We have launched a temporary website that provides information about the seven colleges’ amalgamation in the period leading up to June 28, 2024. The website features a news section and a dedicated page for registrants, including Frequently Asked Questions specific to registrant concerns. We will continue adding information to this website as we better understand changes and impacts closer to amalgamation.
A bursary is available to assist Internationally Educated Occupational Therapists (IEOTs) with the costs of becoming licensed to work in BC.
Health Match BC (HMBC), in partnership with the BC Ministry of Health (MoH), will support eligible IEOTs who want to work in BC by offering financial support to help pay for the credential assessment, English language proficiency testing, and eligible supplemental education. The bursary became available on January 15, 2024.
In BC, occupational therapists (OTs) must be licensed by COTBC to practice as occupational therapists. For IEOTs, the process begins through ACOTRO, the national credentialing body. To become licensed in BC, IEOTs must first apply for ACOTRO’s SEAS Program. ACOTRO will use the SEAS Program to evaluate whether an IEOT’s educational qualifications and competencies are substantially equivalent to those of a Canadian-educated occupational therapist.
The Ministry of Health has deposited regulation changes that reflect the final name for the new multi-profession regulatory college that will amalgamate:
The name for this new multi-profession college is the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC.
COTBC will amalgamate with the other six colleges to form the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC on June 28, 2024. Until then, COTBC and the other six colleges will continue to regulate health professionals.
The College published a new set of FAQs regarding the proposed amendments to the Occupational Therapists Regulation.
The FAQs respond to the following questions:
If you have comments on the proposed regulation, we encourage you to respond to the Ministry of Health via PROREGADMIN@gov.bc.ca.
Please see the updated Practice Across Jurisdictions webpage for updates on providing virtual care within Canada and internationally.
For further inquiries, contact our registration team at info@cotbc.org or our practice advisors at practice@cotbc.org after checking our FAQs.
The Ministry of Health is proposing amendments to the Physical Therapists Regulation, the Occupational Therapists Regulation, the Dietitians Regulation and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Acupuncturists Regulation.
The proposed amendments are intended to align each regulation better with the Health Professions Act model (a shared scope of practice and restricted activities). All revisions and amendments are determined by the Ministry of Health.
The Health Professions Act requires notice before proposed amendments can be enacted, and this notice period started on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
Proposed amendments to the Occupational Therapists Regulation are posted on the Ministry of Health website. The Ministry requests that comments on these proposed regulation amendments be submitted as soon as possible.
By e-mail: PROREGADMIN@gov.bc.ca
By mail:
Professional Regulation and Oversight Branch
Health Sector Workforce and Beneficiary Services Division
Ministry of Health
1515 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC
