This page summaries registration requirements for different applicants. Please see Registration Requirements and How to Meet Them for more information.
Canadian Applicants Registration Requirements
Education
Requirements include:
- a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy or an entry level masters degree in occupational therapy from an occupational Therapy program accredited by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) or recognized by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy and approved by ACOT Council
- Successful completion of 1000 hours of supervised clinical education
- Official transcripts
National Exam
Results from successful completion of the National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam (NOTCE).
Practice Hours Required
- 400 hours within the past year;
- 800 hours in the past 2 years;
- 1200 hours in the past 3 years;
- 1550 hours in the past 5 years;
- or successful completion of the refresher/re-entry program.
Good Character
A current criminal record check which includes a vulnerable sector check.
Professional Liability Insurance
Your clients could hold you responsible for damages resulting from a negligent act, error, omission or malpractice. Employer-provided policies typically cover the employee solely for the professional services rendered for that employer, not for activities outside of work or for complaints that come directly to ACOT.
The Health Professions Act requires all registered Occupational Therapists to hold professional liability insurance. Council has determined that starting in 2022-2023, in order to register for or renew their practice permit, OTs must personally hold professional liability insurance in the amount of no less than five million dollars ($5,000,000) per occurrence. Employer coverage will not be sufficient. This helps ensure that clients who have suffered damages can be compensated while protecting an OT’s personal assets against lawsuits and defense costs.
Sources for professional liability insurance
The College does not endorse one provider or carrier over another. Professional liability insurance may be purchased through:
- Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists
- The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
- An independent insurance broker: a listing of brokers is available through the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada
Please note: once a completed application is submitted, it will take up to ten (10) business days to be processed.
New Canadian Graduates
A new graduate of a Canadian University can apply for provisional registration while waiting for conferment of their degree, completion of the national certification exam, or submission of examination results to ACOT. An Occupational Therapist in the process of completing these requirements for registration may be registered on the College’s Provisional Register. This is temporary, and for a maximum of one year. When all registration requirements are met, members on the Provisional Register can apply for a General Register permit. New graduates applying for a Provisional Register permit must submit:
- confirmation of entitlement to graduate with a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy or an entry level masters degree in occupational therapy from a Canadian post-secondary institution
- proof of registration (receipt) to write the National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam (NOTCE)
- information on employer, occupational Therapist supervisor, and projected employment start date
- a current criminal record check which includes a vulnerable sector check
Please note that regulated members on the Provisional Register must have professional liability insurance.
New Applicant Registration Guide
Supervised Practice Guide for Graduates from Canadian OT Programs
Canadian OTs Labour Mobility
An occupational therapist licensed or registered in another Canadian jurisdiction may have their qualifications recognized for registration in Alberta under the Labour Mobility Support Agreement (LMSA) between provincial regulatory organizations. If you are eligible for LMSA transfer, make arrangements for the originating jurisdiction to complete a confirmation form and regulatory history. Starting June 1, 2021 ACOT will charge a $40.00 fee to process an LMSA.
Re-entry OTs
The re-entry applicant is an occupational therapist applying to re-enter the profession after a period of absence and does not have sufficient practice hours for registration to the General Register. Applicants successful in the documentation review are registered on the Provisional Register. An eight-week (320 hr) period of supervised practice is mandatory. Once the supervisor’s competency assessment of the OT is complete and approved by the Registrar, and the applicant has successfully completed the national certification exam or any coursework or training requirements that may have been identified during the competency assessment, the OT will be transferred to the General Register.