Competency Assessment

While the annual requirements (Learning Plan and eLearning Module) support continuing competence, the assessment confirms it.

In the interest of public protection, Colleges are required to assess their registrants. The competency assessment supports growth and professional development. The assessment identifies both learning needs and areas of strength so occupational therapists can continue to apply the Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada and the Standards of Practice in their daily work.

The College’s Quality Assurance competency assessment includes:

• a reflective activity, and
• a behaviour-based interview.

The questions are designed so occupational therapists can describe the practical ways that they have incorporated the Competencies and Standards in their practice. Many questions start with statements like “describe a time when you…”.

Occupational therapists who have been trained as peer assessors complete the interview and provide resources as part of the interview.

Occupational therapists who are selected are notified two times a year (August/September and January/February). There are about 100 assessments done each year.

Occupational therapists are

• Notified electronically about their participation,
• Then choose a date to meet the peer assessor and start the process.

Materials to help prepare for the assessment are provided and occupational therapists attend one of the “Question and Answer” sessions.

Occupational therapists are encouraged to reach out to the program and speak to someone directly if they have any questions: qaprogram@coto.org.

Registrants can volunteer to take part in a competency assessment. This is an opportunity to speak with a knowledgeable occupational therapist colleague about your strengths and learning needs related to your occupational therapy practice. It can be especially helpful when transitioning into a new role or area of practice.

Two groups of occupational therapists are selected to participate throughout the year. Selection is done using a stratified random sampling approach based on a set of indicators (see below).

Indicators are related to:

• activities that may have a higher risk to clients
• registrant or employment factors
• practice supports and protective factors 

Information is gathered to create an “indicator score” using the following types of data about registrants:

• Performs controlled act(s) or delegation
• Temporary or casual primary employment
• Many employers (3+)
• Solo practice or self-employed
• Low practice hours (per week)
• Clients of multiple age groups
• More than 25 years since graduation
• Fewer than three years since graduation
• Rating all competencies the same priority on the Annual Learning Plan
• Late completion of Quality Assurance Annual Requirement(s)
• College history (with Registration, Quality Assurance, or Investigations and Resolutions programs)
• Providing student supervision

Selection is based on a distribution from each range of indicators—from the highest to the fewest number of indicators. Occupational therapists with a higher number of indicators are more likely to be selected for a competency assessment. However, a group with no or few indicators are also included.

Having risk indicators in your practice does not mean that your competence is compromised. In fact, it may be the opposite. We are collecting data about this through our competency assessment process and are at the beginning stages of finding out what indicates a risk in occupational therapy practice. Some factors may moderate or reduce risk in practice. We are excited to find out more and share the learning with occupational therapists.

The assessment report is sent back to the occupational therapist within one month. Occupational therapists can respond with extra information that addresses any learning needs that were identified. Most people are finished at this point. About five percent will have additional learning activities to complete.

The Quality Assurance Committee does not have the authority to take away an occupational therapist’s registration with the College.  

See what occupational therapists who recently completed the competency assessment had to say about their experience.

Read what they had to say about their experience.

We know life happens—occupational therapists who feel unable to participate when selected may submit a request to defer.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Registrant Name *

First

Last

Registrant Number

Email *

Phone

This request applies to

• Annual Learning Plan
• Annual eLearning Module
• Competency Assessment*

*If you are not able to participate in the Competency Assessment, you will be automatically included in the next selection group.

Are Number leave

Are you requesting

• Extension
• Exemption
• Accommodation*

*You may be asked to provide supporting documentation.

Requested extension

• 30 days
• 60 days
• Other

Please specify

Reason for your request

• Extenuating circumstances
• Not currently practicing/working
• On parental leave
• On leave of absence
• Other

Not currently practicing/working until:

On parental leave until:

On leave of absence until:

Please specify

In this section, you can provide details about the reason for your request

Submit