Program details

Prepare for a rewarding career

This full-time, graduate-level program will give you the skills you need to practice occupational therapy. As an occupational therapist, you’ll spend your career helping people of all ages and backgrounds to enhance their performance of everyday activities—things like work, school, leisure and self-care.

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy focuses on helping people overcome challenges they face due to an injury, illness or environmental barrier. Occupational therapists are trained to help people improve their quality of life by assisting them in regaining or developing skills and abilities so that they can continue to participate in their everyday activities.  

Removing obstacles

Helping people overcome barriers is a major part of an occupational therapist’s job. Some of the barriers occupational therapists address include:

• injuries
  
• acute and chronic health conditions resulting in physical, cognitive or mental health challenges
  
• physical, social and institutional barriers within the home, community and workplace

Work anywhere, work everywhere

As an occupational therapist your skills are required in a variety of settings including:

• community and inpatient mental health centers
  
• adult and child day-care centers
  
• assistive technology programs
  
• corrections facilities
  
• general and rehabilitation hospitals
  
• return-to-work programs

Practicing occupational therapy in Canada

To practice occupational therapy in Canada, you must complete an MSc(OT) entry-to-practice degree program and pass the national certification exam. You may also need to meet other specific criteria, depending on the province you choose to work in.

To learn more about occupational therapy visit the Canadian Association of Occupational therapists’ website.

Accredited education

The MSc(OT) - Entry Level program is a full-time study program, fully accredited by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), on behalf of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). Graduates may write the CAOT national examination in either July or November.