If you are a graduate from an approved Canadian university, you must:
- complete the online application,
- pay the application fee,
- submit all required documentation to the College, and
- pay the annual registration fee.
You may not begin working* as an occupational therapist until you are registered with the College and have received written confirmation and a registration number. *Working as an occupational therapist includes participating in orientation or training at the workplace.
How do I meet the requirements?
Education & Clinical Practicum
The College typically receives confirmation from your university that you are eligible for graduation, this is sufficient proof until your final transcript is available. Once you convocate, you must request that your university send a copy of your final transcript directly to the College.
Currency - Evidence of Practice
Recent graduation or recent occupational therapy practice provides evidence that you are current in the knowledge, skills and judgement needed to provide safe, effective, and ethical care.
To meet the currency requirement, you must:
-
Have graduated within the past 18 months
Or
- Provide evidence of 600 hours of occupational therapy practice within the past three years (For example: letter from employer or record of employment).
If you do not meet either of these options, you must complete a College approved refresher program to meet the currency requirement.
Please review the policy Currency Requirement for Applicants for more information.
Approved Refresher Program
To be eligible to participate in the refresher program you must:
The College will review your documentation and inform you of your refresher program requirements.
Generally, the refresher program consists of:
- Clinic Re-entry Placement between 150-600 hours
- Completion of College learning modules
If you have not practiced in the past 10 years, you will be required to pass the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination as part of your refresher program.
Please review the policy Currency Requirement for Applicants for more information.
Additional Resources
Examination
The approved exam is the National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE or ‘the exam’) which is administered by the Canadian Association of Occupation Therapists (CAOT).
View our National Exam page for key information.
Full details are on the CAOT’s NOTCE website: notce-enae.ca.
Professional Liability Insurance
Professional liability insurance with a sexual abuse therapy and counseling fund endorsement is mandatory for registration with the College. The requirements for professional liability insurance are set out in Part 19 of the College bylaws.
The College has confirmed that the insurance coverage offered (as of August 1, 2017) by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) and Aon Healthcare Advantage meets the College requirements. You are required to send the College a copy of your insurance certificate that includes the policy number and expiry date.
The College does not endorse any insurance provider. It is the is the responsibility of each occupational therapist (OT) to determine which insurance provider and policy best meets their needs. The above noted insurance providers are third parties and not affiliated with the College. The College provides this information so OTs are aware of policies that the College has confirmed meet the requirements of the bylaws.
Insurance may be purchased elsewhere, however, evidence that it meets the College's requirements must be sent to the College for review prior to acceptance.
Suitability to Practise
The purpose of the suitability to practise requirement includes the protection of the public, the maintenance of high ethical standards, and the maintenance of public confidence in the profession.
You will be required to answer a series of questions on the application about your suitability to practise occupational therapy.
The questions pertain to:
- occupational therapy practice;
- practice of other professions;
-
offences;
-
bail conditions or restrictions; and,
-
your ability to practise occupational therapy safely and ethically.
Vulnerable Sector (VS) Check
Every applicant must submit the results of a current Vulnerable Sector (VS) Check to the College as part of their application.
If you do not register within six months of the date the results were issued by the police, you will be required to submit an updated VS Check.
The College uses the results of the VS Check to verify information pertaining to offences; bail conditions or restrictions; and any other relevant conduct.
View our Vulnerable Sector Check webpage for full details.
Regulatory History
If you hold (or have held) a license or registration to practise occupational therapy outside of Ontario, and/or if you hold (or have held) a license or registration to practise in a profession other than occupational therapy in Ontario or elsewhere, you need to complete a Regulatory History Form.
Please forward the form to the appropriate organization and have them complete it and return it directly to the College.
If the Registrar has concerns about your ability to practice occupational therapy safely and ethically, your application will be referred to the Registration Committee for a review.
For more information on the review process please refer to the policy: Determining Suitability to Practise at Registration (8-72)
Language Fluency
If your first language is English or French or your occupational therapy program was taught in English or French you have met the language fluency requirement, no further supporting documentation is required.
Work Eligibility
If you are a Canadian citizen a copy of your birth certificate, current passport, or Canadian Citizenship Card is required.
If you are not a Canadian citizen, evidence of landed immigrant status, permanent residency, or employment authorization under the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, 2001 is required. Forwarding a photocopy of the document is sufficient.