Fact Sheet Occupat for ional T Foreign-Tr hera ained pists

Transcription

1 Fact Sheet Occupational for Foreign-Trained Therapists 71041

2 Access to the Occupational Therapy Profession in Ontario This document was updated in January Requirements may have changed by the time you apply. Please contact the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario before you complete your application. Copyright in this career map is held jointly by the Queen's Printer for Ontario and the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. This career map may be used or reproduced by any third party for non-commercial, not-for-profit purposes, provided that no fee, payment or royalty of any kind shall be charged by the third party for any further use or reproduction of the career map by any person. Any proposed commercial or for-profit use or reproduction of this career map requires a written license from the Queen's Printer for Ontario and the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. Occupational therapists in Ontario are regulated by the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (the College). To practise occupational therapy and use the title occupational therapist, or OT in Ontario, you must be a registered member of the College. Occupational therapists are health care professionals who assist individuals to develop or maintain life roles and activities at home, in the community and at the workplace when they are experiencing difficulties in functioning on their own because of accident, disability, emotional problems, developmental difficulties or disease. Occupational therapists use a variety of assessment and treatment techniques. Their work may include training clients in daily living activity and community life skills; prescribing specialised equipment; evaluating and modifying home, work or school environments; and education and counselling. Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, schools, long-term care facilities, community agencies, private homes, and vocational evaluation/training centres. Many occupational therapists also have their own private practice. 1

3 New Assessment Process Effective May 1, 2015 As of May 1, 2015, a new assessment process will apply to any applicant who has completed their OT education outside Canada, including Canadians who travelled outside Canada for their OT education. The process will also apply to applicants who have completed their education in the United States. Applicants who want to register for practice anywhere in Canada (except Quebec) must first apply to the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO) to complete a new assessment process. Learn more at the ACOTRO website There will be four main components to the process. Learn more about the components of the process on the ACOTRO website under the FAQs tab. All internationally educated OTs will also be required to demonstrate a minimum level of language proficiency. The assessment process will cost $3,100 per applicant. There will be a graduated fee payment process, which means applicants unlikely to proceed after the first phases of the assessment process will not be required to pay the remaining substantial portion of the $3,100 fee. Registration Requirements in Ontario Applications Made Prior to May 1, 2015 Applicants can complete all steps in the registration process while they are outside of Canada, with the exception of writing the National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination and completing the refresher program, if applicable. All applicants applying for registration must meet the following requirements: Be legally entitled to work in Canada Be a graduate from an occupational therapy program from a school, college or university approved by the College Meet the current practice hours required by the College Meet the good conduct requirement of the College Pass the examination approved by the College (see Step 3 below) Be fluent in English or French Have College-approved professional liability insurance which includes a sexual abuse therapy and counselling fund endorsement 2

4 Registration Application Process for Applications Made Prior to May 1, 2015 STEP 1 Proof of English or French Language Fluency If you completed your occupational therapy education in English or French, or your first language is English or French, you do not need to provide additional proof of language fluency as your language of instruction will be verified on your credential evaluation report (see Step 2 for details). If you do not meet the criteria above, you must get an acceptable score on a standardised English or French fluency test (both written and spoken) that is recognised in Canada and approved by the College. You must have your results sent directly to the College by the testing agency. Please refer to the table below for a list of the language tests and minimum scores the College accepts. Please note that this information may change over time. For the most up to date requirements, please see the Language Fluency Policy (8-80) on the College website at > Registration > Policies Test Details Minimum Score 1) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Speaking 26 Listening 22 Reading 22 Writing 22 Overall score 92 2) International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS) Speaking 7.5 Listening 7.0 Reading 7.0 Writing 6.5 Overall score 7.0 3) TEST Can Speaking 4.5 Listening 4.5 Reading 4.5 Writing 4.0 Overall score - 4. CanTEST Speaking 4.5 Listening 4.5 Reading 4.5 Writing 4.0 Overall score - 3

