How to Become an Occupational Therapist in Nova Scotia
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator to work as an occupational therapist in Nova Scotia or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Occupational Therapist, OT
Show the source
“All occupational therapists must be registered and licenced with NSOTR to legally practice occupational therapy and use the title “Occupational Therapist” or “OT” in Nova Scotia.”
From nsotr.ca/becoming-licensed-with-nsotr, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 0 steps
- Licensed in another province: 6 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 7 steps (1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total)
- Annual fees
-
- Late renewal fee: $100 (for renewal applications completed after May 15)
Source
“NSOTR accepts renewal applications between April 1 and May 31. However, any renewal applications completed after May 15 are subject to a $100 late renewal fee.”
nsotr.ca/renewing-your-licence
- Late renewal fee: $100 (for renewal applications completed after May 15)
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
- Annual fees: $100 (for renewal applications completed after May 15)
Steps not listed by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator
Licensed in another province
0 of 6 done
- 6 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $100 (for renewal applications completed after May 15)
-
Ask your current regulatory organization to complete the Labour Mobility Support Agreement Confirmation Form.
Source
“1. Ask your current regulatory organization to complete the Labour Mobility Support Agreement Confirmation Form.”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-province -
Create an applicant profile on the NSOTR Online Portal.
Source
“2. Create an applicant profile on the NSOTR Online Portal.”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-province -
Create a new application for registration and licensure.
Source
“3. Create a new application for registration and licensure”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-province -
Complete the application form in full.
-
Upload all supporting documents required by the form.
Source
“5. Upload all supporting documents required by the form.”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-province -
Provide any other required supporting documents to NSOTR.
Source
“6. Provide any other required supporting documents to NSOTR.”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-province
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator
6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Late renewal fee: $100 (for renewal applications completed after May 15)
Source
“NSOTR accepts renewal applications between April 1 and May 31. However, any renewal applications completed after May 15 are subject to a $100 late renewal fee.”
nsotr.ca/renewing-your-licence
Trained outside Canada
0 of 7 done
- 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
- 6 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $100 (for renewal applications completed after May 15)
-
Complete the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System through ACOTRO to validate and assess your education and experience.
Source
“1. Complete the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) through ACOTRO to validate and assess your education and experience.”
nsotr.ca/internationally-educated-applicants -
Create an applicant profile on the NSOTR Online Portal.
Source
“2. Create an applicant profile on the NSOTR Online Portal: nsotr.alinityapp.com”
nsotr.ca/internationally-educated-applicants -
Create a new application for registration and licensure.
Source
“3. Create a new application for registration and licensure.”
nsotr.ca/internationally-educated-applicants -
Complete the application form in full.
-
Upload all supporting documents required by the form.
Source
“5. Upload all supporting documents required by the form.”
nsotr.ca/internationally-educated-applicants -
Provide any other required supporting documents to NSOTR.
Source
“6. Provide any other required supporting documents to NSOTR.”
nsotr.ca/internationally-educated-applicants -
Click Submit and pay the application fee.
- Application fee (internationally-educated): $150 (for internationally-educated applicants not currently licensed elsewhere in Canada)
Source
“Internationally-educated | I completed my occupational therapy education outside of Canada and am not currently licensed elsewhere in Canada | $150”
nsotr.ca/becoming-licensed-with-nsotr
- Application fee (internationally-educated): $150 (for internationally-educated applicants not currently licensed elsewhere in Canada)
Listed fees for this route
1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.
6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Late renewal fee: $100 (for renewal applications completed after May 15)
Source
“NSOTR accepts renewal applications between April 1 and May 31. However, any renewal applications completed after May 15 are subject to a $100 late renewal fee.”
nsotr.ca/renewing-your-licence
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Application fee (Canadian-educated): $125 (for graduates of a recognized Canadian Occupational Therapy program not currently licensed elsewhere in Canada)
Source
“Canadian-educated | I am a graduate of a recognized Canadian Occupational Therapy program and am not currently licensed elsewhere in Canada | $125”
nsotr.ca/becoming-licensed-with-nsotr - Full application fee (labour mobility, if process not completed): $125 (required from labour mobility applicants who do not complete the licensure process)
Source
“Please note that if you do not complete the licensure process, you will be required to pay the full application fee of $125.”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-province - Application fee (re-licensure): $50 (for applicants previously licensed with the NSOTR or the former College of Occupational Therapists of Nova Scotia)
Source
“Re-Licensure | I was previously licensed with the NSOTR or the former College of Occupational Therapists of Nova Scotia. | $50”
nsotr.ca/becoming-licensed-with-nsotr - Application fee (re-entry): $200 (for applicants previously licensed as an occupational therapist who do not meet the currency of practice hours requirement)
Source
“Re-Entry | I was previously licensed as an occupational therapist but do not meet the currency of practice hours requirement (600hrs over 3 yrs) | $200”
nsotr.ca/becoming-licensed-with-nsotr - Reinstatement fee: $100
Source
“they must pay the reinstatement fee of $100 in addition to the re-licensure application fee and any other applicable fee.”
nsotr.ca/renewing-your-licence
Requirements
Education
Internationally-trained applicants must demonstrate that their education, training, and competence are substantially equivalent to those of an occupational therapist educated in Canada.
