Internationally-Educated Applicants

The Internationally Educated Application category is for anyone who completed their occupational therapy education outside of Canada and is not currently registered in Canada.

If you are currently registered in Canada, please review Registering from Another Jurisdiction.

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

Steps in the Registration Process

 The College has a visual map representing the steps an internationally educated occupational therapist applicant must take to complete registration in Nova Scotia. View the College process map.

1.   Establish academic eligibility

The College must confirm that your education is substantially equivalent to that of an occupational therapist educated in Canada.  Substantially equivalent means that your qualifications and competence must be equivalent, but not identical, in all essential respects, to those of Canadian-educated occupational therapists.

To determine your academic equivalency, you must complete the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System, also known as SEAS.  SEAS is administered by the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Associations (ACOTRO).  SEAS is a multi-part assessment consisting of:

• Academic Credential Assessment (ACA)
• SEAS Language Assessment
• Curriculum and Fieldwork - PSCA Review
• Jurisprudence Knowledge Assessment Test (JKAT)
• Competency Assessment Interview

It may take between 6-12 months to complete the SEAS process. Applicants requiring accommodations may submit a request in writing to ACOTRO; more information is available under the ACOTRO SEAS Policies.  All steps of the SEAS process may be completed outside of Canada.  

 Evidence Required:

• Your SEAS final disposition report must be sent directly to the College from ACOTRO. This report will also be provided to you by ACOTRO when you have completed the SEAS process.

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:

• 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.  Please note that any supporting documentation in any language other than English  must be sent with a certified translation.  The applicant is responsible for all costs associated with the translation of documents:

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. 

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 Canadian birth certificate, 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.   English and French language fluency

In Nova Scotia, health care is primarily delivered in English.  It is critical that you be able to communicate with clients and other health care providers in English. You must be able to demonstrate ability to read, write, listen to and speak English proficiently.  You must provide proof of your English or French language proficiency.

Evidence Required:

• Graduation from a Canadian University or
• English language proficiency must be demonstrated with one of the following tests sent directly to the College:
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• International English Language Testing System – Academic (IELTS AC)
• CANTest/TestCan (no longer available for new assessments)
• Applicants applying through the SEAS process do not require language test scores to be sent to the College as these are included in the SEAS disposition letter. Test scores in reading, writing, listening and speaking must be uploaded as a pdf to your application with the original to be available as requested.  For the test scores required to demonstrate proficiency please review the Language Proficiency Policy.  

d.   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 can 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.

e.   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. 

f.   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. Field work while in university does not count towards currency hours. Where the applicant completed the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS), the College will consider the applicant’s currency hours up to the date of application to SEAS and from completion of the SEAS process. If you have not met this requirement, please contact the Registrar for Re-Entry Registration options. 

Evidence Required:

• A curriculum vitae outlining your employment history with the corresponding currency hours broken down by year must be uploaded with your application as a word document or 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.
• 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 may be requested by the Registrar if further information on your employment history is required.

g.   Payment of required fees

The annual registration fee is  $575.00  (starting April 1, 2024) and the application fee for internationally-educated applicants is $150. You must pay this in Canadian funds.  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 is 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.

For Internationally-Educated applicants, each provincial regulator must confirm the applicants eligibility to write the NOTCE. 

Applicants are eligible to practice under supervision while waiting to successfully complete the NOTCE.  Applicants must provide evidence that they are scheduled to write the next sitting of the NOTCE. The College's exam policy outlines a maximum of three (3) attempts to successfully complete 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 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.  If you intend to practice prior to receiving your exam results, you must also include a sponsorship form with your application

In preparation for your application to the College, you should contact the other organizations to find out which documents they need and their associated fees. By doing so, you can ask your sources to send original documents to each organization. Some organizations that may need your documents may include: the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (to write the CAOT exam), ACOTRO, and Immigration Canada.

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.

 Helpful Links

Atlantic Connection

Nova Scotia Immigration

Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)

Nova Scotia Start

Fair Registration Practices Review Office

Labour Mobility

International Qualification Recognition (IQR)

Forum of Labour Market Ministers  

COTNS Application Form 

COTNS Application Documents