Occupational Therapy

To work as an occupational therapist in British Columbia, you must be licensed with the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC).

You may begin working (or participating in orientation or training at the workplace) as an occupational therapist once you are licensed with the College and have received written confirmation and a licence number.

Apply into one of the following licensure categories:

Full licensure

Apply as a Full licensee with no restrictions to practise as an occupational therapist.

Provisional licensure

Apply as a Provisional licensee practising under the general supervision of a Full licensee until your national exam requirement has been met.

Temporary licensure

A temporary licensee is an occupational therapist who is registered to practise in good standing in another jurisdiction and intends to visit British Columbia for education purposes, emergency services, or a purpose to be approved by the registrar for a maximum of 30 days.

Fees

Review the Fee section for more information on first-time applicant fees.

Documentation requirements

All new applicants must provide evidence that they meet the set requirements by completing all documentation described below.

Notarized Identification: All applicants must provide two pieces of notarized government-issued ID as part of their application. A notary public or lawyer must verify both copies with a stamp and/or seal. Photocopies not notarized will not be accepted. Have your notarized ID ready before starting your application, as required in Step 1.

Official Transcript or Interim Letter from the University: Request an official transcript or declare you will request an official transcript once it is ready and upload this document where indicated. If you are a new grad, ensure the interim letter from your university indicates that you have met all requirements for graduation and that it is emailed directly to the College. As a new grad, official transcripts are printed after convocation stating the degree has been awarded/granted. Please arrange for these to be sent after the convocation.

Criminal Record Check: All applicants must complete a new criminal record check at the time of application and every five years after that. Follow the instructions on the application form to give CHCPBC consent to initiate the criminal record check on your behalf. You will consent to the initial criminal records and the five-year re-check while licensed with CHCPBC.

Professional Liability Insurance: Upload your current liability insurance.

NOTCE Certificate or Confirmation of Registration: Upload a copy of your NOTCE certificate or confirmation of registration that you are sitting the next available exam.

Supervision Agreement Form: Supervision is required if you are applying for a Provisional licence and have not passed the NOTCE. Once you have secured employment, complete this form and upload it with your application.

Regulatory History Form: If you have ever been licensed in another province/state or country, complete the first section of the Regulatory History Form and send it to all the regulatory organizations you have been licensed with. RHFs should be dated no more than 60 days prior to the date of your application.

Labour Mobility Support Agreement (LMSA) Form: If you are currently practising in another Canadian province, you are eligible to apply under the LMSA. Have the LMSA form and regulatory history form sent to your current regulatory organization for them to complete. They will, in return, send a copy of your transcript, NOTCE results, and the regulatory history form to CHCPBC. Applicants who have been licensed with any regulatory (health and/or non-health) agency in the past must complete the first section of the Regulatory History Form and send it to all the regulatory organizations you have been licensed with. The agency(ies) will send the form directly to the CHCPBC. All the RHFs should be dated no more than 60 days prior to the date of your application.

English Language Proficiency: An applicant must be proficient in English to practice Occupational Therapy in British Columbia. If English was not the language of instruction in your OT education, you will be required to complete an English proficiency test. If you are an Internationally Educated OT (IEOT), this would have been assessed as part of your SEAS assessment.

Submit Online Application

Select the “Apply Online” link below to start the application process.

• Select “Sign up” to set up a new account. Be sure to have your notarized ID before creating your online account, as you will need to upload it before proceeding.
• Do not create duplicate accounts, as this will delay your application.
• You may save your work and return later by logging in with the credentials you initially set up.
• Once you have completed the form, select the “Submit” button. On submission, you will be required to pay applicable fees.

Apply Online

Note: Do not use Internet Explorer, as it is no longer supported. Instead, use Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, etc.

Internationally educated occupational therapists (IEOTs) looking topractise anywhere in Canada (except Quebec) must apply to the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO) and proceed through the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS). This includes Canadian citizens educated abroad. You must complete the SEAS process through ACOTRO before you can apply for licensure with the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC).

To work as an occupational therapist in British Columbia, you must be licensed with CHCPBC. You may begin working (or participating in orientation or training at the workplace) as an occupational therapist once you are licensed with the College and have received written confirmation and a licence number.

Internationally Educated Occupational Therapist (IEOT) Credential Assessment and Education Bursary Program

The Province of British Columbia recently announced a bursary to support internationally educated allied health professionals (including occupational therapists) who want to work in BC’s healthcare system. The bursary became available on January 15, 2024, and eligible expenses can be reimbursed retroactively to July 19, 2022.

To learn more about the bursary, including detailed eligibility criteria and application procedures, refer to Allied Health Jobs BC.

