logo.gif College of Chiropodists
of Ontario
  Requirements for Registration
as a Chiropodist or Podiatrist
in the Province of Ontario
   
  1. Registration in Ontario
    2.

  2. Initial registration
  3.       General requirements

    4.       Specific requirements
  4.             General certificate
  5.             Academic certificate
  6.             Educational certificate

    7. Maintenance of registration

  7.       General requirements

    8.       Specific requirements
  8.             General certificate
  9.             Academic certificate
  10.             Educational certificate

  11. Suspension for Non-Payment of Fees
  12. Registration & Reinstatement Policy
  13.       Registration Examination
  14.       Components
  15.       Re-examination
  16. Examination Review
  17. Documentation required for registration
  18. Terms, conditions and limitations
  19. Podiatry registrants

  1. REGISTRATION IN ONTARIO

    2.  Individuals wishing to practise as a chiropodist in Ontario must be registered with the College of Chiropodists in accordance with the Chiropody Act, 1991 and its regulations.

    The following outlines the registration requirements in Ontario and summarizes the Registration, Examination and Fees regulations under the Chiropody Act, 1991.

    You may apply for registration in one of three classes, they are:

    1. General
    2. Academic
    3. Educational

    A General certificate of registration permits the registrant, pursuant to any terms, conditions and limitations, to practice the full scope of practice as outlined under the Chiropody Act.

    An Academic certificate of registration may be granted only to those applicants who have an appointment to the faculty of a chiropody program in Ontario approved by the Council of the College. Holders of an Academic certificate of registration may not accept or charge a fee for patient services.

    An Educational certificate of registration may be granted only to an applicant enrolled in a chiropody program in Ontario approved by the Council of the College, or engaged in supervised practice in Ontario in order to meet the educational requirements imposed by the Registration Committee to qualify for a General certificate of registration. Holders of an Educational certificate of registration may not accept or charge a fee for patient services.

    [Top of Page]

     

  2. INITIAL REGISTRATION

    3. In order to apply for registration in Ontario an applicant must:

    2.1    Complete an application in a form provided by the Registrar.
    2.2 Submit a $100.00 non-refundable application fee.
    2.3 Submit an assessment fee of $200.00 if consideration of the application involves determination of equivalency of qualifications.

    [Top of Page]

     

  3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

    4. The general requirements for a certificate of registration of any class are:
    3.1    Reasonable fluency in written and spoken English or French.
    3.2 The applicant must not have been found guilty of any criminal offence, an offence under the Narcotic Control Act, ( Canada), or the Food and Drugs Act (Canada), or any other offence relevant to suitability to practise chiropody.
    3.3 The applicant must not have been found guilty of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity, in Ontario in relation to another health profession, or outside Ontario in relation to chiropody or another health profession.
    3.4 The applicant must not be the subject of a current proceeding of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity, in Ontario in relation to another health profession, or outside Ontario in relation to chiropody or another health profession.
    3.5 The applicant must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada or authorized under the Immigration Act ( Canada).

    [Top of Page]

     

  4. GENERAL CERTIFICATE

    5. The specific requirements for a General certificate of registration are:
    4.1 Successful completion of a chiropody program approved by the Council of the College.
    4.2 Successful completion of the registration examination set or approved by the Council of the College (see Registration Examination section).
    4.3 The applicant must have been engaged in clinical practice for a total of at least three months during the two years immediately preceding the application.
    (This does not apply to those who successfully completed an approved program within two years preceding the date of the application).
    4.4 If the Registration Committee feels that the program referred to in section 1. above is deficient in one or more aspects, the applicant must agree in writing to abide by any terms, conditions or limitations imposed by the Committee, until the applicant has met the educational requirements set by the Registration Committee.

    [Top of Page]

     

  5. ACADEMIC CERTIFICATE

    6. The specific requirements for an Academic certificate of registration are:
    5.1 Successful completion of a chiropody program approved by the Council of the College.
    5.2 The applicant must have an appointment to the faculty of an approved chiropody program as referred to in 1 above.
    5.3 If the Registration Committee feels that the program referred to in section 1. above is deficient in one or more aspects, the applicant must agree in writing to abide by any terms, conditions or limitations imposed by the Committee, until the applicant has met the educational requirements set by the Registration Committee.

    [Top of Page]

     

  6. EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATE

    7. The specific requirements for an Educational certificate of registration are:
    6.1 The applicant is:
    1. enrolled in Ontario in an approved chiropody program as referred to in section 1. above, or

    2. practising under the supervision of member who holds a General or Academic certificate of registration in order to meet requirements imposed by the Registration Committee for qualification for a General certificate of registration.
    Note: An Educational certificate of registration may only be reissued with the approval of the Registration Committee in accordance with their policy guidelines.

    [Top of Page]

     

  7. MAINTENANCE OF REGISTRATION

    8. The general requirements to maintain of a certificate of registration of any class are:
    7.1 The member shall provide the College with details of any of the following, including those that may have arisen after the registration of the member:
    1. a finding of guilt in relation to a criminal offence, an offence under the Narcotic Control Act (Canada) or the Food and Drugs Act (Canada), or any other offence relevant to suitability to practice.

    2. a finding of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity, in Ontario in relation to another health profession, or outside Ontario in relation to chiropody or another health profession.

    3. a proceeding for professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity, in Ontario in relation to another health profession, or outside Ontario in relation to chiropody or another health profession.
    7.2 The member must submit a completed annual information return which must not include a false or misleading statement.
    7.3 The member shall abide by any terms, conditions or limitations imposed by the Registration Committee.
    7.4 The member must pay the prescribed annual fee:
              General certificate of registration   $950.00
              Academic certificate of registration   $950.00
              Educational certificate of registration   $100.00
    7.5 The certificate of registration is revoked if the member ceases to be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada or to be authorized under the Immigration Act (Canada).
    Note: The above citizenship requirement does not apply if the member was not required to be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or to be authorized under the imigration Act (Canada) when the member obtained his or her certificate of registration.

    [Top of Page]

     

  8. GENERAL CERTIFICATE

    9. The specific requirement for maintaining a General certificate of registration is:
    8.1 If the member has not practised as a chiropodist for at least three months during the previous two years, the member shall not engage in the practice of chiropody until the member has satisfied the Registration Committee that he or she is competent to do so.

    [Top of Page]

     

  9. ACADEMIC CERTIFICATE

    10. The specific requirements for maintaining an Academic certificate of registration are:
    9.1 The member may only practise chiropody within the scope of his or her appointment.
    9.2 The member shall not accept or charge a fee for patient services.
    9.3 The certificate of registration is revoked when the member no longer holds the appointment.

    [Top of Page]

     

  10. EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATE

    11. The specific requirements for maintaining an Educational certificate of registration are:
    10.1 The member may only practise chiropody within the chiropody program in which they are enrolled or under the supervision of a holder of a General or Academic certificate of registration in order to meet the educational requirements imposed by the Registration Committee.
    10.2 The member shall not accept or charge a fee for patient services.
    10.3 The member's certificate of registration is revoked if :
    1. he or she ceases to be enrolled in the chiropody program, or

    2. on the first anniversary date of the certificate, where the member was practising under supervision to meet the requirements imposed by the Registration Committee.

    [Top of Page]

     

  11. SUSPENSION FOR NON-PAYMENT OF FEES

    12. If a member fails to pay the annual fee their registration shall be suspended. The Registrar may lift the suspension upon payment of:

    1. the fee the member failed to pay

    2. the annual fee payable for the year in which the member wishes to Register, and
    3. any applicable penalties.

    If the suspension remains in effect for more than two years the certificate of registration will be automatically revoked. If a member who has had their certificate revoked wishes to apply for reinstatement they must:

    1. satisfy the requirements for the class of certificate of registration for which they are applying,

    2. pay an application fee of $100.00

    3. pay the fee the member failed to pay,

    4. pay the annual fee payable for the year in which the member wishes to be reinstated, and

    5. any applicable penalties.

    [Top of Page]

     

  12. RESIGNATION & REINSTATEMENT POLICY

    13. 12.1 A person who has resigned as a member of the College holding a General certificate of registration may be reinstated as a member in if he or she:
    1. Applies for reinstatement;

    2. Meets the regulation requirements set out in sections 2,  3 , and  4  of this document

    3. Pays the annual fee payable for the year in which he or she wishes to be reinstated and any other outstanding fees.
    Note: When an applicant applies for reinstatement, credit will be given for requirements that have previously been met. For example, examinations that have been successfully completed will not have to be taken again.

    An applicant who has not been enganged in clinical practice for at least 3 months during the two years immediately preceding the application will be subject to the College's re-entry policy.
    12.2 person who has resigned as a member of the College holding an Academic certificate of registration may be reinstated as a member if he or she:
    1. Applies for reinstatement;

    2. Meets the regulation requirements set out in sections 2,  3 , and  5  of this document.

    3. Pays the annual fee payable for the year in which he or she wishes to be reinstated and any other outstanding fees.
    12.3 person applying for reinstatement in the podiatrist class of members will be reinstated in the podiatrist class if :
    1. The applicant was registered or was eligible for registration on January 1 1994, and

    2. The applicant meets the requirements in section 12.1 of this document.
    12.4 Sections 1 to 3 do not apply to a member whose certificate of registration was suspended or revoked.

    [Top of Page]

     

  13. REGISTRATION EXAMINATION

    14. The College will conduct a Registration Examination once a year. In order to try the examination the candidate must:

    1. Meet the general requirements set out in sections 1,  2  and  3  of this document, and

    2. Meet the specific requirements for a General certificate of registration set out in section 4 of this document, and

    3. Pay an examination fee of $1,000.00

    In some cases arrangements can be made for the candidate to take the written component of the examination in the country where the candidate resides.

    The next exam to be held in Toronto
    on June 2 and 3, 2010.
    Please contact the office for more details    .

    [Top of Page]

     

  14. REGISTRATION EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

    15. The College of Chiropodists of Ontario (COCOO) requires candidates to sit a three-part examination that is set and administered by the Michener Institute at Michener's institutional premises. A pass standing is required in each component in order to proceed to the next stage. The three-part examination is laid out below.

