# Providing Remote (Virtual) Services Across Jurisdictions

> Find information about providing remote (virtual) services to clients outside of Ontario. COTO has guidance on Remote (Virtual) Services.

Information updated May 22, 2025.

Prior to providing remote (virtual) services to clients outside of Ontario, occupational therapists are encouraged to contact the regulatory authority in the other region, because other jurisdictions may have different requirements for providing remote services. 

Similarly, occupational therapists who want to provide remote services while they themselves are located outside of Ontario also need to contact the regulator in that region and comply with any local requirements.

Refer to COTO's guidance on Remote (Virtual) Services, 2024.

COTO signed and adopted the Memorandum of Understanding on Cross-Jurisdiction Remote Practice. Under this agreement, occupational therapists registered in Ontario who want to provide remote services to clients located in:

British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island are permitted to do so under their Ontario registration. Occupational therapists are encouraged to confirm any local requirements with the provincial regulator.

Alberta, Quebec and Saskatchewan: occupational therapists must contact the regulators in these provinces to obtain special authorization to provide remote services and/or learn about restricted activities that differ from Ontario's Controlled Acts.

These rules apply whether clients are temporarily or permanently located outside of Ontario.

Please note: Effective May 22, 2025: Ontario occupational therapists no longer need to be registered in British Columbia to provide remote services to British Columbia residents.

Current Ontario registrants who are also registered in British Columbia will be contacted by COTO regarding this change.

Occupational therapists who are registered with any province listed above may provide remote services from their province to clients located in Ontario without having to be registered with COTO.

To provide remote services to clients outside of Canada, occupational therapists should contact the regulatory authority in that region and determine if registration is required to provide remote occupational therapy services.

If the occupational therapist is located outside of Canada and wants to provide remote services to their Ontario client, the clinician should contact the regulator in that region and comply with any local requirements.

If an occupational therapist is providing education remotely in the form of an online workshop/webinar, etc. to an audience in another jurisdiction, the occupational therapist does not need to be registered in the secondary jurisdiction.

The presenting therapist(s) must introduce themselves as an occupational therapist currently registered/licensed to practice in their own jurisdiction.

The rules for in-person services are unchanged. To provide in-person services to a client in Ontario, occupational therapists must obtain temporary or general registration in Ontario.

Occupational therapists must abide by regulatory Code of Ethics and applicable professional standards and guidance in the province where they are regulated.

If a client has concerns about the services they received, they can file a complaint with any regulatory organization where the occupational therapist is registered.

College of Health and Care Professionals of BC

Alberta College of Occupational Therapists

Saskatchewan Society of Occupational Therapists

College of Occupational Therapists of Manitoba

College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario

Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec

College of Occupational Therapists of Nova Scotia

New Brunswick Association of Occupational Therapists

Newfoundland and Labrador Occupational Therapy Board

Prince Edward Island Occupational Therapists Registration Board

For questions, please contact the Practice Resource Service.