GENERAL
Log onto your online Registrant portal to download the On-leave Status application form. Fill it out then submit it to the CPC office via email: info@cpedcs.ca.
Professional liability insurance is a type of insurance coverage designed to protect professionals and businesses from financial losses resulting from claims of negligence, errors, mistakes, omissions, or other professional misconduct in the services they provide.
As per CPC By-Law 3C, section iv, all CPC Registrants must possess a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance. This bylaw provides protection to both the public and the Registrant.
To learn more, click HERE.
The CPC does not require its Registrants to have a medical referral in order to assess and treat a patient, however most insurance plans require a diagnosis in order to provide coverage. Effectively this means insurers will not process a claim based solely on a C. Ped (C)’s assessment, which makes a referral necessary to the patient. This is notwithstanding the fact that in most practices, the physician defines the need for assessment (the referral) while the C. Ped (C), being the provider of the service, decides and defines the treatment (the prescription) and dispenses the product based on the prescription. Communicating a diagnosis is a controlled act under provincial legislation. While C. Ped (C)’s are not authorized to diagnose, they are still expected to communicate assessment findings to their patients. This may include an explanation of functional and other pedorthic assessment findings, discussion of signs and symptoms, description of the dysfunction but must not provide information about a disease or disorder previously unidentified by a diagnosing practitioner. Although C. Ped (C)’s can treat without a referral, we would like our Registrants to be mindful that the primary care physician still remains the director of care and it is imperative that C. Ped (C)’s still provide reasonable correspondence to physicians related to report findings, concerns and recommendations. C. Ped (C)’s are an important part of the health care team and must continue to work closely with physicians and other health care professionals.
Currently, custom made orthotics are considered zero rated by the CRA, meaning you do not need to charge tax. Find more information HERE. Please note that this is an interpretation of CRA’s findings, as such you are encouraged to consult with your tax advisors.
The CPC scope of practice includes a treatment plan being: provided, implemented and evaluated over time for the lower limb, which includes both recommending treatments and implementing (dispensing) products as required.
It is a registrant’s professional responsibility to only work within their competence and decide based on their training and their comfort level what suits both the scope of practice & competence level. (If a registrant gets a complaint and is called in front of the CPC or a group of their peers, the registrant must be able to explain why they feel they are competent. If they can’t do that, then they’d be working outside their competence.)
The CPC created a Task Force with a mandate to review the then current, CPC Telehealth Resource Guide, identify its relevance today and propose short-term and long-term recommendations based on its research. The goal when developing these recommendations was to protect the public and the integrity of the pedorthic profession. The CPC reviewed the Task Force’s recommendations and developed the Hybrid Virtual Care Policy based on these recommendations and the Standards of Clinical Practice.
Yes, the CPC has the right to audit registrant’s patient files to assess and determine whether the registrant is practicing within the Scope of Practice and abiding by all CPC Standards.
The College of Pedorthics of Canada (CPC) and the Pedorthic Association of Canada (PAC) are two DIFFERENT organizations. The four main pillars of both organizations are as follows:
CPC: Protecting the public, Certification, Scope of Practice, Continuing Education Points
PAC: Insurance and Government Relations, Marketing, Professional Development, Student Recruitment
To learn more in further detail, click HERE to view a detailed infographic.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Your CEP group (A, B or C) is based on your year of certification. You can find your CEP group by logging into your Registrant portal online.
Alternatively, if you know your year of certification, you can also find your cycle group by referencing the CEP Chart.
See below for upcoming cycle due dates. All CEPs need to be entered on or before the due date. Only points earned within the cycle period will count towards the required minimums needed.
| Group Cycle | Period | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | May 1st 2021-April 30th 2024 | April 30th 2024 |
| Group B | May 1st 2022-April 30th 2025 | April 30th 2025 |
| Group C | May 1st 2023-April 30th 2026 | April 30th 2026 |
Login to your online Registrant portal HERE.
Tutorial Video: How to log your CEP’s online
You will be put on a probation list due to your non-compliance of the CEP Audit Policy and charged $150. Read more about next steps HERE.
EXAMS
When do I need to become a member of PAC to be eligible to register for the CPC certification exams?
Pedorthic candidates are required to register with PAC 30 days prior to their C. Ped (C) written exam deadline. To register for a CPC exam whether written or clinical, one must obey by the CPC deadlines found HERE.
Please refer to the C. Ped (C) Exam Information Handbook for all details regarding your upcoming exam. It can be found HERE.
STANDARDS OF CLINICAL PRACTICE
The new Standards of Clinical Practice were created from our current C. Ped (C) competencies and exam process which breaks down an assessment into components and defines minimum competency expected for each component.
For example: if a full gait analysis cannot be completed due to an open plantar ulcer, it could be properly documented in the chart as follows: “Full barefoot gait analysis could not be performed today due to an open wound under the 1st MT head. Gait was performed shod.”
Follow ups may take the form of a short-term evaluation in 3-4 weeks, intermediate evaluation at or near the 6 month mark, and any additional follow up as deemed necessary to ensure your treatment goals have been met. These could be done in person, via video, email or phone for example.
STANDARDS OF SUPERVISION
No, the Standards of Supervision only applies to people who are NOT certified by the CPC or other regulated health professions (ie. Orthotists, Chiropodists, Physiotherapists etc). If you work in a multidisciplinary clinic and work with other HCP’s the Standards of Clinical Practice applies.
INSURERS
No, the CPC does not require a referral to see a C. Ped (C) for an assessment or to dispense most products, including custom made orthotics.
Yes, the CPC’s Standards of Business Practice outlines the invoice and billing requirements for C. Ped (C)’s.
All Pedorthists who are C. Ped (C)’s (in good standing?) can be found on our CPC website using the find a Pedorthist Tool. If you cannot find the Pedorthist you are looking for, please contact the CPC at info@cpedcs.ca.