National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0

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National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0
Introduction
Hierarchical structure

31209 - Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating

Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating, who are not elsewhere classified, diagnose and treat the diseases and injuries of patients. This unit group includes doctors of podiatric medicine, naturopathic medicine and osteopathic medicine, and also includes chiropodists and podiatrists. They work in private practices, clinics and hospitals.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • chiropodist
    • doctor of naturopathic medicine
    • doctor of osteopathic medicine
    • doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.)
    • foot specialist
    • naturopathic doctor (ND)
    • osteopathic physician
    • podiatrist

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Chiropractors (See 31201 Chiropractors)
    • General practitioners and family physicians (See 31102 General practitioners and family physicians)
    • Orthoptist (See 31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals)
    • Osteopathic manual practitioner (See 32209 Other practitioners of natural healing)
    • Osteopathic manual therapist (See 32209 Other practitioners of natural healing)
    • Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (See 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine)
    • Specialists in surgery (See 31101 Specialists in surgery)

  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    Doctors of podiatric medicine

    • Diagnose diseases, deformities and injuries of the human foot and communicate diagnoses to patients
    • Treat patients using braces, casts, shields, orthotic devices, physical therapy, or prescribed medications
    • May also perform surgery on the bones of the forefoot and the subcutaneous soft tissues of the foot.

    Chiropodists and diploma or first-degree trained podiatrists

    • Diagnose diseases, deformities and injuries of the human foot
    • Treat patients using braces, casts, shields, orthotic devices, physical therapy and subcutaneous soft-tissue foot surgery.

    Doctors of naturopathic medicine

    • Diagnose patients' diseases and disorders
    • Employ natural methods of healing such as acupuncture and acupressure, spinal manipulation, reflexology, hydrotherapy, herbal medicines, biochemical therapy, clinical nutrition, homeopathy and counselling in their treatment.

    Doctors of osteopathic medicine

    • Diagnose disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal, circulatory and nervous systems
    • Treat patients with manipulative therapy, medications or surgery.

  • Employment requirements

    Doctors of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.)

    • A four-year doctoral degree program in podiatric medicine available in the United States and in Quebec, normally following completion of a bachelor's degree program, is required.
    • A medical residency is required in Alberta and British Columbia.
    • A doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) degree is required to practice podiatry in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

    Chiropodists and podiatrists

    • An advanced three-year diploma program in chiropody (DCh) obtained in Canada
      or
      a first-degree program in podiatric medicine (D.Pod.M.) obtained abroad (United Kingdom) is usually required.
    • A licence is required in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

    Doctors of naturopathic medicine

    • A university degree in pre-medical science is required.
    • Completion of a university program in naturopathic medicine, obtained abroad
      or
      a four-year program in naturopathic medicine from a private institute is required.
    • A licence is required in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

    Doctors of osteopathic medicine

    • A bachelor's degree is required for admission to a doctor of osteopathic medicine program.
    • A four-year program in osteopathic medicine leading to a doctor of osteopathy degree
      and
      a minimum three-year medical residency are required. These qualifications are obtained in the United States.
    • Completion of certifying examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
      and
      licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.

  • Additional information

    • Chiropodist and podiatrist titles are used interchangeably, depending on the province or territory. The use of the podiatrist job title does not necessarily refer to doctors of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.).
    • Doctors of osteopathic medicine may obtain a licence as general practitioners.
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