Following four years of professional education, graduates of colleges or schools of podiatric medicine enter postgraduate residency programs that are conducted under the sponsorship of health-care institutions. Residencies afford these individuals structured learning experiences in patient management along with training in the diagnosis and care of podiatric pathology. The individuals involved in these training programs are referred to as “residents” and are recognized as such by the institutions sponsoring the programs.
The Canadian Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CCPME) is an autonomous accrediting body for podiatric medical education in Canada. It derives its authority from its recognition by the 10 Canadian provinces, 3 Territories and the Canadian Podiatric Medical Association. The CCPME is empowered to develop and adopt standards and policies as necessary for the implementation of all aspects of accreditation, approval, and recognition of podiatric medicine.
The council has final authority for the accreditation of Canadian colleges of podiatric medicine, the approval of fellowships and residency programs, and sponsors of continuing education, as well as the recognition of specialty certifying boards for podiatric medical practice in Canada.
The mission of the CCPME is to promote the quality of doctoral education, postdoctoral education, certification, and continuing education. By confirming that these programs meet established standards and requirements, the CCPME serves to protect the public, podiatric medical students, and doctors of podiatric medicine.
The CCPME has been authorized by CPMA to approve institutions that sponsor residency programs that demonstrate and maintain compliance with established standards and requirements. Podiatric residency approval is based on programmatic evaluation and periodic review by the Residency Review Committee (RRC) and the CCPME.
Standards and requirements are divided into institutional standards and requirements and program standards and requirements.
Under no circumstances may the standards and requirements for approval by the CCPME supersede federal or provincial law.
Prior to adoption, all CCPME policies, procedures, standards, and requirements are disseminated widely in order to obtain information regarding how the CCPME’s community of interest may be affected.
Instructions / Recommendations:
Review & become familiar with the 320 & 330 documents below. Download & print the Application PDF and use it as a guide, or rough draft, before completing & submitting the final Application online, in red below.