Occupational therapy is a regulated health profession in Canada. Occupational therapists must meet a number of requirements before they can work in the field.
The requirements to practise are set by provincial and territorial organizations. If you are planning to work as an occupational therapist in Canada, you must register with the regulatory organization in the province you plan to work in.
Provincial regulatory organizations share many of the same requirements to practise. However, there are some differences. For more information about the specific requirements in the province in which you want to work, contact the regulatory organization directly.
The basic registration requirements include:
Language requirements: Most provincial regulatory organizations require evidence of fluency in either English or French to practise occupational therapy in Canada. Please contact the regulatory organization in the province you wish to practise in to learn more about language requirements.
Academic assessment: International graduates must have a degree in occupational therapy that meets the standards of the provincial regulatory organization where they wish to work.
Credential review: Applicants may be required to send their academic documents to an external credential review agency. The role of the agency is to authenticate the documents, verify the language of instruction and compare the level of education achieved with the Canadian educational system.
Practise currency: In the assessment and credential review process, international graduates must demonstrate evidence that their education and work experience are current and relevant to the Canadian occupational therapy field.
Liability insurance: Occupational therapists are responsible for the services they provide to their clients. Some provinces and territories require occupational therapists to have professional liability insurance.
National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination: The CAOT National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE) ensures all individuals who practise occupational therapy in Canada meet minimum standards. Many provinces and territories require international graduates to pass the National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination.
Other basic requirements may include regulatory history, criminal history and proof of suitability to practise.
CAOT and other voluntary occupational therapy organization memberships: CAOT – is a voluntary organization serving Canadian occupational therapists. Occupational therapists who qualify for membership in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) receive a range of valuable information and benefits. CAOT represents occupational therapy at the national level.
There are also professional associations in many of the provinces. They have a different mandate than the CAOT, but they complement CAOT’s work.
Employment eligibility: CAOT provides job market information and lists job opportunities in Canada.
Costs
There are costs involved in applying to register to practise occupational therapy in Canada. These costs vary by province. Consult the regulatory organization to which you are applying for more information.
Time
Registering to practise takes time. The time varies by province. Consult the regulatory organization you are registering with for more details.
Next steps
Now that you have a general understanding of the overall requirements that occupational therapists in Canada must meet, you can explore the requirements of the province or territory where you want to work.
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