Occupational Therapist-OTs training in Ontario are now educated through Universities, either at a bachelors or masters level. For therapist trained outside Canada, their credentials are screened to ensure they meet the minimum standard required in the province of Ontario. After finishing their course of study whether here or abroad, all Occupational Therapists in the province of Ontario must pass an exam that is set by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) in order to be considered a Registered Occupational Therapist.
How are Occupational Therapists trained?
In your first meeting with your Occupational Therapist, she or he will introduce themselves and provide you with their business card. You will then know their credentials and how to contact them in the future if you need to. The therapist will then explain the purpose of the assessment, and what will happen during the assessment. Usually, the assessment will include an interview portion, and assessment of the home or work environment, a brief physical assessment, and if necessary, some other assessments that might require answering questions or writing. This process is called obtaining informed consent, so you know what you agreeing to in your assessment.