. Such representations can be made in writing or in person.

  Processing time
  Given the evaluation panel planning time and the schedule of Admission Committee meetings, the time required for the Admissions Committee to make a preliminary decision is approximately three to four months. If you make representations, add an additional two to three months.

Review by the Board of Directors of the Order

You can ask the Board of Directors to review the decision of the Admissions Committee. To exercise this right, you must send a written request for a review to the Secretary-General of the Order within 30 days following the date of receipt of the final decision of the Admissions Committee.

Admission Commissioner

The Admission Commissioner is an independent governmental entity attached to the Office des professions du Québec. The Commissioner is responsible by law for receiving and investigating any complaint from a person relating to admission to a profession. The recourse may be against the Order as well as other persons or organizations involved in the admission process.

For further information

If you have any questions: Contact us

Loans for internationally trained professionals

As an internationally trained professional, you are eligible to obtain funding of up to $15,000 as part of your efforts to recognize equivalence in order to work in your field in Quebec.

For more information: Internationally trained professionals - Microcrédit Montréal (microcreditmontreal.ca)