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Public/Employer Information
What is an Occupational Therapist?
Occupational therapists (OTs) are health care professionals who help people learn or re-learn to manage the every day activities that are important to them, including caring for themselves or others, caring for their home, participating in paid and unpaid work and leisure activities. The people occupational therapists work with may be having difficulties because of an accident, disability, disease, emotional or developmental problem or change related to the normal aging process.
Occupational therapists work in hospitals, schools, long-term care facilities, mental health facilities, rehab clinics, community agencies, private homes, public or private health care offices and employment evaluation and training centres.
Occupational therapy is a regulated health care profession in Ontario.
What is the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario?
The College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario is the organization established by the provincial government to oversee the practice of occupational therapists in Ontario. The College is responsible for protecting the public interest by setting standards for practice and having programs in place to see that occupational therapists practice safely and effectively.
The College is managed by a Board of Directors called a Council of Directors. The Council consists of occupational therapists elected by their peers, public members appointed by the Provincial Government, and academic members appointed by the Chair of the Occupational Therapy Programs from the five Universities in Ontario which have occupational therapy programs.
How does the college protect the public?
The College is responsible for establishing standards and programs that support safe, professional and effective practice by occupational therapists.
The College does this by:
- Setting the requirements for entry into the profession;
- Establishing standards of practice;
- Monitoring practice and promoting continuing competency;
- Investigating complaints from members of the public.
Public Register - Find an OT
Being registered with the College means that an Occupational Therapist is required to practice according to the standards of the profession. It is illegal in the Province of Ontario for someone to use the title "occupational therapist" or any variation of the title, if they are not registered with the College.
To confirm that an occupational therapist is registered and/or to locate them, Click here.
How do I make a Complaint?
Any member of the public is able to make a complaint about the practice of an occupational therapist.
Members of the public who have concerns about the practice of an occupational therapist can contact the College's Manager of Investigations & Resolutions by e-mail or phone to discuss the matter.
In order for the College to investigate a complaint the person making the complaint must provide:
- Their own name and address
- The name of the occupational therapist(s)
- Details of the incident
Complaints must be received in writing, or recorded in some other way, and addressed to:
Office of the Registrar
College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
20 Bay Street, Suite 900
PO Box 78
Toronto, ON M5J 2N8
fax: 416-214-0586
email: investigations@coto.org
To learn more about the complaint process, click here.
Complaints: Frequently Requested Documents and FAQs
Sexual Abuse Prevention
The Federation of Health Regulatory Colleges of Ontario
The FHRCO consists of 21 health regulatory colleges which that regulate the 23 regulated health professions in Ontario.
The Colleges regulate more than 240,000 Ontario health care professionals.
Please visit their website here: www.regulatedhealthprofessions.on.ca.
Public education campaign: The FHRCO has undertaken a multi-year public education campaign to improve public awareness about the value of choosing health professionals who are regulated. It is intended to ensure that the public understands the role of health regulatory colleges.
Employers - What You Need to Know
The College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario is the governing body established by the provincial government to regulate the practice of Occupational Therapy in Ontario. The College is different from professional associations, which are voluntary, professional interest organizations. The College's mandate is to protect the public interest by setting standards for practice, establishing programs to ensure that occupational therapists practice safely and competently, and investigating concerns that may arise about a registrant's practice.
Every individual working in Ontario as an occupational therapist MUST be registered with the College BEFORE commencing employment. As an employer, it is strongly encourage that steps are taken to ensure that occupational therapists being considering for hire are registered with the College. Once hired, employers must ensure that occupational therapists register with the College on an annual basis. Annual registration confirms that registrants are able to continue to use the title "Occupational Therapist".
In April 2001, the Ontario government approved the use of OT Reg. (Ont.) in English, and Erg. Aut. (Ont.) in French for Ontario's Occupational Therapists to use in order to represent their registration with the College. This title abbreviation, by law, can only be used by College registrants.
Confirm your Occupational Therapist is registered with the College
All College registrants hold registration cards which typically expire on May 31. If registrants have a general practice certificate they also have a wall certificate. Each year during annual registration all College registrants will receive a new registration card by August 1st, and those with a general certificate are issued a current year seal which they affix to their wall certificate. An employer may ask an occupational therapist to see their card and/or certificate at any time.
To confirm your Occupational Therapist is registered with the College, Click here.
Quality Assurance Information for Your Occupational Therapists
All registrants are required to participate in the College's Quality Assurance Program. This program is aimed at facilitating occupational therapists' competence by promoting reflective practice and providing tools for therapists to continue to enhance their knowledge and skills. The goal is for all occupational therapists to widely demonstrate conscious and intentional practice of the profession. A consciously competent practitioner is exemplified by one who:
- knows their own strengths and limits,
- knows the guidelines and rules,
- makes good choices consciously and deliberately, and is
- able to explain why they took a particular course of action.
The College firmly believes that both employers and occupational therapists stand to benefit from the learning tools provided by the College. There are many ways in which an employer of occupational therapists, can be supportive of Quality Assurance program. While no aspect of the program will require registrants to complete the module on work time, the understanding and support of employers will greatly assist therapists to complete the module successfully and thoroughly. The College encourages registrants to meet with peers to discuss the Prescribed Regulatory Education Program modules, and the case studies contained therein. The College encourages you to provide opportunities for occupational therapists at your facility to set meeting times and engage in group discussion.
Additionally, employers can support their occupational therapists' professional development activities, thus contributing to portfolio development. Encourage occupational therapists to track their professional development activities - both formal and informal. The potential benefits of participation apply to therapists, their employers, and the clients they serve - a truly win-win scenario.
For more information on the College's Quality Assurance Program and to visit the Resource Room, click here.
Practice Concerns and Mandatory Reports
Impact on Employers of Occupational Therapists
In exercising its mandate to protect the public, the College is empowered, under specific conditions and circumstances, to suspend, revoke, or restrict a registrant's of registration. Examples of such circumstances could include failure to pay an annual registration fee, failure to provide required documentation (registration), or as the outcome of an investigations and resolutions process at the College (for example, a discipline hearing) or as a result of a quality assurance process. It is College policy to inform employers of changes in registration status. Employers would receive this notice in writing.
All questions related to the College's Investigations & Resolutions proesses can be directed to the Manager of Investigations & Resolutions.
All questions related to registration matters, such as current status of an occupational therapists can be direct to the Registration Coordinator or verified on the College's public registrar, "Find an OT."
Mandatory Reporting Requirements for Employers
In certain specific circumstances, employers are required by law to report concerns about an occupational therapist to the College. These circumstances are:
- when the concerns are related to sexual abuse; and
- when an employee is terminated, has their practice restricted, or resigns because of professional misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity.
Failure to report in these circumstances can lead to significant fines upon conviction.
Information for Employers:
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