Chiropodists are Ontario regulated Foot Specialists, most of whom are trained in Ontario. Podiatrist is the modern title for a foot specialist around the world and all across Canada, except in Ontario. Chiropodists are a vital component of Ontario’s health care system. They provide quality foot care services to all ages of our population and are playing a key role in preventing complications in those with diabetes and preventing falls in our elderly by keeping them mobile.
Background
Chiropody is one of Ontario's 23 self-regulated health professions. Chiropody is regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and the Chiropody Act,1991. This Act has a class of members called Podiatrists to whom which no new members were to be added as of July 1993. All newly registered practitioners since this time must utilize the title Chiropodist regardless of the title granted to them in other jurisdictions. The regulator for licensed Chiropodists and Podiatrists is the College of Chiropodists of Ontario.
Chiropodists practice and provide care in a vast number of communities, covering a wide geographical area including many remote northern Ontario and First Nation communities. Currently, there are approximately 500 chiropodist and 60 podiatrist class members practicing in Ontario.
The Ontario Society of Chiropodists and the Canadian Federation of Podiatric Medicine are voluntary professional organizations which play a key role in educating and providing information to the public about chiropody and podiatry.
