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Skills, Education and Experience

Skills

  • excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • advanced critical thinking
  • empathy and compassion
  • good judgment
  • creativity
  • ability to analyze and apply research to everyday practice
  • self-sufficient
  • ability to work as part of a team
  • patient

Education and Experience

To work as an occupational therapist in BC you require:

  • a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy
  • completion of a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised on the job training 
  • registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of BC

Sources: Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists & WorkBC Career Profile 

Qualifications

This occupation is regulated in British Columbia.

You must be registered with the College of Occupational Therapists of BC (COTBC) to work as an occupational therapist in British Columbia.

Registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of BC requires:

  • Completion of a Masters degree in occupational therapy from an institution accredited by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
  • Supervised clinical internships in a variety of health care settings
  • Successful completion of the National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam
  • Consent for a Criminal Record Check
  • Proof of professional liability insurance

For more information see:

Internationally Educated Occupational Therapists

If you are an internationally trained occupational therapist you must complete a multi-step process to work in BC. This includes an assessment of your educational credentials, completion of the National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam, amongst other requirements. You must also demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency.

While completing these steps, it is possible to apply for registration with the College in the "provisional" category.

  • Provisional registrants must practice under the supervision of a full registrant until all requirements for full registration have been met. 

To register as an internationally trained therapist, apply directly through the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organization’s (ACOTRO) Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS).

For more information see: