Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario’s amended Labour Mobility Act, 2009 legislation aims to accelerate the process for health care workers registered in other Canadian jurisdictions to begin practising in Ontario (“As of Right”). Eligible individuals may practise for up to six months while completing the registration process and waiting for their application to be approved.
No. To meet the requirements of the legislation, you must have an active registration in another Canadian jurisdiction equivalent to COTO’s general certificate of registration.
Yes, if you are currently registered in another Canadian jurisdiction, you meet the requirements.
Yes, you must be physically present in Ontario to practice under “As of Right”.
All healthcare settings are allowed to hire practitioners registered under “As of Right”.
The first part is the attestation. It’s like a declaration form. You must attest to several statements and need to include information about:
- your anticipated start date and employer in Ontario,
- details about your registration in another Canadian province, and
- your professional liability insurance.
After we approve your completed form and you pay the fee, we’ll send you an email confirming that you’re authorized to practice in Ontario.
The second part is the application to register with the College. You have to complete the full application and upload all required documents within six months from the day you start delivering occupational therapy services in Ontario.
An applicant under “As of Right’ must :
- be registered with a regulatory body in a Canadian province other than Ontario and hold a certificate equivalent to an Ontario general certificate of registration.
- be physically present in Ontario.
- have professional liability insurance or benefits from professional liability coverage that extends coverage to Ontario.
- submit a completed “As of Right” Form including an attestation that they meet the conditions of the “As of Right” exemption.
To apply through the “As of Right’ pathway to registration you will need to provide the following:
- contact information and your physical location in Ontario.
- information about your registration in a Canadian jurisdiction.
- details about your professional liability insurance.
- an anticipated start date for your employment in Ontario.
- payment of the $45.20 fee.
- Complete the “As of Right” Form (all questions marked with an asterisk * are mandatory).
- Set up your COTO Portal account once you receive confirmation of your authorization after our registration team receives and reviews your completed form.
- Log in to the COTO Portal and upload all required supporting documents within six months from the day you start delivering occupational therapy services in Ontario through the “As of Right” legislation.
- Complete the standard application for registration prior to the six-month expiry date.
Under “As of Right” legislation, you have six months to register starting from the date (work start date) you begin to provide professional services in Ontario.
It’s your responsibility to let the COTO know your work start date in Ontario. You can do so by emailing registration@coto.org.
For help with the “As of Right” form and COTO Portal, you can contact registration@coto.org.
Once you get authorization, you can start work at any time. You can work for up to six months while you complete the application process to get your certificate of registration in Ontario. If you have not obtained COTO registration after six months, you will no longer be eligible to work in Ontario.
If within the last 2 years, it may. The impacts may include:
- a transfer to our labour mobility registration pathway for a suitability to practice assessment.
- denial of authorization to practice without a certificate.
- denial of registration.
If a patient complains to COTO about an applicant authorized to practice in Ontario, COTO will inform the applicant’s regulator in the Canadian jurisdiction where they are registered.
Complaints can impact the College’s decision to approve or deny a certificate of registration for an applicant within the six-month period. If an applicant has an investigation or a professional misconduct proceeding, that may prevent the applicant from obtaining a certificate of registration in Ontario.
No. If your application under “As of Right” is denied, you can’t apply again.
No. Extensions of the application due date are not available under the “As of Right” process.
Additional resources
Questions about practising occupational therapy in Ontario? Contact our Practice Resource Service: practice@coto.org.
Before you practice in Ontario, it is important for you to be aware of the scope of practice for occupational therapy in Ontario as well as the standards of practice.
“As of Right” resources
For more information about “As of Right” legislation, see:
- Government of Ontario’s “As of Right” guidance document
- Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act, 2025 that amended the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009.