Membership Categories

Four categories of membership in the Society enable participation of occupational therapists, student occupational therapists and those wishing to associate with the profession of occupational therapy in Ontario. 

Active Membership

Occupational therapists who are living and/or working in Ontario and meet the eligibility criteria are eligible to be Active Members. Active Members have access to full member benefits and are voting members of the Society. Eligibility criteria include:

  • The Member must be living and/or working in the province of Ontario, AND
  • The Member must be eligible to practice occupational therapy in Ontario (or another province if applicable) to be eligible for practising status, OR
  • The Member must have graduated from an occupational therapy educational program in Canada accredited by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) or from a non-Canadian occupational therapy educational program recognized by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) and have successfully completed 1,000 hours of fieldwork or clinical practice or can provide evidence of membership in the professional association in the country where occupational therapy education was received, to be eligible for non-practising status.

There are 5 categories of active membership:

  • Practising - Practising occupational therapy or employed within healthcare (clinical or non-clinical role) and is registered or is in the process of imminently registering with the College as an occupational therapist. 
  • Non-Practising - Currently unemployed but may be anticipating a return to practice.
  • Retired - Retired from practice and formally resigned College registration or will be resigning prior to the next COTO renewal.
  • New Graduate - Within one year of graduation from a WFOT approved school of occupational therapy.
  • Honorary Life - Members who are recipients of the Society’s most prestigious membership award are granted Honorary Life Member status. This award recognizes and honours an occupational therapist for distinguished and long standing service to OSOT and/or the profession of occupational therapy. 
Please see membership fees and application process for more information.

Additional Membership Categories

Student Membership

Students currently enrolled in a Canadian, CAOT accredited university program in occupational therapy are eligible for complimentary membership in OSOT. Student members have access to all membership benefits and services but do not carry a right to vote. See more

Associate Membership

Occupational therapists living outside of Ontario and not practising in the province, or individuals who are not occupational therapists but who wish to link with the profession in Ontario are eligible for Associate Member status. Associate members have access to all membership benefits and services relevant to this category but do not carry a right to vote. Associate Members are not eligible for any other class of membership and may or may not be an occupational therapist.