Information for foreign-trained occupational therapists
(3143) Verified: 2009 09 01
Information on requirements to practise
The profession of occupational therapists is regulated in the provinces of Canada. This means that it is illegal to practise the profession or use the title of occupational therapist without being registered as a full member in a provincial regulatory body (see list below). These regulatory bodies are responsible for setting the standards for entry into the profession and for registering those who meet established standards of qualifications and practice.
In the territories (Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon), occupational therapists are requested to be eligible to sit for the certification exam administered by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT).
Once you know where you will settle and work, you should contact the appropriate regulatory body or CAOT for further information. The contact information for CAOT is as follows:
- Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)
- CTTC Building
1125 Colonel By Drive, Suite 3400- Ottawa ON K1S 5R1 Canada
- Phone : (613) 523-2268
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-434-2268
- Fax : (613) 523-2552
- Email : exam@caot.ca
- http://www.caot.ca/
Information on assessment of qualifications
Although the provincial regulatory bodies of occupational therapists will provide information on how foreign credentials are evaluated once you are in Canada, most are not set up to assess foreign credentials before you arrive in Canada. Some regulatory bodies have made arrangements with evaluation services to perform the assessment of foreign credentials. You need to contact the appropriate regulatory body of occupational therapists directly (see list below) to find out about assessment procedures. The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists can also provide information on assessments.
In those cases where no such arrangements exist, you may consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, which has been compiled to help individuals learn how to obtain assessment of their qualifications for employment purposes in Canada. We draw to your attention the list of evaluation services in the response to question 4 in this fact sheet. You may contact any of them for expert advice on how qualifications obtained abroad compare with credentials obtained in Canada. Please note that these assessments are advisory only and do not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment or registration purposes in Canada.
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada regarding:
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
List of regulatory bodies
Alberta
- Alberta College of Occupational Therapists (ACOT)
- 300, 10436 – 81 Avenue
- Edmonton AB T6E 1X6 Canada
- Phone : (780) 436-8381
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-561-5429
- Fax : (780) 434-0658
- Email : info@acot.ca
- http://www.acot.ca/
British Columbia
- College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC)
- 645 Fort Street, Suite 219
- Victoria BC V8W 1G2 Canada
- Phone : (250) 386-6822
- Phone (alternate): 1 866 386-6822
- Fax : (250) 383-4144
- Email : info@cotbc.org
- http://www.cotbc.org/
Manitoba
- College of Occupational Therapists of Manitoba (COTM)
- #7 - 120 Maryland Street
- Winnipeg MB R3G 1L1 Canada
- Phone : (204) 957-1214
- Phone (alternate): 1-866-957-1214
- Fax : (204) 775-2340
- Email : otinfo@cotm.ca
- http://www.cotm.ca/
New Brunswick
- New Brunswick Association of Occupational Therapists (NBAOT)
- P.O. Box 184, Station A
- Fredericton NB E3B 4Y9 Canada
- Phone : (506) 458-1001
- Fax : (506) 458-8846
- Email : info@nbaot.org
- http://www.nbaot.org/
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland and Labrador Occupational Therapy Board (NLOTB)
- P.O. Box 23076
- St. John's NL A1B 4J9 Canada
- Phone : (709) 738-2434
- Email : nlaot@nf.sympatico.ca
- http://www.nlaot.ca/board/index.asp
Nova Scotia
- College of Occupational Therapists of Nova Scotia (COTNS)
- 6960 Mumford Road, Suite 819
- Halifax NS B3L 2H8 Canada
- Phone : (902) 455-0556
- Phone (alternate): 1-877-455-0556
- Fax : (902) 455-0621
- Email : admin@cotns.ca
- http://www.cotns.ca/contact.html
Ontario
- College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
- 20 Bay Street, Suite 900, P.O. Box 78
- Toronto ON M5J 2N8 Canada
- Phone : (416) 214-1177
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-890-6570
- Fax : (416) 214-1173
- Email : info@coto.org
- http://www.coto.org/
Prince Edward Island
- Prince Edward Island Occupational Therapists Registration Board (PEIOTRB)
- P.O. Box 2248, Stn. Central
- Charlottetown PE C1A 8B9 Canada
- Email : jemill@ihis.org
Quebec
- Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec (OEQ)
- 2021, avenue Union, Bureau 920
- Montréal QC H3A 2S9 Canada
- Phone : (514) 844-5778
- Phone (alternate): 1 800 265-5778
- Fax : (514) 844-0478
- Email : ergo@oeq.org
- http://www.oeq.org/
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan Society of Occupational Therapists (SSOT)
- P.O. Box 9089
- Saskatoon SK S7K 7E7 Canada
- Phone : (306) 956-7768
- Fax : (306) 242-7941
- Email : admin@ssot.sk.ca
- http://www.ssot.sk.ca/
British Columbia
- British Columbia Society of Occupational Therapists (BCSOT)
- 1755 W. Broadway Avenue, Suite 402
- Vancouver BC V6J 4S5 Canada
- Phone : (604) 736-5645
- Phone (alternate): 1-888-736-5645
- Fax : (604) 736-5606
- Email : info@bcsot.org
- http://www.bcsot.org/
Northwest Territories
- Northern Association of Occupational Therapists (NAOT)
- c/o Stanton Territorial Hospital
P.O. Box 10, 550 Byrne Road
- Yellowknife NT X1A 2N1 Canada
- Phone : (867) 874-7198
- Fax : (867) 874-7139
- Email : president@otnorth.ca
Prince Edward Island
- Prince Edward Island Occupational Therapy Society (PEIOTS)
- P.O. Box 2248, Stn. Central
- Charlottetown PE C1A 8B9 Canada
- Email : ycthompson@ihis.org
- http://www.peiot.org/
Yukon
- Association of Yukon Occupational Therapists (AYOT)
- 221 - 108 Elliot Street
- Whitehorse YT Y1A 6C4 Canada
- Phone : (867) 334-3060
- Email : melissa.croskery@gov.yk.ca