Apply into one of the following licensure categories:

Full licensure

Apply as a Full licensee with no restrictions to practise as an occupational therapist.

Provisional licensure

Apply as a Provisional licensee practising under the general supervision of a Full licensee until your national exam requirement has been met.

Fees

Review the Fees section for more information on first-time applicant fees.

Documentation Requirements

All new applicants must provide evidence that they meet the set requirements by completing all documentation described below.

SEAS Determination Report: Request that ACOTRO send your SEAS Certificate of Completion and SEAS Determination Report to the College.

Notarized Identification: All applicants must provide two pieces of notarized government-issued ID as part of their application. A notary public or lawyer must verify both copies with a stamp and/or seal. Photocopies not notarized will not be accepted. Have your notarized ID ready before starting your application, as required in Step 1.

Criminal Record Check: All applicants must complete a new criminal record check at the time of application and every five years after that. Follow the instructions on the application form to give CHCPBC consent to initiate the criminal record check on your behalf. You will consent to the initial criminal records and the five-year re-check while licensed with CHCPBC.

Professional Liability Insurance: Upload your current liability insurance.

NOTCE Certificate or Confirmation of Registration: Upload a copy of your NOTCE certificate or confirmation of registration that you are sitting the next available exam.

Supervision Agreement Form: Supervision is required if you are applying for a Provisional licence and have not passed the NOTCE. Once you have secured employment, complete this form and upload it with your application.

Regulatory History Form: If you have ever been registered in another province/state or country, complete the first section of the Regulatory History Form and send it to all the regulatory organizations you have been licensed with. RHFs should be dated no more than 60 days prior to the date of your application.

Submit Online Application

Select the “Apply Online” link below to start the application process.

• Select “Sign up” to set up a new account. Be sure to have your notarized ID before creating your online account, as you will need to upload it before proceeding.
• Do not create duplicate accounts, as this will delay your application.
• You may save your work and return later by logging in with the credentials you initially set up.
• Once you have completed the form, select the “Submit” button. On submission, you will be required to pay applicable fees.

Apply Online

Note: Do not use Internet Explorer, as it is no longer supported. Instead, use Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, etc.

If you are licensed as an occupational therapist in another province and are applying to practise in British Columbia, you must first become licensed with the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC) and receive a licence number before starting to work. Working as an OT includes participating in orientation or training at the workplace.

You are eligible to apply to CHCPBC under the Labour Mobility Support Agreement (LMSA) if you hold current licensure with another Canadian OT regulator. In this case, the jurisdiction from which you are applying will provide CHCPBC with your official transcripts and evidence of successful completion of the national exam. See information below regarding the Regulatory History Form/Verification of Licensure.

While you may qualify to apply under the LMSA, you may apply to the College as a new Canadian-educated applicant. If you have questions about which pathway to apply under, please contact us to discuss your options.

Apply into one of the following licensure categories:

Full licensure

Apply as a Full licensee with no restrictions to practise as an occupational therapist.

Provisional licensure

Apply as a Provisional licensee practising under the general supervision of a Full licensee until your national exam requirement has been met.

Fees

Review the Fees section for more information on first-time applicant fees.

Documentation Requirements

All new applicants must provide evidence that they meet the set requirements by completing all necessary documentation described below.

Notarized Identification: All applicants must provide two pieces of notarized government-issued ID as part of their application. A notary public or lawyer must verify both copies with a stamp and/or seal. Photocopies not notarized will not be accepted. Have your notarized ID ready before starting your application, as required in Step 1.

Criminal Record Check: All applicants must complete a new criminal record check at the time of application and every five years after that. Follow the instructions on the application form to give CHCPBC consent to initiate the criminal record check on your behalf. You will consent to the initial criminal records and the five-year re-check while licensed with CHCPBC.

Labour Mobility Support Agreement (LMSA) Form: Complete the first section of the LMSA form and send it to the Canadian regulatory organization that you are currently licensed with.

Regulatory History Form (RHF): Complete the first section of the Regulatory History Form and send it to all the regulatory organizations you have been licensed with. RHFs should be dated no more than 60 days prior to the date of your application.

Professional Liability Insurance: Upload your current liability insurance.

Supervision Agreement Form: Supervision is required if you are applying for a Provisional licence and have not passed the NOTCE. Once you have secured employment, complete this form and upload it with your application.

English Language Proficiency: An applicant must be proficient in English to practice Occupational Therapy in British Columbia. If English was not the language of instruction in your OT education, you will be required to complete an English proficiency test. If you are an Internationally Educated OT (IEOT), this would have been assessed as part of your SEAS assessment.

Submit Online Application

Select the “Apply Online” link below to start the application process.

