The registration to a regulatory body is required for more than 45 professions in Quebec. After completing the registration process, the applicant will be granted a practice permit needed to perform their work in the province. The Quebec professional system's framework law is what governs the registration to regulatory bodies and the Professional Admissions Commissioner is responsible for issuing this authorization. By overseeing the investigation of the candidate's background, the commissioner guarantees the compliance of registrations of professionals that are subject to the regulatory body. Once done, a permit to practice is granted to those who are registered.
What is the registration process for regulatory bodies?
Registration to a regulatory body is required for many professions. It is necessary to obtain a license to practice as an engineer, a nurse, or an architect, for example. The applicant's experience and passing scores on examinations determine whether or not they are eligible for licensure.
Applicants seeking licensing must meet the following requirements:
- hold a diploma recognized by the Quebec government;
- have completed a training program or hold an equivalent diploma;
- be legally authorized to practice in another Canadian province or territory.
The application is then submitted to the dedicated committee once all of these requirements have been satisfied. This organization's mission is to safeguard the public by ensuring that professions regulated by a regulatory body comply with the law. The registration for practice committee receives the application files from the Service de l’accès à la profession, then assesses applicants' eligibility based on the requirements established for each professional practice. Granting a permit to practice thus validates the candidates' competence.
Professions are divided into two categories:
- the exclusive practice profession, in which only members of the regulatory body are permitted to engage in.
- the reserved title profession, in which members of the regulatory body are not the only ones with access to their field of expertise.
How can immigrants apply for registration to regulatory bodies?
Quebec's regulatory bodies are open to immigrants who meet the following criteria:
- They must demonstrate that their degrees and training meet the aforementioned requirements for equivalency;
- They must pass a professional test, an internship, or extra training in their field of specialization;
- They must prove their ability to communicate in French.
Before moving
Immigrants who desire to pursue a profession governed by a regulatory body should contact the relevant regulatory body before traveling. Do take note that the admissions standards and eligibility criteria for each profession may vary.
Diploma and training equivalence
Candidates must provide authentic diplomas and transcripts, a description of courses completed, proof of employment and work experience, proof of internship, and, if relevant, a professional permit to apply for a diploma or training equivalent from their regulatory body.
The ability to communicate in French
According to the regulatory bodies of Quebec, the candidate must demonstrate his or her grasp of the French language. To be eligible, you must have completed three years of French secondary or post-secondary education.
If the candidate is unable to claim this academic experience, an attestation from the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) is required. This attestation is given after a candidate passes an exam that assesses his or her understanding of French in four areas:
- written comprehension,
- oral comprehension,
- written communication,
- oral communication.
The candidate must meet the legal standards for the French language in order for the regulatory body to provide a regular permit. A temporary permit may be issued three times until then. To be eligible for a regular permit, the candidate must pass the OQLF test after three temporary permits.
The fees of becoming a member of a regulatory body
Depending on the regulatory body, a professional permit might cost hundreds or sometimes even thousands of dollars. It is crucial to be well-informed about this before beginning the process. These fees typically cover the following:
- the cost of processing the equivalence file;
- examination fees;
- the cost of issuing the permit;
- admission to the regulatory body.
Additionally, further training and internship fees may be added to the costs of obtaining a permit to practice, depending on circumstances.
What are the options for accelerating an immigrant’s registration to a regulatory body?
It is in the best interests of immigrants to learn about the conditions in their field of employment before relocating. To this end, it is possible to combine support programs and government services as a foreign-trained professional to be advised in the measures to take.
Immigrants' professional integration, on the other hand, can still use some improvement. Currently, there is a 34% dropout rate in the process of diploma and training recognition. The Quebec Interprofessional Council invites integration partners to actively participate in the integration of new qualified immigrant employees in order to reduce this rate and speed up the recognition process of certificates and training.
Immigrants, for example, might engage in an observation period to familiarize themselves with professional practice and the French language. This project tries to encourage professionals from outside Quebec to get further immersed in the province. Partners like the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement Supérieur are actively investigating how accessible it is to get training or an internship in certain fields.
Finally, businesses, both public and private, play an important role in integration by being aware of the financial implications involved in the registration and retention of a skilled and experienced staff.
Many resources are available to get relevant and up-to-date information on the conditions of registration to a regulatory body for immigrants from overseas or from Quebec. The Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration du Québec's website is intended to enlighten newcomers about the criteria for coming to Quebec and to encourage immigrants' integration.
In its turn, the Centre de ressources en employabilité Montréal Centre-ville (CREMCV) assists immigrants with job search and professional support in Montreal. This non-profit organization offers information on a variety of initiatives that can help you get a work permit.
Other organizations may be able to further help immigrants in being registered to a regulatory body more quickly, depending on their profession's specializations. The Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities, for example, is a valuable resource for architects seeking licensing. There are several well-known educational opportunities available to foreign architects.
Architects can also submit an application to the Canadian Architectural Certification Board for certification (CACB). The CACB evaluates architecture degrees as part of its certification procedure.
Whichever professional group you may want to join, it is critical to gather information before getting started. Each regulatory body has its own unique characteristics, which is why it is crucial to seek information from both general sources such as the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration du Québec, as well as professional associations that provide specific information based on the field of work.
How can Gestisoft help professional organizations automate their registration process?
Gestisoft specializes in CRM and ERP. What sets us apart from other professional software suppliers, however, is that we understand your situation as an association or regulatory body manager.
So, for the last 12 years, we have opted to give our clients the only solution for associations and regulatory bodies that will ensure the success of your professional transition.
We can promise you that Legio 365 fits all of the criteria for a strong CRM for associations and professional bodies that we listed above, since we know what the reality of your business is like.
Thanks to its appealing and user-friendly design, you can now tailor the modules to suit your organization's needs. Legio 365 has nine modules to help you handle all aspects of your professional association's administrative life:
- Continuing education
- Practice monitoring
- Application management
- Complaint management
- Dashboard
- Committee
- Events
- Marketing
Legio is also a part of the Microsoft family of products. As such, it is compatible with Outlook and Microsoft Office, allowing you to better manage and interact with your team. Legio 365 is the solution for you if you are seeking a management platform that can handle all of your emails, customer service, billing, and mass marketing needs.
Legio is a relatively new CRM system, however it is the only one that has a dedicated design for professional groups and regulatory bodies. Take your association's communication to the next level by partnering with the experts at Gestisoft. Using a CRM to automate administrative activities can save you up to 75% of your time.
Contact one of our CRM specialists to learn how our software solutions may fulfill your needs if you are searching for a sophisticated and reliable IT solution for managing your association or regulatory body.
