Regulation of Practice

All occupational therapists in Canada must be registered with the appropriate provincial regulatory organization in order to practice in that province. Each regulatory body has a separate and distinct registration process, but in all circumstances, a degree in occupational therapy and successful completion of the CAOT national certification examination are required. In Ontario, graduates from the MSc (OT) will be granted a provincial practicing certificate of registration by the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO) until they write and pass the CAOT examination, at which point a general practicing certificate is granted.