• Select “Sign up” to set up a new account. Be sure to have your notarized ID before creating your online account, as you will need to upload it before proceeding.
• Do not create duplicate accounts, as this will delay your application.
• You may save your work and return later by logging in with the credentials you initially set up.
• Once you have completed the form, select the “Submit” button. On submission, you will be required to pay applicable fees.

Apply Online

Note: Do not use Internet Explorer, as it is no longer supported. Instead, use Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, etc.

A temporary licensee is an occupational therapist who is registered to practise in good standing in another jurisdiction and intends to visit British Columbia for education purposes, emergency services, or a purpose to be approved by the registrar for a maximum of 30 days.

See Practice Across Jurisdictions for more information on the parameters of Temporary licensure.

Fees

For information on fees, see the Fees section. All fees must be paid in Canadian dollars.

Documentation Requirements

Note: All forms can be found under Registration Documents for Occupational Therapists.

Notarized Identification: All applicants must provide two pieces of notarized government-issued ID as part of their application. A notary public or lawyer must verify both copies with a stamp and/or seal. Photocopies not notarized will not be accepted. Have your notarized ID ready before starting your application, as required in Step 1.

Criminal Record Check: All applicants must complete a new criminal record check at the time of application and every five years after that. Follow the instructions on the application form to give CHCPBC consent to initiate the criminal record check on your behalf. 

Professional Liability Insurance: Upload your current liability insurance if available.

Regulatory History Form: Complete the first section of the form and forward it to the regulatory organization you are currently licensed with. Have them complete the rest of the form and email it to the College office. If you have ever been licensed in another province/state or country, complete the first section of the Regulatory History Form and send it to all the regulatory organizations you have been licensed with. RHFs should be dated no more than 60 days prior to the date of your application.

Submit Online Application

Select the “Apply Online” link below to start the application process.

• Select “Sign up” to set up a new account. Be sure to have your notarized ID before creating your online account, as you will need to upload it before proceeding.
• Do not create duplicate accounts, as this will delay your application.
• You may save your work and return later by logging in with the credentials you initially set up.
• Once you have completed the form, select the “Submit” button. On submission, you will be required to pay applicable fees.

Apply Online

Note: Do not use Internet Explorer, as it is no longer supported. Instead, use Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, etc.

Applying for licensure in another province

If you are applying for licensure as an occupational therapist (OT) in another province and would like to apply under the provisions of the Labour Mobility Support Agreement (LMSA), please print the Labour Mobility Support Agreement Form and Regulatory History Form from the website of the organization where you are applying.

Fill in the Authorization for Release of Information section of the forms and send them directly to CHCPBC. Processing will not begin until payment has been received. Please allow at least one week for processing.

Request for Letter of Professional Standing

If you require a letter of professional standing to be completed by CHCPBC and sent to another organization, contact the Licensure team with your request.  There is no fee for this service. Please allow at least one week for processing.

Licensure forms:

• Regulatory History Form
• LMSA Form
• Supervision Agreement for Provisional Licensees

Licensure documents:

• LMSA Agreement

To view the CHCPBC Fee Schedule, see the Fees page.

All fees must be paid in Canadian dollars.

Refund policy

There is no refund of the application fee or the registration fee.

All occupational therapists must be insured against liability for negligence in an amount of at least $2,000,000 per occurrence. In BC, some employers provide occupational therapists with liability insurance that meets CHCPBC requirements. Professional liability insurance may also be purchased through CAOT or AON Healthcare Advantage.

The National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE) assesses the written application of academic knowledge and professional behaviour of individuals entering the occupational therapy profession in Canada. Successful completion of the NOTCE is a registration requirement for occupational therapists to work in BC. See the NOTCE webpage for more information.

The Criminal Record Check (CRC) is a mandatory requirement under the Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) for licensees in a regulated profession. It must be done at initial application, when reinstating, and every five years thereafter.

The CRC program is a government-driven process that regulators like CHCPBC are required to enforce. Not having a current CRC is in contravention of the CRRA. For more information on the Criminal Record Check, visit Criminal Record Check BC.

The criminal record consent form is built into CHCPBC’s online applications for initial licensure, renewal, and reinstatement. The Licensure team initiates criminal record checks on behalf of occupational therapists.

• Currency Hours Requirement (PDF)
• Education and Fieldwork Qualifications (PDF)
• English Language Proficiency (PDF)
• General Supervision (Provisional Registrants) (PDF)
• Identity Documents (PDF)
• National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (PDF)
• Practicing While Not Registered (PDF)
• Re-Entry Program (PDF)
• Revocation of Registration (PDF)
• Validity of Applications and Supporting Documents (PDF)