Canadian-Educated Applicants

The category Canadian-Educated Application is for applicants who have completed their occupational therapy education in Canada and are not currently registered anywhere else in Canada, including new graduates.  

If you are currently registered as an occupational therapist in Canada, please review Occupational Therapists from Canadian Jurisdictions. 

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.   Establish academic eligibility

Completion of an accredited Canadian Occupational Therapy program satisfies this requirement.

Evidence required:

• An official transcript from the Canadian accredited program you attended must be sent directly to the College after convocation. 
• If you have not convocated, an original letter from your occupational therapy program head or designate, which confirms that you have met all the requirements (including fieldwork) for graduating with a degree in occupational therapy, is accepted as interim verification. Check with your division/program head about how to provide this to the College.  Note: you will still be required to have an official transcript on file with the College.  An official transcript must be forwarded from the university to the College within 30 days of convocation.

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 starting an application form.  

Evidence Required:

• A completed online application form.  Incomplete application forms will not be processed.

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:

• A notarized passport-sized photo.  The notary will need to confirm that the photo is your true likeness. You must mail or drop off the original photo with the notary's original signature and stamp to the College.  (This is a photograph certified by a notary public, not a guarantor or commissioner of oath). The photograph requires a notarized stamp or seal.
• If any of the documents in your application were issued under a previous name, you must include an official document (such as a marriage license) that verifies your name change. This document must be uploaded to your application as a pdf. 

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:

• Acceptable documentation includes a copy of a Canadian birth certificate, a Canadian passport, proof of landed immigrant resident status, or copy of a valid work permit. This documentation must be uploaded to your application as a PDF.

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 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:

• An original insurance certificate showing  that it meets the required minimum coverage and legal expenses endorsement must be uploaded to your application as a PDF.

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:

• Any disciplinary finding as an occupational therapist or in another profession in Nova Scotia or anther jurisdiction.
• Conviction of a criminal, drug, or traffic offence, excluding minor traffic offences such as parking or speeding.
• Any finding of liability in a civil proceeding.
• If you are currently under criminal investigation or have a pending criminal or civil court date.

Evidence Required:

• A self-declaration made on your application form.  If you answer yes to any of the declarations, the College will ask you to send more information, such as a transcript of the criminal record. The College will use this information to decide if you are eligible for registration and, if applicable, to determine if conditions should be imposed on your license.

• A Regulatory History Report from each OT regulatory organization you have been registered or licensed with in the past (Including international jurisdictions). Complete the top part of the College's Regulatory History Form, send it to each of your previous regulatory or licensing organizations, and ask them to complete the form and forward it to the College.  If there is an area of concern identified by one of your previous regulators, you will be contacted by the College. You will be asked to provide more information regarding the nature and timing of the offense or concern and how the issue has been managed or resolved. Your eligibility for registration will depend on the nature, timing, and severity of the issue.  Regulatory History forms must be sent directly from your previous regulatory or licensing organization.

• A Vulnerable Sector Check from the province in which you are residing must be uploaded to the Vulnerable Sector Area of your application as a pdf. If you have lived outside of Canada in the past two years, an International Criminal Record Check, translated by a certified translator (if applicable) is also required. The Vulnerable Sector Check will need to be valid within the last 3 months of your registration date.  It should be noted that a conduct history does not automatically result in a denial of registration. However, there must be nothing in your previous conduct that will impact your ability to practice occupational therapy safely and ethically.  If you cannot obtain a Vulnerable Sector Check in your jurisdiction, please contact the College for further steps to provide alternate documentation.  More information on obtaining a Vulnerable Sector Check and International Criminal Record Check is available on our website under Vulnerable Sector Check. 

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:

• A curriculum vitae / resumé outlining your employment history with the corresponding currency hours broken down by year must be uploaded with your application as a PDF.  New graduates should include their fieldwork placement experience in their curriculum vitae / resumé, although fieldwork does not count towards currency hours. Your CV must include your registrations with any regulatory organizations and all post-secondary education, as well as your employment history.
• If requested by the Registrar, additional documentation may be required, including a letter or record of employment from each of your employers in the past 5 years, stating that you were employed as an OT, your period of employment, and the hours you worked each year.

f.   Payment of  required fees

The annual registration fee is  $575.00 (starting April 1, 2024) and the application fee for Canadian educated new applicants 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 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.

5.   Successfully complete the National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE)

The National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE) is a mandatory requirement of registration with the College. The examination ensures that all individuals entering the profession of occupational therapy have met a minimum standard in the written application of academic knowledge and professional behavior. This exam is administered by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT). You must apply to CAOT to write the NOTCE.  Applicants requiring accommodations must submit a request in writing to CAOT; please see CAOT's Accommodation Policy for details. Accommodation Form A and Form B are also linked for your reference. CAOT offers the Trial Occupational Therapy Exam Manual (TOTEM) and the Trial Occupational Therapy Exam (TOTE) to assist exam candidates with preparation for the exam.

Applicants are eligible to practice under supervision (not self-employed) while waiting to successfully complete the NOTCE.  The College's exam policy outlines a maximum of three (3) attempts to successfully complete the NOTCE. Applicants must provide evidence that they are scheduled to write the next sitting of the NOTCE.  Please review the Guide to Supervised Practice for more information.

Evidence Required:

• A copy of your exam result or certificate is required as evidence that you have successfully completed the exam.  Documentation must be uploaded to your application as a PDF.
• If you have not successfully completed the examination you must provide proof that you are scheduled to write in the next sitting and the required documentation for supervised practice. 

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