You feel persistent pain in your foot. You are looking for a professional to help you. Your online searches reveal two terms: podiatrist and podiatrist. This terminological confusion raises legitimate questions: what is the difference between a podiatrist and a podiatrist?
In Quebec, this distinction is not just a matter of vocabulary. It reflects fundamental differences in training, skills and the legal framework for practice.
The podiatrist profession in Quebec
In Quebec, the title “podiatrist” refers to a health professional governed by a professional order: the Ordre des podiatres du Québec. This profession is practiced within a strict legal framework established by the Professional Code and the Podiatry Act.
Rigorous academic training
The Quebec podiatrist completes a four-year undergraduate university program at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), the only Quebec institution offering this program. This undergraduate doctorate in podiatric medicine (DPM) includes more than 4,000 hours of theoretical and clinical training.
The curriculum covers anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, pharmacology, radiology, microbiology, pathology and clinical sciences. Students complete supervised clinical rotations in academic clinics and health care settings.
After graduation, the candidate must pass a summative assessment to obtain licensure. This rigorous assessment verifies the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills essential to safe practice.
Expanded scope of practice
The podiatrist has extensive diagnostic and therapeutic privileges concerning the foot and ankle. These skills include:
- The diagnosis of foot and ankle pathologies through clinical examination, interpretation of X-rays, use of musculoskeletal ultrasound and other diagnostic imaging modalities.
- Prescribing and administering medications. This authority allows the podiatrist to prescribe antibiotics to treat podiatric infections, antifungals for fungal infections, anti-inflammatories, and other relevant medications.
- Performing and interpreting foot and ankle X-rays directly in the clinic. This capability significantly speeds up diagnosis by eliminating wait times at external imaging centers.
- Performing surgeries such as ingrown toenail surgery, excision of recalcitrant plantar warts, skin biopsies, and removal of foreign bodies. These procedures take place in the office under sterile conditions.
- Design, manufacture and adjustment of custom foot orthotics. The podiatrist evaluates your biomechanics, takes impressions, designs orthotics and ensures follow-up to optimize results.
- The administration of ultrasound-guided infiltrations. Cortisone injections for plantar fasciitis, Morton’s neuromas, joint osteoarthritis and other inflammatory pathologies.
Obligation of continuous training
Maintaining a licence to practise requires regular continuing education. Podiatrists must complete a number of hours of professional training annually to update their knowledge and stay up to date with scientific advances.
Protection of the public
The Ordre des podiatres du Québec protects the public by supervising the practice of the profession. A syndic investigates complaints. An inspection committee evaluates the quality of the practice. A disciplinary committee sanctions ethical breaches. These mechanisms ensure that podiatrists meet standards of competence and professional ethics.
The term “podologist” in Quebec
In Quebec, the title “podologist” does not legally exist in the professional health system. No professional order governs this designation. There is no recognized training in the province that leads to this designation.
This terminological confusion stems from the international use of the term. In France and in several European countries, “podologist” (“podologue”) refers to a paramedical professional who has completed specific training, generally of three years. The European pododologist mainly performs foot care and makes foot orthotics, but does not usually perform surgery or prescribe medication.
Some companies or individuals incorrectly use the term “podologist” in Quebec to offer aesthetic foot care services. These services are similar to the treatments offered in beauty salons: nail cutting, callus filing, cosmetic treatments.
These practitioners have neither university training in podiatric medicine nor a permit to practise issued by the Ordre des podiatres du Québec. They cannot legally make medical diagnoses, prescribe treatments, take X-rays or perform surgery.
Dr. Émile Carrier, podiatrist and co-owner of Médecine podiatrique du Plateau, says that the confusion between podiatrist and podologist sometimes harms patients who don’t understand the differences in skills. In Quebec, only podiatrists have university training and legal authorization to practice podiatric medicine.
Risks of Consulting an Unqualified Practitioner
Consulting a person claiming to be a “poodologist” in Quebec carries significant risks, especially for people living with diabetes or circulatory problems.
These unregulated practitioners do not have the training or legal authority to examine and communicate the nature of a foot problem to a patient who consults them. An early infection, a stress fracture, peripheral arterial disease — these problems require proper diagnosis and treatment by a qualified health professional such as a podiatrist.
In addition, consulting a health professional who is not regulated by a professional college may expose a person to health risks. Professionals governed by a college must follow strict sterilization standards for the reprocessing of the devices they use in a way that does not spread infections such as hepatitis and HIV. However, while non-professionals such as podologists may follow these principles, there is no public oversight mechanism to ensure this. If you receive care from a professional who is not supervised, your recourse in the event of a complication is more limited.
The lack of professional liability insurance coverage leaves the patient without recourse in the event of a complication. Professional orders offer complaint and compensation mechanisms. Unregulated practitioners offer no comparable protection.
How to choose the right professional
For podiatric health problems — pain, infections, deformities, injuries — consult a podiatrist who is a member of the Ordre des podiatres du Québec. Check your licence to practise on the College’s website. All of our podiatrists are members in good standing of the Ordre des podiatres du Québec.
For simple aesthetic treatments without an underlying medical problem, aesthetic services could be sufficient. However, make sure that hygiene and sterilization meet the appropriate standards. However, be aware that you may have foot health problems without knowing it and that a non-professional does not necessarily have the competence to detect them, nor the legal authority to diagnose or treat them.
People living with diabetes, circulatory problems or foot pathologies should consult exclusively health professionals such as their podiatrist, doctor, nurse or pharmacist. These vulnerable populations require the competence and supervision of a qualified health professional.
Dr. Sandra Gendron, podiatrist, emphasizes: “Our patients with diabetes who previously consulted in beauty salons often discover during our initial evaluation significant problems that had gone unnoticed. Professional surveillance detects potentially serious complications early. »
Conclusion: Protecting the health of your feet
In Quebec, the distinction between podiatrist and chiropodist is not a semantic subtlety. The podiatrist is the only professional legally authorized to practice podiatric medicine in the province. This regulated profession offers rigorous academic training, extensive skills and public protection mechanisms.
At Médecine podiatrique du Plateau, Dr. Sandra Gendron, Dr. Stephen Davis and Dr. Émile Carrier, podiatrists, members of the Ordre des podiatres du Québec, offer comprehensive podiatric services in accordance with the highest professional standards.
Podiatric consultations are NOT covered by the RAMQ. Private insurance usually covers our services, but we do not charge for them directly.
Make an appointment now by going to the Contact Us page by clicking here or by calling 819 📞 800-1212.