Source
“Internationally-trained applicants must demonstrate to NSOTR that their education, training, and competence are substantially equivalent to that of an occupational therapist educated in Canada.”
nsotr.ca/internationally-educated-applicants
Experience
Applicants must have either 600 currency hours of paid occupational therapy employment in the past 3 years or have graduated from a recognized occupational therapy degree program in the past 18 months.
Source
“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.”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-province
Police check
Applicants must provide a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Check.
Source
“Required document: You must upload a valid Criminal Record Check Vulnerable Sector Check from the province in which you are residing as a PDF.”
nsotr.ca/re-licensure
Insurance
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, and employer-based coverage is not accepted.
Source
“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.”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-province
Good character
Applicants must declare any disciplinary findings, criminal convictions, civil liability findings, or pending criminal investigations or court dates on their application form.
Source
“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.”
nsotr.ca/internationally-educated-applicants
Other
Applicants who completed their occupational therapy training outside of Canada or in French in Canada must provide proof of English language fluency, unless they met an English proficiency requirement to become licensed in their current jurisdiction under the Labour Mobility Support Agreement.
Source
“If you completed your occupational therapy training outside of Canada OR inside Canada in French: - provide one of the following: - proof you had to meet an English language proficiency requirement to become licensed in your current jurisdiction”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-province
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
Applicants currently licensed in another Canadian province apply under the Labour Mobility Support Agreement by having their current regulator confirm their eligibility to transfer, without being required to retake the entry-to-practice exam or a competence assessment. Source
“NSOTR must receive a document from your current professional regulator that confirms: - your eligibility to transfer to Nova Scotia under the Labour Mobility Support Agreement (LMSA)”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-province
Obtain LMSA confirmation form
Source
“1. Ask your current regulatory organization to complete the Labour Mobility Support Agreement Confirmation Form.”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-provinceCreate applicant profile
Source
“2. Create an applicant profile on the NSOTR Online Portal.”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-provinceCreate new application
Source
“3. Create a new application for registration and licensure”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-provinceComplete application form
Upload supporting documents
Source
“5. Upload all supporting documents required by the form.”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-provinceProvide other documents
Source
“6. Provide any other required supporting documents to NSOTR.”
nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-province
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator
Credential assessment
Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS)
Validates and assesses the education and experience of internationally-trained applicants for substantial equivalence to Canadian-educated occupational therapists.
Source
“1. Complete the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) through ACOTRO to validate and assess your education and experience.”
nsotr.ca/internationally-educated-applicants
Exams
-
National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE)
Source
“The National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE) is a mandatory requirement for registration and licensure with NSOTR.”
nsotr.ca/internationally-educated-applicants -
Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS)
Source
“1. Complete the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) through ACOTRO to validate and assess your education and experience.”
nsotr.ca/internationally-educated-applicants -
Registration Competency Evaluation (RCE)
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator
Supervised practice
Required
Applicants who have not yet passed the NOTCE may hold a Conditional Licence and practice under supervision of a licensed occupational therapist while waiting to complete the exam. Source
“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.”
nsotr.ca/internationally-educated-applicants
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia | $33.28 | $42.80 | $49.74 | Good (4 of 5) |
| Canada | $36.17 | $46.00 | $55.00 | — |
Occupational therapists in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Licence required
- Alberta Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Manitoba Licence required
- Ontario Licence required
- Quebec Licence required
- New Brunswick Licence required
- Prince Edward Island Licence required
- Newfoundland and Labrador Licence required
- Yukon Licence required
- Northwest Territories Licence required
- Nunavut Licence required
Sources checked
- Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator (NSOTR) - Licensure nsotr.ca/becoming-licensed-with-nsotr · fetched October 10, 2026
- Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator (NSOTR) - Licensed in another Province nsotr.ca/licensed-in-another-province · fetched October 10, 2026
- Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator (NSOTR) - Internationally-Educated Applicants nsotr.ca/internationally-educated-applicants · fetched October 10, 2026
- Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator (NSOTR) - Re-Licensure nsotr.ca/re-licensure · fetched October 10, 2026
- Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator (NSOTR) - Renewing your Licence nsotr.ca/renewing-your-licence · fetched October 10, 2026
- Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator (NSOTR) - Re-Entry to Practice nsotr.ca/re-entry-to-practice · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as an occupational therapist in Nova Scotia?
Yes. Registration with Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator is required to practise in Nova Scotia, and to use the title Occupational Therapist or OT.
Which exams are required?
National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE), Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS), Registration Competency Evaluation (RCE).
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