Applicants who have been out of practice and/or do not meet the COTBC Bylaw regarding currency hour requirements (600 hours within the last 3 years) are required to complete a re-entry program. These programs differ with each individual and must be approved by the Registration Committee which checks that safeguards are in place to ensure there is no significant risk to public health and safety.
All re-entry programs include a competence confirmation practicum (CCP) where applicants have the opportunity to demonstrate that they meet the professional standards as outlined in the Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada (PDF). In your competence confirmation practicum (CCP) you are required to work under the supervision of an occupational therapist with Full registration with the College. The required hours of supervised practice are based on the number of years you have been out of practice, as follows:
- Out of practice less than 3 years, with less than 600 hours of practice = 150 hours in 90 days
- Out of practice between 3 and 5 years = 300 hours in 180 days
- Out of practice between 5 and 10 years = 600 hours in 1 year
- Out of practice for over 10 years = 600 hours in 1 year
Applicants, especially those who have been out of practice for over 10 years, may also be required to participate in additional educational activities and pass the NOTCE.
Please review the following re-entry documents:
- CCP Information Guide
- CCP Proposal Example
- CCP Proposal
- CCP Letter of Undertaking
- CCP Employer Acknowledgement Form
- CCP Evaluation
- CCP Declaration of Successful Completion
Applying for Provisional Re-entry: If you are first time applicant to COTBC, you will be applying online as a new applicant, Provisional Re-Entry. To begin your application, your first step will be to sign up for an account with Alinity.
If you are a Former or nonpractising COTBC registrant, to initiate your reinstatement, please log into Alinity and apply to reinstate in the Provisional (Re-Entry) category.
Prepare for Your Re-Entry Application
Before initiating the application, please ensure you have the following documents ready:
Notarized Identification: All new applicants must provide notarized ID as part of their application. Both copies must be verified by a notary public or lawyer with a stamp and/or seal. Photocopies not notarized will not be accepted. Have your notarized ID ready before starting your application as it is required in Step 1. For more information on acceptable ID, please Identity Verification on the Government of BC website.
CCP Proposal and Letter of Undertaking: Complete the supervision plan and letter of undertaking and upload in the appropriate section within the online application or email to registration@cotbc.org once it is completed. As a reference, you can view a filled-out CCP Proposal Example (PDF).
Employer Acknowledgement Form: Complete the CCP Employer Acknowledgement Form with your CCP proposal. Once completed upload in the appropriate section within Alinity or email to registration@cotbc.org.
Criminal Record Check: COTBC now initiates criminal record checks on behalf of registrants. Follow the instructions on the reinstatement form to give COTBC consent to initiate the criminal record re-check on your behalf if required.
- If you are moving from the Inactive-Former registration category to Practising registration, an updated criminal record check is mandatory.
- If you are moving from the nonpractising category to Practising registration, a new criminal record check may be required. If you are currently in the nonpractising category COTBC will check if a new criminal record check is required upon your submitted form.
If a criminal record check is required you will be invoiced the $28 fee. For more information, please see the Criminal Record Check page.
Professional Liability Insurance: Upload your current liability insurance if available. If not available, email a copy once you receive it to registration@cotbc.org.
Regulatory History Form: If you are or have ever been registered in another province/state or country, complete the first section of the Regulatory History Form and send to all the regulatory organizations you have been licensed with.
After Your Re-entry Program is Complete
Once you have successfully completed your Re-Entry program the following two documents need to be completed and submitted via email to registration@cotbc.org:
