Canadian-Educated Applicants

You are required to declare any of the following on your application form:

• Any disciplinary finding as an occupational therapist or in another profession in Nova Scotia or another 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.

If you answer yes to any of the declaration questions, the Regulator will ask you to send more information, such as a transcript of the criminal record. The Regulator will use this information to decide if you are eligible for registration and licensure and, if applicable, to determine if conditions should be imposed on your license.

A conduct history does not automatically result in a denial of registration. However, there must not be anything in your previous conduct that will impact your ability to practice occupational therapy safely and ethically. 

Required document: Transcripts showing that you have completed an accredited Canadian Occupational Therapy Program. The transcripts must:

• Be sent directly to NSOTR from the university via mail or e-mail (registration@nsotr.ca).
• Show that your degree has been conferred (transcripts will show your program is still in progress until you have convocated)

If you have not yet convocated: We will accept a letter sent directly from your program or university confirming that you have successfully completed your program in place of transcripts. However, you will only be eligible for Conditional licensure until you provide an official copy of your transcripts showing conferral of your degree. You must arrange for the university to send official transcripts to us within 30 days of your convocation. 

To be licensed, applicants must prove:

• their identity
• their legal eligibility to work in Canada.

Some applicants can meet both requirements with one document. Other applicants must provide two documents. The name(s) on your identification documents must match exactly the name on your application form and other supporting documents.

To meet this requirement:

1. Complete the first part of the NSOTR Photo ID Notarization Form. Then,

If you have ever changed your name and/or any of your documents are under a different name, you must list your previous name(s) and provide proof of the name change.

Required document: A government-issued document showing your name change.Acceptable documents include:

• Marriage certificate
• Divorce certificate
• Name change Certificate

Every occupational therapist licensed in Nova Scotia must have personal 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. We do not accept employer-based insurance coverage.

Personal professional liability insurance for OTs may be purchased through:

• Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), if you are a member of CAOT. 
• Directly through private insurance brokers, such as such as AON Healthcare Advantage.

Required document: A copy of your professional liability insurance policy certificate. We cannot accept your receipt or CAOT membership card in place of the insurance certificate. We do not accept screenshots of the certificate.

The insurance certificate must be uploaded as a PDF and clearly show:

• that your policy meets the required minimum coverage
• that you are the named insured

Required document: A Regulatory History Report from any professional regulatory organization with which you are currently registered and/or licensed, or with which you have ever been licensed in the past (including international jurisdictions).

Complete the top part of the NSOTR Regulatory History Form, send it to each of your current or previous regulatory or licensing organizations, and ask them to complete the form and forward it directly to NSOTR.  

If there is an area of concern identified by one of your regulators, you will be contacted by the NSOTR. 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.

Required Document: You must upload a valid Criminal Record Check Vulnerable Sector Check from the province in which you are residing as a PDF.

The Vulnerable Sector Check is only valid if it was issued within the last 3 months.

If you cannot obtain a Vulnerable Sector Check in your jurisdiction, please contact the Regulator for further steps to provide alternate documentation.

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.

All applicants must meet NSOTR’s Currency requirements. It is important that you practice occupational therapy in order to maintain your skills, and keep up-to-date with recent changes in practice.

Applicants must have:

1. 600 currency hours in the past 3 years, OR
2. graduated from a recognized occupational therapy degree program in the past 18 months.

Currency hours must be paid employment in the scope of occupational therapy in which you used occupational therapy title.

Required Document: To prove you meet the Currency Requirement, provide an up-to-date copy of your resumé or CV. Your CV must include:

• your full employment history for at least the past five years
• the number of currency hours you obtained in each position, broken down by year 
• all registrations with any regulatory organizations, past and present
• all post-secondary education
• if you are a new graduate, your fieldwork placement experience. Please note, however, that fieldwork does not count towards Currency hours.

The Registrar may require additional documentation to confirm you meet the Currency requirement, including a letter or record of employment from each of your employers in the past 5 years.

What if I do not meet the Currency requirement?

You must complete the NSOTR Re-Entry Program and pay the Re-Entry Program application fee. Before submitting your application, contact the Registrar directly for further information and documents.

In Nova Scotia, health care services are 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. 

If you completed your occupational therapy training in Canada in English:

• you are not required to provide proof of Language Fluency

If you completed your occupational therapy training in Canada in French:

• provide one of the following:
  • an academic transcript showing that you attended the equivalent of one year of full-time studies in English at the post-secondary level
  • a diploma showing that you competed a secondary education program delivered in English
  • The Employer Confirmation of English Language Proficiency Form and a written declaration that you can speak, read, write and understand spoken and written English at a level necessary to provide safe and effective occupational therapy services to clients in English
  • Exam results from an approved language fluency test:
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• International English Language Testing System – Academic (IELTS AC)

The National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE) is a mandatory requirement for registration and licensure with NSOTR. 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.

Required documents: Upload a copy of your exam result or certificate to your application as a PDF.

Applying and Preparing for the Exam:

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.

Conditional Licensure for Applicants Waiting to Write the NOTCE:

You are eligible for a Conditional Licence to practice under supervision (not self-employed) while waiting to successfully complete the NOTCE. You must meet all other requirements for licensure.

Required documents:

• Upload proof that you are scheduled to write in the next sitting of the NOTCE
• E-mail a completed supervision agreement to registration@nsotr.ca

Please review the New Guide to Supervised Practice for more information.

What if I fail the NOTCE?

• NSOTR’s Registration Policies allow no more than 3 attempts to pass the NOTCE
• If you fail on your first attempt, the Registrar may extend your conditional licence, but:
  • you must sign a new supervision agreement AND
  • be supervised at a higher level (“Level 2 Supervision”)
• If you fail on your second attempt, you must get approval from the Registration and Licensing Committee to continue practicing under supervision.