Information for foreign-trained podiatrists and chiropodists
(3123.1) Verified: 2008 10 31
Information on requirements to practise
Podiatrists/chiropodists are regulated in most Canadian provinces. Training is available in the United States and Quebec (leading to a DPM), and in the United Kingdom (leading to a BSc in Pod Med, formerly a DPodM). Chiropody training (leading to a DCh) is available in Ontario. Although professional standards are monitored and licensure requirements are set by the regulatory bodies of each jurisdiction, requirements vary from province to province.
British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec require a DPM degree to practice, and in British Columbia and Alberta, a medical residency is also required. In Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and New Brunswick, there is legislation regarding title and scope of practice for the profession. In Ontario, the regulatory body for both podiatrists and chiropodists is the College of Chiropodists of Ontario. In all other provinces, the term podiatrist is used. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, there is no legislation regulating the profession.
Once you know where you wish to settle and work in Canada, you should contact the appropriate regulatory body or professional association for further information (see lists below).
Information on assessment of qualifications
Please note that the provincial associations are not set up to assess foreign credentials prior to your arrival in Canada.
If you need to have your credentials assessed before coming to Canada, you may contact an evaluation service and consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada." Although the evaluation services offer expert advice on how qualifications obtained abroad compare with credentials obtained in a Canadian province or territory, the evaluation is advisory only and does not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment or certification purposes in Canada. Please note that they charge a fee for their services.
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada regarding
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
List of regulatory bodies
Alberta
- Alberta Podiatry Association (APA)
- Glenora Postal Outlet
Box 53059
- Edmonton AB T5N 4A8 Canada
- Phone : (780) 453-5883
- Phone (alternate): (780) 922-7669
- http://www.albertapodiatry.com
British Columbia
- British Columbia Association of Podiatrists (BCAP)
- 617-938 Howe St.
- Vancouver BC V6Z 1N9 Canada
- Phone : (604) 602-0400
- Phone (alternate): 1 866 611-3338
- Fax : (604) 602-0399
- Email : bcap@foothealth.ca
- http://www.foothealth.ca/
Manitoba
- College of Podiatrists of Manitoba (COPOM)
- 428 Portage Avenue, Suite 512
- Winnipeg MB R3C 0E2 Canada
- Phone : (204) 942-3256
- Email : registrar@copom.mb.ca
- http://www.mts.net/~copom/
New Brunswick
- New Brunswick Podiatry Association
- 19 Main Street
- St. George NB E5C 3H9 Canada
- Phone : (506) 755-9000
- Email : nbpoda@nb.sympatico.ca
- http://www.podiatrynb.org/
Ontario
- College of Chiropodists of Ontario (COCOO)
- 180 Dundas Street West, Suite 2102
- Toronto ON M5G 1Z8 Canada
- Phone : (416) 542-1333
- Phone (alternate): 1-877-232-7653
- Fax : (416) 542-1666
- Email : info@cocoo.on.ca
- http://www.cocoo.on.ca/
Quebec
- Ordre des podiatres du Québec (OPQ)
- 300, rue du Saint-Sacrement
Bureau G-22- Montréal QC H2Y 1X4 Canada
- Phone : (514) 288-0019
- Phone (alternate): 1-888-514-7433
- Email : podiatres@ordredespodiatres.qc.ca
- http://www.ordredespodiatres.qc.ca/
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan College of Podiatrists (SCOP)
- 214-100 2nd Avenue N.E.
- Moose Jaw SK S6H 1B8 Canada
- Phone : (306) 691-1595
- Fax : (306) 691-3608
- Email : registrar@scop.ca
- http://www.scop.ca/
List of professional associations
National
- Canadian Federation of Podiatric Medicine (CFPM)
- 200 King Street South
- Waterloo ON N2J 1P9 Canada
- Phone : 1-888-706-4444
- Email : info@podiatryinfocanada.ca
- http://www.podiatryinfocanada.ca/
- Canadian Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA)
- #2063
61 Broadway Boulevard- Sherwood Park AB T8H 2C1 Canada
- Phone : 1-888-220-3338
- Email : askus@podiatrycanada.org
- http://www.podiatrycanada.org
Provincial and Territorial
Manitoba
- Manitoba Podiatry Association (MPA)
- 96 Drake Street
- Winnipeg MB R2J 1J5 Canada
- Email : manitobapodiatry@hotmail.com
Ontario
- Ontario Podiatric Medical Association (OPMA)
- 45 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 900
- Toronto ON M2N 5W9 Canada
- Phone : (416) 927-9111
- Phone (alternate): 1 866 424-6762
- Fax : (416) 927-9111
- Email : contact@opma.ca
- http://www.opma.ca/
- Ontario Society of Chiropodists (OSC)
- 6519-B Mississauga Road
- Mississauga ON L5N 1A6 Canada
- Phone : (905) 567-3094
- Phone (alternate): 1-877-823-1508
- Fax : (905) 567-7191
- Email : info@ontariochiropodist.com
- http://www.ontariochiropodist.com/