If you were previously registered with the College, you are required to reapply for registration.
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.
Generally, registration involves:
- completing all sections of the online application,
- paying the applicable application and registration fees, and
- meeting the currency, suitability to practise, and insurance requirements.
You are not required to resubmit documentation that the College already has on file (for example, transcripts, legal work status documentation or exam results).
How do I meet the requirements?
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 (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:
- Be an applicant of the College
- Submit a completed Additional Currency Data Sheet to the College for review
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
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.
As of August 1, 2017, the College has confirmed that the insurance coverage offered by the following meets the College's 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 Check
Applicants must submit a Vulnerable Sector (VS) Check as part of their application for registration for with the College – this also applies to current applicants who have not been issued registration by April 1, 2017.
The College uses the results of the VS Check to verify information pertaining to offences; bail conditions or restrictions; and any other relevant conduct.
Please note: 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.
View our Vulnerable Sector Check page 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.