5 STEP 2 - Send Application Documents to the College If you do not yet meet all of the requirements listed below, you can still start the application process by submitting your application, application fee, academic documents, and any other documentation available at the time of submission. All registration applications sent to the College are valid for a period of one year To start the process please go to > Registration > Complete the Online Application Form, review the Guide to Online Application, complete the online form and pay the applicable fees. Fees are listed at the end of this document and on the College website. You will also need to submit the following information: Photocopy of your legal work status document (e.g., Canadian Citizenship, Canadian Passport, Canadian Birth Certificate, Signed Record of Landing, Permanent Resident Card or work authorization permit) Photocopy of your occupational therapy program final transcript A document-by-document credential evaluation report sent directly from World Education Services (WES) to the College. This is a requirement for all applicants who have obtained their occupational therapy qualification outside of Canada. WES contact information is listed at the end of this document. If you completed your education and fieldwork more than 18 months before applying for registration, you must provide evidence that you have completed one of the following: o o o 600 hours of professional practice within the last 3 years A College-approved refresher program within the last 18 months Current registration in another Canadian jurisdiction (applying under the Labour Mobility Support Agreement) Evidence that you have obtained College-approved professional liability insurance that includes a sexual abuse therapy and counselling fund endorsement. The insurance programs offered by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT), and Aon Healthcare Advantage, have been approved by the College. A completed Employer Acknowledgement Form (if applying for a Provisional Practising Certificate of Registration), the Employer Acknowledgement Form is available on the College website at > Registration > Internationally Educated Confirmation that you have passed the CAOT National Certification Examination (if applying for a General Practising Certificate) or confirmation that you have registered to take the CAOT National Certification Examination (if applying for a Provisional Practising Certificate) Regulatory History Forms must be completed and forwarded directly to the College from every jurisdiction in which you have held an occupational therapy license or registration. The Regulatory History Form is available on the College website at > Registration > Internationally Educated. Please note that some regulatory authorities may charge a fee for this service. If the organization does not complete regulatory history forms, we will accept a letter of good standing or certificate status sent directly to us. 4

6 If your academic program has not yet been approved as substantially equivalent by the College, you will be asked to submit further information so that the Registration Committee can complete an Academic Equivalency Review. You will be informed if this is required once the registration application, application fee, and credential evaluation report have been received and reviewed. In these situations, the College will notify you of specific requirements and fees. Through the Academic Equivalency Review process, the Registration Committee of the College has previously reviewed and approved a number of university occupational therapy programs outside of Canada. Upon request, the College is able to send confirmation to the CAOT that you meet our academic equivalency requirement so you may apply to write the National Certification Examination. Provisional Practising Certificate of Registration While you are waiting to write the CAOT National Certification Examination, the College may grant you a Provisional Practising Certificate of Registration. This certificate will allow you to practise as an occupational therapist with the conditions that you practise under the supervision of a General Practising occupational therapist, and that you write the first available CAOT National Certification Examination from your date of registration. Please refer to the pamphlet, Provisional Practising Certificate of Registration Responsibilities and Requirements found on the College website at > Registration > Becoming an Occupational Therapist in Ontario. STEP 3 - Take the CAOT National Certification Examination All applicants who want to become registered as occupational therapists in Ontario must pass the National Certification Examination administered by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT). You will need to contact the CAOT to take this exam. Their address and telephone number are listed at the end of this document. The examination is 4 hours long. It includes questions that test your knowledge of specific areas of Canadian occupational therapy practice and theory. The examination is offered twice a year, in July and November. The CAOT will be able to provide you with all other relevant information regarding the exam. The College strongly encourages all internationally educated applicants to participate in the Occupational Therapy Examination and Practice Preparation (OTepp) Program. This program was developed to assist internationally educated occupational therapists as they seek to transition into practice in Canada. The project is led by the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University in partnership with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT). For more information, please visit the OTepp website at Currency - Refresher Program If you do not meet the currency hours required for registration (current practice experience), you will be required to complete a College-approved refresher program, or have your application reviewed by a Panel of the Registration Committee, prior to being eligible for a 5

