Practice Across Jurisdictions

Effective October 2021, ACOT signed and adopted the Memorandum of Understanding on Cross-Jurisdiction Remote Practice (Remote Practice MOU). The provinces listed below are also signatories to the Remote Practice MOU. Occupational therapists registered in these provinces are permitted to provide virtual services from their province of registration to clients located in Alberta without having to be registered with ACOT.

  • Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

NOTE: Registration with ACOT is still required if you are (Refer to the Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About: Practice Across Jurisdictions for more details regarding these requirements including which activities are considered restricted in Alberta).

  • Providing restricted activities from another province or territory virtually to clients physically located in Alberta (Part 0.1 section 1.6(1)(a)(i) of Alberta’s Health Professions Act– HPA);
  • Registered in any province and are teaching or providing supervision in-person to occupational therapists registered to practice in Alberta (HPA sections 46(1)(b)(iv) and (v));
  • Registered in any province (including BC) but are physically located in Alberta when planning to deliver occupational therapy services(even if you are only present in Alberta temporarily) to clients who are physically located in Alberta;
  • Registered in BC and are providing virtual services to Albertans (because BC is not able to sign the MOU); or
  • Providing occupational therapy services virtually to Albertans from any US state or another country (which also requires completion of the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System- SEAS – process prior to applying for registration with ACOT).

The Registration Requirement Tables linked below have been created as a quick reference to assist you in determining if registration is required in Alberta and/or elsewhere.

Reference Key for Registration Requirement Tables

Once you determine that registration with ACOT is required, you can apply to be on either the

  • Courtesy Register if you are providing services on a short-term basis ($40 for ≤30 days up to a maximum of three x 30-day registrations in a year); or
  • General Register (or the Provisional Register if you have not written the national exam or do not have official transcripts yet) if services will be provided beyond a 90-day time period (>3 x 30 days).

If you have not been registered with ACOT in the past, click here to create an account for the registrant portal and initiate the application process. Refer to the New Applicant Registration Guide for step-by-step instructions on how to navigate the new application process.

If you have been registered with ACOT in the past, please initiate the re-registration process for the General, Provisional or Courtesy Register through the Registrant Login rather than starting a new application. Contact the ACOT office if you do not recall the email address you used for login. Refer to the Re-Registration Guide for step-by-step instructions on how to navigate the re-application process.

Courtesy Register

Occupational Therapists who normally reside outside of Alberta and wish to teach or provide Occupational Therapy services temporarily in Alberta must register with the Alberta College of Occupational Therapists.

Applicants must have an unrestricted practice permit with another licensing/registering organization and have a time limitation attached to their tenure in Alberta. Other applicants may be registered on the Courtesy Register at the discretion of the Registrar. Registration must be completed prior to the start of any temporary work in Alberta.

If you are looking to practice in Alberta, make arrangements for the originating jurisdiction to complete the regulatory history.

See above instructions for logging into the ACOT portal for the first or subsequent times.