Québec Registration Pathway: Long Roadmap for IEMs

Step 1

Consult the Référentiel des compétences professionnelles des Sages-femmes du Québec which describes the practice of midwifery in Quebec.

Step 2

Determine the pathway to registration based on receiving a midwifery diploma in France or Switzerland, or in a country other than Canada, France or Switzerland.

Step 3

Consider using the Ordre des Sages-Femmes du Québec’s (OSFQ) new self-evaluation tool (designed in collaboration with Québec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration) meant to help applicants in a self-assessment of their skills, competencies and experiences as they relate to those required to be a registered midwife in Québec.

Note: results of this self-evaluation do not guarantee recognition of one’s diploma or training, and do not equate to an application for recognition of equivalence of a diploma or training as an internationally-educated midwife.

Step 4

To be considered for official recognition of your prior diploma or training/experience in midwifery, submit an application for recognition of equivalence of your diploma or training/experience as an internationally-educated midwife (and expect a delay of at least 2-3 months before your application is considered or reviewed).

To start a request:

  1. Create a user account with OSFQ, and then complete the equivalence request form that corresponds to your current situation. There are several documents that will need to be provided such as your identification, an up-to-date CV, and documents regarding midwifery licence, experience, work, etc.
  2. Complete the admission form and pay the application fee, which includes opening of your file and fees for analysis of your prior midwifery education/experience etc.
  3. Check your e-mail and verify your file on the OSFP portal frequently, to be able to track the status of your application throughout the admission process by accessing your personalized online file.

Note: An incomplete application file, where nothing has been done to complete the file, will not be kept on file but destroyed after one year.

Step 5

Based on the decision of the Admissions Committee of the OSFQ’s decision regarding the analysis of your prior midwifery education/experience, follow any additional steps recommended by the Admissions Committee, as applicable, which may include an in-person interview, objective structured clinical exams, written exams or a clinical placement.

Step 6

With receipt of “Partial recognition of training equivalence”, proceed to enrol in the personalized certificate program for midwifery at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), which will allow you to benefit from full training equivalence.

Step 7

Complete UQTR’s personalized certificate program in midwifery Consider that the certificate program (with a duration of 6 months including clinical placement) is generally only offered every second year, and offerings are based on a minimum number of candidates).

Note: The next cohort for this program is for 2026. Note also that the time from application for assessment of prior education/experience to completion of the certificate program is expected to take at least 1 year and 4 months.

Step 8

Obtain a midwifery licence from the OSFQ by registering with the OSFQ (and being on the “Tableau des members”) and pay the annual membership fee to the regulatory body, in order to practice in Quebec.

Step 9

Secure work in a midwifery practice.

The Office québécois de la langue français (OSFQ) language requirements and assessments:

In Québec, members of all professional or regulatory colleges (orders) must have an appropriate knowledge of the French language to be able practice their profession. There are certain criteria that exempt someone from writing the French language examination (the “French exam”) administered by the Office québécois de la langue français (OQLF). For those who do not meet the criteria, to be able to register with their professional or regulatory college, they must successfully pass the French exam. An information guide to the French exam can be found here.

Pending successful completion of the French exam, the OQLF issues a temporary permit valid for one year to a midwife with a diploma from outside Quebec who has been declared fit to practice in Quebec, but who does not meet the requirements of the Charter regarding knowledge of the French language.

With the authorization of the OQLF, this permit may be renewed three times, allowing the midwife to practice for four consecutive years. However, the midwife must sit the OQLF examination at least once in the twelve months prior to renewal.