Advice for the Public and Stakeholders

The College of Chiropodists of Ontario (COCOO) is one of Ontario’s 26 self-regulated health profession Colleges, established through the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA). The College regulates both Chiropodists and Podiatrists. The role and authority of the College is set out in the RHPA, the Health Professions Procedural Code, the Chiropody Act, 1991 and the regulations made under these Acts along with the policies and by-laws of the College.

To Protect the Public, the College:

• sets the education and other qualifications necessary to be licensed and practise the profession;
• administers quality assurance programs that registrants are required to participate in to help maintain their competence;
• develops professional and ethical standards and guidelines;
• provides complaint and discipline processes for people who feel that the standards have not been met.

Chiropodists and podiatrists are primary healthcare practitioners who engaged in the practice of chiropody in Ontario and provide patients with foot care services. They assess, diagnose, and treat a broad range of medical conditions of the foot. Chiropodists and podiatrists practice in various healthcare settings including private offices, hospitals, nursing homes, multi-healthcare discipline clinics and private home visits.

Foot conditions treated by chiropodists and podiatrists include, but are not limited to:

• nail and skin disorders affecting the feet, including high risk wound care for diabetics or those with vascular compromise;
• musculo-skeletal disorders that arise from injury, overuse syndromes, sports-related conditions, genetics or acquired deformities of the foot; and
• lower extremity and postural related concerns caused by underlying foot conditions.

Learn more about the services provided by chiropodists and podiatrists.

While both practitioners are regulated and authorized to provide foot care services and prescribe various treatments, the primary difference between the two is related to their level of education and scope of practice. Under section 5(2) of the Chiropody Act, podiatrists generally have an expanded scope of practice and, subject to any terms, conditions and limitation on their registration, can offer and provide patients with a broader scope of treatments.

Only individuals who have successfully passed the College of Chiropodists of Ontario registration examinations, meet the registration requirements of the College, and maintain membership as a registrant in good standing, can:

• Use one of the two protected titles, Chiropodist or Podiatrist, depending on the registrant’s Certificate of Registration;
• Hold themselves out as a registrant of the College and qualified to practise chiropody in Ontario; and
• Perform the following authorized acts and engage in the practice of chiropody as defined by the College’s regulations and standards, subject to the terms, conditions and limitations imposed on their Certificate of Registration:

No. The title “doctor” is a restricted title under section 33 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA). Chiropodists and podiatrists are not permitted to use the title “doctor”, a variation or abbreviation or equivalent in another language while providing or offering to provide health care in Ontario.

The Public Register contains information about all currently registered chiropodists and podiatrists in Ontario. You can find information about a registered chiropodist or podiatrist by searching the Public Register on our website. Visit www.cocoo.on.ca, click on “Find a Chiropodist or Podiatrist” and search for registrants using their name or location.

You may also use the Advanced Search function to filter results by location, languages spoken or other criteria. Click on “View Registrant Details” to open the registrant’s profile for further detailed information about their practice and registration and use the contact information provided to book an appointment or find more information.

No. Unfortunately, the College cannot help book appointments or provide specific information about a clinic’s services, operations or appointment times. You may find the relevant contact information for a chiropodist or podiatrist or verify if the information is accurate using the Public Register, but you will have to contact the clinic or practitioner and book an appointment directly.

Please note that the College cannot provide specific information about any clinic.

Yes! Many chiropodists and podiatrists provide home care to patients by visiting them at their location (private home, apartment, long-term care facility, etc.). You may use the Public Register to search for registrants that provide home care in your area by checking off the “Makes House Calls” box. Click “View Registrant Details” to open the registrant’s profile and contact them using the contact information provided.

Several hospitals have chiropody clinics. You should speak with the treating healthcare providers and inquire as to whether a chiropodist or podiatrist is available and/or permitted to treat the patient in hospital. 

Our Public Register has all the up-to-date and accurate information about all licensed chiropodists and podiatrists in Ontario. Please enter the name of the practitioner to verify if they are registered with the College and click on “View Registrant Details” to find more information about their practice. If the practitioner you’re looking for is not listed on the College’s Public Register, they are most likely not a registrant of the College.

Please note: Pedorthists, pedicurists, nail care technicians or others providing foot-related treatments are not regulated by the College, not listed in the College’s Public Register, and cannot hold themselves out as being qualified to practice chiropody in Ontario.

No. As healthcare practitioners, registrants of the College are only permitted to provide and charge for treatments or products that are medically necessary and which are required for the treatment and prevention of diseases, disorders or dysfunctions of the foot. Additionally, College registrants are not permitted to practice in the employment of or in association with any commercial business.

With respect to any questions about available insurance coverage, you should contact your insurance provider.

Most chiropody or podiatry procedures and treatments do not require sedation. When required, registrants who have full prescribing privileges are able to prescribe medications that are intended to relieve anxiety. Additionally, registrants who have completed the required courses can administer inhalation sedation (Nitrous Oxide), where appropriate. Registrants with prescribing privileges are listed the Public Register.

