This category is for occupational therapists currently registered in a Canadian jurisdiction who want to apply for registration under the Labour Mobility Support Agreement (LMSA). The LMSA was developed by Canadian occupational therapy regulatory organizations to promote the mobility of occupational therapists within Canada.

If you are not currently registered and completed your occupational therapy education in Canada, please review Canadian Educated Applicants

If you are not registered in Canada and you have completed your occupational therapy education outside of Canada, please review Internationally-Educated Applicants


Steps in the Registration Process

1.   Complete Labour and Mobility Support Agreement Confirmation Form

Ask your current regulatory organization to complete the Labour Mobility Support Agreement Confirmation Form.  Fill in the top Authorization for Release of Information portion of the LMSA Form and send it to your current regulatory organization.  That regulatory organization will send a copy of your transcript or ACOTRO SEAS Disposition Report, confirmation of completion of the National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE), and a copy of any formal language tests that have been collected.  In summary, you have authorized your current regulatory organization (via the top section of the LMSA form) to provide certain required documents for application, rather than providing the documentation yourself.  This process facilitates the sharing of required documents at application from a single source and eliminates the need for you to locate these documents individually. You are not required to submit documentation that will be sent by your current regulatory organization; however, if any of these documents are not available from your current regulatory organization, you will be asked to provide the required documentation. Contact your current regulatory organization to find out if there is a fee for completion of the LMSA Confirmation Form

2.    Application for registration

Complete an online application form.  The application form is a legal document. You must answer all sections completely and accurately.  Please read this page before completing an application form. 

Evidence Required:

3.    Compile required documentation

Applicants for registration must be able to demonstrate that they meet the following registration requirements:

a.   Proof of Identity

The name you provide on your application form will be the name that is entered on the College register, and must be the same name by which your clients and colleagues will know you. Your registration card, tax receipt, and all correspondence from the College will all be issued in this name. If your name has changed, you must list all your previous names.  

Evidence Required:

b.   Eligibility to work in Canada

In order to be employed as an occupational therapist in Nova Scotia, you must have legal authorization to work in Canada.  Only Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and individuals with Canadian work permits have the right to work in Canada.

Evidence Required:

c.   Demonstration of professional liability insurance

Every occupational therapist licensed in Nova Scotia must have professional liability insurance coverage to a minimum of $5,000,000.00 with a legal expenses endorsement for investigation of complaints by a regulatory body prior to engaging in the practice of occupational therapy.

Professional liability insurance for OTs may be purchased through the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)  if you are a member of CAOT.  See the CAOT website for more information.  You may also purchase Professional liability insurance directly through an insurer such as AON Healthcare Advantage.

Each insurance certificate is reviewed to ensure it meets registration regulation criteria and confirms that the applicant or registrant is the named insured on the policy. 

Evidence Required:

d.   Demonstration of good conduct and regulatory history

The College has an obligation to protect the public and needs to be satisfied that you do not pose a danger to clients. You are required to declare any of the following:

Evidence Required:

NOTE: Both the LMSA form and Regulatory History Form must be completed by your current regulatory organization.  The Regulatory History Form must be completed by any College you have been registered or licensed.

e.   Currency hours

It is important that you practice occupational therapy in order to maintain your skills, and keep up-to-date with recent change in practice.  Applicants require 600 hours in the past 3 years.  This requirement is met if you have graduated from an occupational therapy program in the past 18 months. Field work while in university does not count towards currency hours. If you have not met this requirement, please contact the Registrar for Re-Entry Registration options

Evidence Required:

f.   Payment of required fees

The annual registration fee is $575.00 (starting April 1, 2024) and the application fee for therapists from other jurisdictions under the LMSA is $125.00.  Occupational therapists currently registered in another Canadian jurisdiction may have their application fee waived.  Please contact the College to see if you are eligible. The registration fee may be pro-rated should you wish to practice for 3 months or less in a given registration year (June 1 - May 31).  Payment may be made by cheque, EFT (admin@cotns.ca), credit card or money order, payable to the COTNS in Canadian funds.

4.   Membership with the Nova Scotia Society of Occupational Therapists

The Occupational Therapists Act Section 27(2) requires that all registrants with the College pay the membership fees of the Nova Scotia Society of Occupational Therapists within one month of their initial registration and subsequently on the Societies renewal date; however, the College has determined that it does not have the legislative authority to enforce membership with the Society.  While the College recommends applicants and registrants maintain membership with the Society, the College will not deny or suspend registration for those applicants and registrants that choose not to pay the annual fee to the Society.  Please see this letter for further details.

Evidence Required:

Self-declaration on the Application form.

College staff are available to assist with the application process.  Questions about documentation, qualifications, and technical problems can be asked by phone (902) 455-0556, or by email, admin@cotns.ca. We aim to respond to inquiries within 1-2 business days; however, delays up to 5 business days may occur due to workload, business travel, or vacation.  

Completed applications may require up to 5 business days to be processed.  Once a decision has been made on their application, applicants will receive written notification by email.


 REMEMBER

You cannot begin working as an Occupational Therapist in Nova Scotia (including worksite orientation and shadowing) until you have received notice from the College that your application has been approved.


 

COTNS Application Form

COTNS Application Documents