Linguistic requirements

PLEASE NOTE
Because of the current situation, all applications for admission and re-registration must be sent to us by Email. We ask you to scan the required documents. 

Exemptions

Un vue rapproché de texte sur une page

You must have knowledge of French appropriate to practice your profession.

Exemptions

You do not have to take a French exam if you satisfy one of the following conditions:

  1. You earned your secondary school diploma in Québec in or after 1986, or
  2. You have taken, full time, at least 3 years of secondary or post-secondary school education given in French, or
  3. You have passed the French mother tongue examinations in the fourth or fifth year of secondary school.

Specific information for McGill University social work graduates

If you satisfy one of the 3 conditions listed above, attach one of the following documents to your application:

  • The official document (original) or a certified true copy of the diploma or final transcript of grades issued by the Québec Ministry of Education attesting to the date the secondary school diploma was conferred. If you send the original, we will return it, by mail, after validation, or
  • The official transcripts attesting that you have undertaken secondary, CEGEP or university studies totaling 3 full years entirely in French (at least 90 credits) and full time or attesting that you have passed the French language mother tongue examinations for Secondary Four or Five.

If none of the exemptions listed above applies to you, you must pass the French exam given by the Office québécois de la langue française to be eligible for admission to the Order.

Register for the French examination intended for candidates to professional orders

If none of the exemptions listed above applies to you, you must pass the French exam given by the Office québécois de la langue française to be eligible for admission to the Order.

You must complete and send us:

Follow-up of your application

We will send you an email informing you that your application for admission has been put on hold until we receive confirmation from the Office québécois de la langue française that you have passed the French exam. Please note that you should expect a wait of at least 2 months to obtain an initial appointment with the Office.

To find out more (in French only)

McGill University Graduates

If you have earned a degree in social work or marriage and family therapy from McGill University, you must attach one of the following documents to your application for admission:

  • The original or a certified true copy of the diploma or final transcript of grades issued by the Québec Ministry of Education attesting to the date on which you obtained your secondary school diploma in Québec, or
  • Official transcripts attesting that you have completed secondary or post-secondary studies for a total of 3 years entirely in French and full-time, or that you have passed the fourth- or fifth-year secondary level exams in French as the first language, or
  • The attestation of the Office québécois de la langue française that you have passed the French exam.

If you have none of the required documents, you must register with the Office québécois de la langue française to take the French exam.

Register for the French examination intended for candidates for professional orders

If you are unable to attach the documents listed above to your application for admission, you must pass the French exam given by the Office québécois de la langue française to be eligible for admission to the Order.

You must complete and send us:

Follow-up of your application

We shall send you an email informing you that your application for admission has been placed on hold until we receive confirmation from the Office québécois de la langue française that you have passed the French exam.

We will be able to continue the admission process as soon as we receive this attestation. You should be aware that it can take at least 2 months to obtain an initial appointment with the Office.

To find out more (in French only)

Graduates with a Master’s degree in social work or social service

If you have earned a Master’s degree in social work or social service, you must attach one of the following documents to your application for admission:

  • The original or a certified true copy of the diploma or final transcript of grades issued by the Québec Ministry of Education attesting to the date on which you obtained your secondary school diploma in Québec, or
  • Official transcripts attesting that you have completed secondary or post-secondary studies for a total of 3 years entirely in French and full-time, or that you have passed the fourth- or fifth-year secondary level exams in French as the first language, or
  • The attestation of the Office québécois de la langue française that you have passed the French exam.

If you have none of the required documents, you must register with the Office québécois de la langue française to take the French exam.

Register for the French examination intended for candidates for professional orders

If you are unable to attach the documents listed above to your application for admission, you must pass the French exam given by the Office québécois de la langue française to be eligible for admission to the Order.

You must complete and send us:

Follow-up of your application

We shall send you an email informing you that your application for admission has been placed on hold until we receive confirmation from the Office québécois de la langue française that you have passed the French exam.

We will be able to continue the admission process as soon as we receive this attestation. You should be aware that it can take at least 2 months to obtain an initial appointment with the Office.

To find out more (in French only)

Temporary permits

Professional orders are able to issue a temporary permit to persons coming from outside Québec who are qualified to practice their profession, but do not satisfy the requirements of section 35 of the Charter of the French Language with respect to their knowledge of the French.

This temporary permit is valid for a period of no more than one year.

Renewal of a temporary permit

If you have not obtained an attestation of success from the Office québécois de la langue française (confirming that you passed the French exam) and you would like to continue to practice your profession in Québec, you must apply to the Order for a renewal of your temporary permit.

It is possible to renew your temporary permit up to 3 times with the authorization of the Office québécois de la langue française if the public interest justifies doing so.

To find out more

Consult the Office québécois de la langue française website at  www.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca

Indigenous communities

A professional order is authorized to make an exception to the application of section 35 of the Charter of the French language, in respect of a person who resides or has resided on a reserve, in a settlement in which a native community lives or on Category I and Category I-N lands within the meaning of the Act respecting the land regime in the James Bay and New Québec territories.

The order shall issue a permit to that person authorizing him to practise the profession and to use the title only on a reserve, in a settlement in which a native community lives or on Category I and Category I-N lands.

If this applies to you, you must submit the sworn Declaration with your request for a permit.

Partager