Chiropodists and podiatrists may be able to prescribe medications, but this will depend on the prescribing privileges that the registrant has attained. A registrant may have full, partial or no prescribing privileges. To search for a registrant’s prescribing privileges, please follow these simple steps:

• Visit the College Public Register.
• Enter the Registrant’s First and/or Last Name. (Use Advanced Search if you wish to filter results by location).
• When you open a registrant’s profile, you will find information on whether the registrant has partial privileges, full privileges or none.

Find more information about the Drug Regulation and Prescribing Privileges for registrants and please review the 2023 Drug Schedule for a listing of drugs included in the regulation.

No. The College’s standards, including the Orthotics Standard, outline the College’s expectations around the prescription of orthotics. Generally, registrants may only recommend and prescribe treatment with orthotics to a patient when the orthotics are medically necessary. Alternate forms of treatments should also be considered and discussed with the patient rather than a demonstrable pattern of over-prescribing or default/reflex prescribing of an orthotic for a given clinical presentation. Learn more about Prescription Custom Foot Orthoses.

No. A biomechanical examination and gait analysis must only be performed when required as part of the evaluation for determining the appropriate prescription for the orthotic provider/laboratory responsible for fabricating a custom orthotic. The examination and gait analysis should not be performed, nor should the patient be billed for a biomechanical examination and gait analysis, until the medical need for treatment with a custom orthotic has been properly established and the patient has consented to the treatment plan and prescription orthotics through the registrant.

Overutilization and the billing of assessments that are not medically necessary is inappropriate and constitutes professional misconduct within the meaning of Professional Misconduct Regulation and the Prescription Custom Foot Orthoses Standard.

Yes. The cost for the orthotics and any other ancillary charges should be provided to the patient before undertaking such treatment. These costs should be provided to you by the registrant along with all other information that is required for you to understand the benefits and risks of the treatment, as well as the alternative treatment options, in order to provide informed consent to treatment. If you are unsure about the costs, or the benefits and risks of treatments options, you should request this information from the practitioner before agreeing to the treatment.

Also note that any billing documentation provided pertaining to treatments and/or services rendered must identify the registrant by name, class of registration (chiropodist or podiatrist) and the practice location contact information.

No. Orthotics assessments, fittings and dispensing must be done in person. The practitioner is also obligated to provide appropriate follow-up on the treatment, post dispensing, to assess the patient’s progress with the orthotics and any required adjustment or modifications.

The College has adopted a Zero-Tolerance Policy and is committed to ensuring that registrants do not engage in any fraudulent or inappropriate business practices. Among other things, this policy is intended to communicate to the public and to registrants in the profession that such misconduct is inappropriate, and the College will take all necessary steps, including discipline, to prevent the unethical prescribing of orthotics by registrants. If the College receives a complaint or information that a registrant is overprescribing orthotics or prescribing orthotics without a clinically sound basis, the College will investigate the complaint.

Depending on the service, OHIP provides payment (or partial payment) for some services provided by podiatrists. However, OHIP coverage does not include services provided by chiropodists.

The costs for many chiropody and podiatry services might be covered by third-party insurance providers, extended health care plans, Veterans’ Affairs, and/or may be used for income tax health deduction purposes. The College suggests that members of the public contact their insurance providers to educate themselves about their available coverage.  It is also prudent to discuss such financial matters with the chiropodist or podiatrist in advance of receiving care.

Registrants are obligated to inform patients of any and all fees or charges that may be incurred prior to rendering treatment.

If you have concerns about the care or treatment you or a loved one received from an Ontario chiropodist or podiatrist, we encourage you to learn about the College’s complaints process by watching the two informational videos and reading the information provided.

All College complaints must be submitted in writing. If you wish to proceed to submit a formal complaint, please complete the Complaints Form. If you need assistance with the form or have any questions about the care you received from an Ontario chiropodist or podiatrist, please contact us at [email protected].

The College’s role is to ensure that patients receive high-quality and safe foot care from Ontario chiropodists and podiatrists and is committed to protecting the safety and dignity of patients. As such, the College takes issues around professional boundaries and sexual abuse very seriously and has resources to help registrants understand and comply with their obligations as registrants of the College. Patients are encouraged to reach out to the College if they concerns that they have been sexually abused by a registrant or want to learn about their rights as a patient.

The College is committed to zero-tolerance of sexual abuse of patients by registrants of the College and recognizes the importance of having a robust sexual abuse prevention plan for our registrants and responsive strategies regarding the sexual abuse of patients.

The College’s Patient Relations Plan – Sexual Abuse Prevention outlines the strategies we have in place to protect the public.

Additionally, the College provides funding for therapy and counseling to patients that allege sexual abuse by a chiropodist or podiatrist.

No. The College does not set the fees that registrants charge for their services and products. However, in its oversight role in regulating profession, the College has expectations regarding the reasonableness of fees that are charged by registrants. The College’s regulations and standards prohibit registrants from charging fees that are excessive, submitting invoices to the patients or their insurer that are false or misleading, billing for services and products that not rendered, and/or similar inappropriate business practices. In addition, registrants have a duty to inform patients about all fees in advance of providing any treatment.