Foreign Trained Individuals

The following information outlines the requirements for foreign trained individuals to become an OPC Resident in Orthotics or Prosthetics.  The Residency program is required as part of the credentialing process to become a Canadian Certified clinician.

The purpose of the process to qualify foreign trained or credentialed individuals falls within OPC’s regulatory responsibilities.  These responsibilities are important steps in ensuring credentialed prosthetic and orthotic professionals in Canada have the necessary knowledge and competencies to provide assessments and treatments to protect patient safety. Candidates may write exams for both Orthotics and Prosthetics but must only choose one discipline for residency.

* Please note that this information is for applicants who have acquired orthotic/prosthetic education and/or credentials from outside of Canada.  If you have graduated from an OPC Accredited program in Canada, more information can be found on the OPC website.

The following steps are the steps for foreign trained individuals:

1. Complete the ICES test to assess the prosthetic and/or orthotic education from outside of Canada. Information can be found on the ICES website. NOTE: While not mandatory, if you have a completed a WES evaluation, please submit this alongside the required ICES evaluation.
2. Once ICES has completed the assessment, it will be received at the OPC National Office and sent to the Professional Qualifications Committee for review, which can take up to 4-6 weeks.
3. If the ICES assessment is accepted as equivalent to the Canadian education requirements, then the applicant must challenge and successfully pass the Entrance-to-Residency Examination.
4. Upon successful completion of the Entrance-to-Residency Examination, the applicant will receive all information pertaining to the OPC Residency Program.
5. Candidates must apply to the Residency program with OPC, before hours can be counted, and meet all of the requirements. (3450 hours required)
6. Our current standard requires fluency in English or French at the time of the application to sit the Certification Examination. The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) test results are accepted as proof of proficiency. Information can be found at: https://www.celpip.ca/.

All foreign-trained individuals must be legal landed immigrants or Canadian citizens at the time of the application to sit the Certification Examination.

*Please note that applications are collected at the end of each month and then shared amongst the Professional Qualifications Committee for review. 

We recognize that the requirements to become certified in Canada for professionals already certified in other countries is substantial. The documents below clearly outline the processes and steps to be taken for foreign trained individuals to access the OPC Residency Program.

• Residency Application Policies and Procedures for Foreign Trained Applicants
• OPC Assessment of Foreign Qualifications Form
• ICES Application Form
• ETR Application Form

 Entrance to Residency Exam

Your ICES evaluation must be reviewed by the Professional Qualifications Committee before you can apply to challenge the Entrance to Residency Exam (ETR). Once you have been approved to challenge the ETR exam, you will need to submit an ETR exam application to the Director, Programs & Credentialing. 

ETR Exam Fees

Exam Application Fee - $300

This fee covers all three attempts at the exam in a single discipline and is due upon submission of the ETR exam application form.

Exam Fee - $300

This fee covers one exam sitting and must be paid prior to the day of the exam.