French language examination

International Medical Graduates

(the Charter of the French language (L.R.Q. c. C-11))

Applicants for licensure in the Province of Québec must have a working knowledge of the French language. When you apply for a permit to practice medicine, you will have to submit, according to the terms of the article 35 of The Charter of the French Language, one of the following documents (original document or true certified copy):

  • A Medical Degree (M.D.) from a university whose language of instruction is French; or
  • An official document (record of marks) proving that you have followed a full time course of instruction starting from the secondary level for at least three years in a French language institution; or
  • An official document (record of marks) from the ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport proving that you have obtained a certificat d’études secondaires from Québec after the 1985-1986 school year; or
  • An official document (record of marks) from the ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport proving that you have succeeded the "Français, langue maternelle" examination in your fourth or fifth grade in the secondary level course*.

*The Charter of the French Language, L.R.Q., c. C-11, art. 35.

If you cannot submit any of these documents, you will have to sit for the French test held at the Office québécois de la langue française. In order to obtain the required application form to register for the test, you have to contact the Collège des médecins du Québec: tel: (514) 933-4253. You have to complete the application form and send it back to the Collège des médecins du Québec. Then, to take an appointment for the test, you will have to contact the Office québécois de la langue française. If you are successful, an attestation will be sent to the Collège and kept in your file until you submit your application for a permit to practice in the Province of Québec.

IMPORTANT: Medical graduates from Canada (outside Québec) or from the United States who do not fulfill the requirements concerning the working knowledge of the French language can obtain, under the article 37 of the Charter, a temporary permit for a period of one year, renewable for three other years, under some conditions. You will find information related to the renewal of temporary permits in the Web site of the Office québécois de la langue française.

When this examination is succeeded, it is possible to apply for a change of the temporary permit into a regular permit by completing the form provided for this purpose and by paying the required fees.


© 2009 Collège des médecins du Québec