7 Certificate of Registration. When you apply, you will need to provide a detailed account of your occupational therapy experience for the past 10 years, including dates of employment, hours worked per week, volunteer work and/or continuing education courses completed within the scope of the profession. The required number of hours for the refresher program is determined by the College for each individual applicant. Please refer to the Currency Policy (8-40) at > Registration > Polices for a summary of possible outcomes. For more information on the placement component of the refresher program, please refer to the Clinical Re-Entry Program Information Package at > Registration > Becoming and Occupational Therapist in Ontario>Internationally Educated. The Occupational Therapy Examination and Practice Preparation (OTepp) Project has been approved as a possible component of the refresher program. Upon successful completion of the full OTepp Certificate Program, the College will credit hours completed towards the hours required for the refresher program. For more information please visit Requests for Review Applicants who do not meet the registration requirements as specified may request a review by the Registration Committee of the College. Decisions of the Registration Committee may be appealed to the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB). The contact information for HPARB is listed at the end of this document. Labour Market Information Areas of employment include health care, educational institutions, social agencies, private businesses and industry. Job growth may be found in the area of home based care. For information about working conditions, wages, and job descriptions for occupational therapists visit the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities website at You will find additional resources on the Employment and Social Development Canada website at This information is also available at public libraries or Employment Resource Centres in Ontario. Please visit the HealthForceOntario, for valuable information on living and working in Ontario and on the health professions in Ontario. The Access Centre of HealthForceOntario provides a number of services including help for internationally educated health professionals seeking information, advice, and support on their path to professional practice in Ontario. The Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO) is the national organization of occupational therapy regulators in Canada. Their website at may be useful to you. ACOTRO s goal is to promote consistency and excellence in regulating occupational therapy across Canada. ACOTRO also provides guidance and information to occupational therapists seeking information on how to register in Canada. 6

8 The professional associations for occupational therapy may also provide assistance. You may visit the websites of OSOT and CAOT at and to access a list of current job opportunities. Current Fees College Fees (in Canadian dollars): Initial Registration Application Fee.$ (incl. HST) Registration Fee (pro-rated quarterly)...$ (incl. HST) Annual Registration Renewal Fee...$ (incl. HST) Academic Equivalency Review Fee...$ (incl. HST) Additional Fees: WES Credential Evaluation Report $ 115 (approximate) CAOT National Certification Exam... $ 555 (approximate) For More Information For further information about applying to register as an occupational therapist in Ontario, please contact: Brandi Park Manager, Registration, College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO) 20 Bay St, Suite 900, PO Box 78, Toronto, ON M5J 2N8, CANADA Tel: ext. 229 Toll Free: (North America) Fax: [email protected] Website: For information on obtaining a credential evaluation report of your occupational therapy program, please contact: World Education Services (WES) 2 Carlton St, Suite 1400, Toronto, ON M5B 1J3, CANADA Tel: Toll Free: Fax: Contact online at: Website: For information on the CAOT National Certification Exam, please contact: Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) CTTC Bldg, Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5R1, CANADA Tel: Toll Free: (North America) Fax: [email protected] Website: 7

9 For information on the provincial professional association, please contact: Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) 55 Eglinton Ave East, Suite 210, Toronto, ON M4P 1G8, CANADA Tel: Toll free: Fax: Website: For information on appealing a registration decision from the College, please contact: Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB) 151 Bloor St West, 9th Floor, Toronto, ON M5S 1S4, CANADA Tel: Toll Free: TTY: Fax: [email protected] Website: For a government contact about accessing health professions in Ontario, please contact: HealthForceOntario (HFO) 163 Queen St East, 2nd Floor, Toronto ON M5A 1S1, CANADA Tel: Toll Free: (North America) or ext. 4 (International) TTY: [email protected] Website: For information on where and how to get help with settlement in Ontario, please contact: Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) 110 Eglinton Ave West, Suite 200, Toronto, ON M4R 1A3, CANADA Tel: TTY: Fax: [email protected] Website: Copyright in this career map is held jointly by the Queen s Printer for College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario,

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