    Part A       Written Examination

    This examination is comprised of a number of different sections. All sections are comprised of a combination of Multiple Choice, Short Answer and Essay questions

    Section A - Comprehensive Podiatric Medicine (including but not limited to biomechanics, sports medicine, high risk foot, anatomy, pathophysiology, dermatology, local anaesthesia / soft tissue surgery, pharmacology, diagnostic imagining and laboratory testing, emergency medicine) -- 3.5 hours (all one examination)

    Section B - Jurisprudence - 1.5 hours (administered by the College of Chiropodists of Ontario)

    Part B       Objective Structural Clinical Evaluation

    This is a standardized patient clinical evaluation. This evaluation will test a wide variety of elements of clinical practice, and will be composed of a number of stations at which the candidate will have a specified time to complete a task and/or answer questions.

    Part C       Clinical and Oral Examination

    This part consists of a three-hour clinical examination involving patient treatment and an oral examination based on the presenting patient. This part of the exam may be integrated with Part B, the Objective Structural Clinical Evaluation, however it is usually a stand alone component.

    Language Requirements      

    Although the COCOO requests a general fluency in written and spoken English or French, the COCOO does not test for language skills. Exams must be completed in either English or French and the COCOO assumes the language proficiency of their applicants if they succeed in passing all parts of the examination.

    [Top of Page]

     

  15. RE-EXAMINATION

    16. In accordance with section 2(2) of the Examination Regulation under the Chiropody Act, 1991 the College has determined the requirements for eligibility to try supplemental examinations as follows:

    REGISTRATION EXAMINATIONS

    Theoretical component:
    15.1 A candidate who fails the theoretical examination for the first time may be required to submit proof of remediation and upgrading prior to sitting the examination again.
    15.2 A candidate will be permitted to try a maximum of three (3) examinations.

    Clinical component:
    15.3 A candidate may be required to provide proof of remediation and upgrading prior to sitting the clinical examination again.
    15.4 A candidate will be permitted to try a maximum of three (3) clinical examinations.

    RE-ENTRY EXAMINATIONS

    Theoretical component:
    15.5 A candidate who fails the theoretical examination for the first time must complete the re-entry program prior to sitting the examination again.
    15.6 A candidate will be permitted to try a maximum of three (3) examinations.

    Clinical component:
    15.7 A candidate who fails the first clinical examination must repeat the 200 supervised clinical hours.
    15.8 A candidate will be permitted to try a maximum of three (3) clinical examinations.

    [Top of Page]

     

  16. EXAMINATION REVIEW

    17. This topic is under review by the College.
    Please contact the office with any questions.
    E-Mail    sgoodman@cocoo.on.ca

    [Top of Page]

     

  17. DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION

    18. All candidates will be required to submit the following in support of their application:
    1) Form 1 Application for assessment of eligibility for examination and/or registration.
    2) Form 2 Certification of a post secondary program in chiropody/ podiatry and accompanying transcripts directly from the school, college or university attended.
    *3) Form 3 Confirmation of current registration status directly from the board of registration.
    4) Form 4 Certification of three months clinical experience.
    *5) Form 5 Employment summary.
    6) Form 6 Authorization.
    7) A photostat copy of the diploma or degree in chiropody.
    *8) An unmounted photograph of the applicant taken within the last three months and certified to be a true photograph of the applicant by the head of the teaching staff of the college referred to in (2) or by two registered chiropodists.
    9) Proof of citizenship or immigration status.

    Please note that additional information may be required.

    * Ontario Chiropody Program graduates are not required to submit this documentation.

    [Top of Page]

     

  18. TERMS, CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS

    19. If the program completed by the applicant is found to be deficient in some aspects then the applicant may be required to abide by certain terms, conditions or limitations imposed by the registration committee. These include, but are not limited to:

    Limitations on the scope of practice, eg. a member may not practice local anaesthesia.

    Conditions that must be met, eg. a member may not prescribe a designated drug unless they have successfully completed an educational program in prescribing drugs that is acceptable to the Council.

    Terms imposed, eg. an applicant must complete a 3 month period of supervised clinical practice within 18 months of the application.

    [Top of Page]

     

  19. PODIATRY REGISTRANTS

    20. As of July, 1993, no new members will be registered in the class known as "podiatrists". Any practitioner who was registered prior to this date and applies for reinstatement before December 31, 1995, may be registered as a podiatrist providing that he or she meets the registration requirements prescribed in the regulations (see section 12 on RESIGNATION AND REINSTATEMENT).

    Any practitioner registering for the first time after July 31, 1993, will be registered as a "chiropodist" and must practise under the chiropody scope. Please note that the services of chiropodist members are not covered by the provincial insurance plan.

If you have more questions about registering as a chiropodist or podiatrist in the province of Ontario, or if you wish to receive a set of application forms, please contact the College at:

College of Chiropodists of Ontario
180 Dundas Street West, Suite 2102
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M5G 1Z8

416-542-1333
1-877-232-7653 Toll free in Ontario
(fax) 416-542-1666

E-mail us at sgoodman@cocoo.on.ca

[Top of Page]