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How is the System Organized?
Professional System in Québec
Five Primary Groups that Administer the System
Professional system in Québec.
The professional system in Québec is a unique system of governance for professions in
North America.
It is composed of five primary groups that seek to administer the system. These groups
include: the government of Québec, the Office des professions du Québec, or the
Québec Professional Office, the Québec Interprofessional Council, the Professional
Tribunal, and 46 different professional orders.
This organizational chart shows the relation between different components of the
professional system.
Click on each component to describe the roles of each of these main components.
Government of Québec
The government of Québec, Minister of Justice.
The government reports to the National Assembly of Québec on the operation of the
professional system in the province.
The minister presents legislations and resolutions regarding the professional system in
the National Assembly.
Professional Tribunal
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Professional tribunal.
The professional tribunal is composed of judges appointed by the court of Québec. The
tribunal hears appeals on decisions made by disciplinary councils of different orders.
Office des Professions du Québec
Office des professions du Québec.
Québec professional office advises the government of Québec on all matters related to
the functioning of the professional system. It also ensures that different orders respect
their mission to serve Québec society.
Québec Interprofessional Council
Québec Interprofessional Council.
Québec Interprofessional Council is composed of representatives of all 46 different
professional orders. It is an advisory body that can be consulted on professional
matters.
46 Professional Orders
Professional orders.
There are 46 different professional orders that are located within Québec's professional
system.
The mission of the professional order is to ensure the protection of the public. There
are two types of professional orders.
One category of professions are those that have reserved titles and exclusive fields of
practice.
There are 25 orders that fall into this category, including the OIQ, or the order of
engineers of Québec.
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The other category of professions are those with reserved titles. There are 21 orders
that fall within this category, including the order of professional technologists.
Reason for the Professional System
Reason for the professional system.
The professional system is based on the principle that professions in Québec shall be
self governing, but not completely independent.
Four factors influence the functioning of the professional system. These are:
independence, the professional system provides considerable decision-making
autonomy to professional associations.
Transparency, the regulation of professions is open to public scrutiny. Accountability,
the professional system is ultimately answerable to the government and people of
Québec.
Monitory, the professional system allows the government of Québec to exert control
over its operation.
Operation of the Professional System
Operation of the professional system.
In keeping with this reasoning, the operation of the professional system has two
important aspects creating a structure of self-management and controlling the practice
of the profession. The structure of self-management is created by financing the order
through member subscriptions, creating operational functions and roles in the order,
and each order enforcing professional regulations.
The practice of the profession is controlled through a number of measures including
restricting the title and right to practice the profession, verifying competence and
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integrity for admission, maintaining of professional competence and supervision of
professional practice.
Management of Professional Orders
In order to manage the operation of the professional order on a daily basis, members
are required to voluntarily participate in the governance of the order.
This is done through a number of specialized committees composed of members. Each
committee is associated with a specialized function.
The Executive Committee provides leadership to the order and supervises the
operation of the order.
The training committee, as the name implies, is concerned with the training and
maintaining of competence for the members of the order.
The inspection committee verifies the competence of individual members. The syndic is
appointed to conduct investigations into the practice of members to ensure malpractice
is identified.
Finally, the disciplinary Council is constituted by each order to decide on penalties that
are to be awarded to members in the case of malpractice or illegal practice of the
profession.
Engineering Practice in Québec
Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec ()IQ)
Engineering practice in Québec is governed by the Ordre de Ingénieurs du Quebec, or
the OIQ.
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The OIQ is one of the 46 professional orders in Quebec that are recognized by the
government to regulate themselves.
The important point to note is that in order for any engineer in Quebec to engage in
professional activities, they must be a member of the OIQ.
If you practice any engineering work without being registered with the OIQ, you're
practicing the profession illegally and could face legal penalties.
The rules pertaining to the professional activities of engineers are set out in the
Professional Code, the Engineers Act, the Code of Ethics of Engineers and other
regulations, and the Bill 101, that governs the primacy of the French language in the
province.
Legal Basis of OIQ – “Engineers Act”
Engineer’s Act.
The Engineers Act is the legal basis for the operation of the OIQ. The Engineers Act
specifies some important aspects of practicing the engineering profession in Québec.
It defines a member as a person on the role of the OIQ. It also defines an engineer as a
member of the OIQ, thus for a person to practice engineering in Québec, they would
need to become a member of the OIQ and enter their names on the OIQ’s role.
Fields of Practice of an Engineer
In addition, the Engineers Act also defines the nature of work that counts as
engineering.
This is referred to as the field of practice of an engineer. The field of practice includes
the kind of work that requires an engineer and the kinds of acts that counters
engineering practice, including consultation, measurement, design, drawing and
inspection.
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Use of the Professional Title
In addition, the engineers act reserves the title of an engineer or ingénieur.
These are professional titles that cannot be used by anyone who is not registered with
the OIQ.
Procedure for Obtaining the Engineer’s Permit in Québec
The flowchart describes the steps to become a registered engineer with the OIQ.
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