To be able to practise as a dietitian-nutritionist in Québec, you must have a practice licence from the ODNQ. Here is the application process.

I am a member of a Canadian order of dietitians

If you have legal authorization to practise dietetics issued by a professional order of dietitians in Canada, you can easily obtain a practice licence from the ODNQ:

Under the terms of the agreement signed by all the orders that are members of the Alliance of Canadian Dietetic Regulatory Bodies and the provisions in Chapter 7 of the Labour Mobility Framework, the ODNQ has adopted the Règlement sur les autorisations légales d’exercer la profession de diététiste hors du Québec (Regulation on legal authorizations to practise dietetics outside Québec), which allows dietitian licences issued in another Canadian province to be recognized in Québec.

 

To receive a licence from the ODNQ, you must:

    • Be a member in good standing of the professional order (or college) in your province.

    • Have a regular practice licence from your provincial organization at the time you submit your application.

You cannot submit an application if you have a temporary practice licence in another jurisdiction.

Please append to your application:

    • A copy of your birth certificate

    • A copy of your valid membership card in your professional order or college

It takes about 10 minutes to complete the application form. Depending on your situation, you may have to provide PDF copies of the required documents.

The administrative processing time, from the receipt of your completed application to the issue of your practice licence, may take up to a month.


Cost

Admission fees

Type of
admission

Date of
accession

MembershipTax

Office des
professions

Mandatory
insurance

Total
RegularBetween
April 1rst and
June 30 2024
603,00 $90,30 $29,50 $32,70 $755,50 $
RegularBetween
July 1rst and
September 30 2024
452,25 $67,72 $29,50 $32,70 $582,17 $
RegularBetween
October 31 and
December 31 2024
301,50 $45,15 $29,50 $32,70 $408,85 $
RegularBetween
January 1 and
March 31 2025
150,75 $22,57 $29,50 $32,70 $235,52 $
RetiredBetween
April 1rst 2024 and
March 31 2025
201,00 $30,10 $29,50 $32,70$293,30 $

File study cost

FeesTaxTotal
Québec graduate 3 years and less200 $29,95 $229,95 $
Québec graduate more than 3 years400 $59,90 $459, 90 $
Other Canadien college or association dietetician members (permit on permit)325 $48,67 $373, 67 $

Permit issuance fee

FeesTaxTotal
All categories80 $11,98 $91,98 $

 

 

I am not a member of a Canadian order of dietitians

If you do not have legal authorization from a professional order of dietitians in Canada to practise dietetics, receiving a licence from the ODNQ will require you to apply for equivalence for your degree or training program.

Please see our Non-Canadian Graduates page for the process to follow.

 

French exam

Why do I have to take a French exam?

Under the terms of section 35 of the Charter of the French Language, professional orders can only issue licences to people whose knowledge of the official language is appropriate for practising their profession.

Orders can, however, issue temporary licences, valid for no more than one year, renewable three times, with the authorization of the Office québécois de la langue française, to give candidates time to pass the French exam.

For more information about the French exam, please see the Office québécois de la langue française website.

I want to provide virtual services to clients in Québec

Dietitians can only provide services that are restricted in the client’s province of residence if they have a practice licence in that province. That means you must have legal authorization issued by the ODNQ in order to provide virtual services to clients in Québec.

Depending on your situation, two types of legal authorization may apply:

Special authorizationRegular practice licence
Legal authorization to practise the profession and use reserved titles in Québec.Allows you to use the reserved titles of dietitian-nutritionist and to provide professional services to patients in Québec.
You must comply with all the obligations set out in the Professional Code and in the laws and regulations that apply to the profession.
For temporary, limited professional practice.For permanent or more extensive professional practice.
You have to provide proof of a targeted practice plan for a particular client, client group or employer or for the provision of specific professional activities.You are a member of the ODNQ and you can practise professional activities regularly with patients in Québec.

 

Cross border telepratic in Canada

Regulatory Body

Required to register in client’s province for cross border virtual practice? (Yes ou No

Other Regulatory Requirements

College of Dietitians of British Columbia (CDBC)

Yes

A dietitian registered in another province who provides virtual dietetic services to BC residents must be registered in BC.

Saskatchewan Dietitians Association (SDA)

Yes

A dietitian registered in another province who provides virtual dietetic services to AB residents must be registered in AB.

College of Dietitians of Manitoba (CDM)

 

No

A dietitian registered in another province who provides virtual dietetic services to MB residents must: a. have successfully completed the CDRE,

b. contact CDM prior to providing services and

c. disclose where they are registered to the MB client.

College of Dietitians of Ontario (ODO)

Yes

Registration with the College is required under the following circumstance: Dietitians who are externally-registered and physically located outside of Ontario who provide telepractice dietetic services for any period of time to an individual client, or group of clients, in Ontario.

Ordre des diététistes-Nutritionnistes du Québec (ODNQ)

Yes

Dietitians who are externally-registered and physically located outside of Quebec who provide telepractice dietetic services to a client located in Quebec must register with the ODNQ.

New Brunswick Association of Dietitians (NBAD) / Association des diététistes du Nouveau Brunswick (ADNB)

No

A dietitian registered in another province who provides virtual dietetic services to NB residents must: a. disclose where they are registered to the NB client,

b. inform NBAD prior to providing virtual dietetic services in NB,

c. adhere to NBAD laws, regulations, standards and code of ethics

Nova Scotia Dietetic Association (NSDA)

No

If a dietitian is physically located outside of Nova Scotia and providing virtual dietetic services to Nova Scotia residents, the NSDA advises the dietitian: a. disclose to their client they are not registered as a dietitian in Nova Scota, and

b. become familiar with Nova Scotia laws, regulations, standards and guidelines.

Prince Edward Island Dietitians Registration Board (PEIDRB)

Yes

A dietitian registered in another province who provides virtual dietetic services to PEI residents must be registered in PEI.

Newfoundland and Labrador College of Dietitians (NLCD)

No

If a dietitian is physically located outside of NFL and providing virtual dietetic services to NFL residents, the NLDC advises the dietitian: a. disclose to their client they are not registered as a dietitian in NFL, and b. become familiar with NFL laws, regulations, standards and guidelines.

 

Recourse with the Commissioner for Admission to Professions

If you are not satisfied or if you have problems in your efforts to receive a licence or become a member of the ODNQ, you can file a complaint. Free recourse is available to you from an independent government body: the Commissioner for Admission to Professions.

The Commissioner’s duty is to “monitor the operation of any process or activity relating to admission to a profession.” To this end, the Commissioner may carry out an investigation and demand access any required reports, documents or information. After the investigation, the Commissioner will communicate their conclusions and recommendations to all parties involved.

The Commissioner receives and examines all complaints concerning admission to a profession. The complaint may:

  • Involve any type of licence and any process, stage or activity related to admission to the profession
  • Target the order or another person or organization involved in the admission process

To find out more, please read the information sheet.

Questions?

If you have questions about receiving a practice licence from the ODNQ, please read our FAQ.

More questions? Please contact us: