Internationally Educated Occupational Therapist (IEOT) Credential Assessment and Education Bursary Program
On July 19, 2022, the Province of British Columbia announced $4.5M in bursary funding to support high priority internationally educated allied health professionals (IEAHPs) that want to work in British Columbia’s (B.C.’s) health-care system. This program is administered by Health Match BC (HMBC) and is designed to retain allied health professionals in the public sector. HMBC acts in an advisory capacity to support IEAHPs throughout their journey to practice in B.C., Canada.
A bursary of up to $11,129 CAD, plus applicable taxes, is available to assist internationally educated occupational therapists (IEOTs) with the costs associated with becoming licensed to work in B.C. HMBC, in partnership with the B.C. Ministry of Health (MoH) will support eligible IEOTs who want to work in B.C. by offering financial support to help pay for costs associated with the credential assessment, English language proficiency testing, exam preparation and eligible supplemental education.
IEOT Bursary Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this bursary, IEOTs must meet all of the following criteria:
- The applicant provides supporting identification document. This document must contain legal first and last names.
- The applicant provides proof of completion of a university-level degree in occupational therapy from a country other than Canada.
- The applicant has initiated or will be initiating the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) Program with the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapist Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO).
- The applicant declares and signs a Return of Service (ROS) Agreement indicating that they intend to complete the full credentialling and licensure process.
- This includes completion of the SEAS program, obtaining full licensure with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC), and working with a Qualifying Employer in B.C.’s public health-care sector for one year (if employment is over 0.5 FTE), or two years (if employment is 0.5 FTE or less)
- The applicant has a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Please note a SIN is not required to register for the bursary. If you are not currently residing in Canada and are eligible for the bursary, you will be reimbursed once you obtain your SIN, a Canadian address and phone number, and Canadian bank account information for direct deposit as it is necessary for any reimbursements
- The applicant must not currently hold (or have previously held) full licensure as an occupational therapist in any province or territory in Canada.
Note: To ensure fair distribution of resources, if an applicant possesses qualifications in more than one profession that is eligible under the Internationally Educated Nurse Bursary Program and/or Internationally Educated Allied Health Bursary Program, the applicant must proceed with an application for only one profession (i.e., eligible for one funding stream only). Please contact your recruitment consultant for additional information, as multiple applications may result in funding being denied or returned to the Province.
What is the process for Internationally Educated Occupational Therapists?
In B.C., occupational therapists (OTs) must be licensed with the CHCPBC in order to practice as an occupational therapist. For IEOTs, the process begins through ACOTRO, the national credentialing body. To become licensed in B.C., IEOTs must first apply for ACOTRO’s SEAS Program. ACOTRO will use the SEAS Program to evaluate whether an IEOT’s qualifications are substantially equivalent to those of a Canadian-educated occupational therapist.
The SEAS assessment consists of three phases:
- Phase 1 is the Academic Credential Assessment (ACA), including a review of proof of identity documents.
- Phase 2 assesses the applicant’s language readiness and conducts a Profession-Specific Credential Assessment (PSCA), and requires applicants to complete a Jurisprudence Knowledge Assessment Test (JKAT).
- Phase 3 is a Competency Assessment (CA) and is the final step in the SEAS program.
Learn more about the SEAS assessment here: SEAS Assessment.
Once an IEOT has completed all three phases of the SEAS program, the file is reviewed by the SEAS Determination Committee and a decision is made on whether the applicant has met substantial equivalency and if any supplemental education is required. Determination results will be communicated to applicants in a SEAS Determination Report. Learn more about the Determination Report and possible outcomes here: Final Determination.
Once the applicant receives a positive determination outcome from the Determination Committee, and has completed any required supplemental education, the applicant is eligible to submit for licensure to the CHCPBC. Once licensed with the college, the CHCPBC will send notification to the National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam (NOTCE), offered by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), that the applicant is eligible to write the NOTCE.
Return of Service
IEOTs must commit to a Return of Service (ROS) agreement with the B.C. Ministry of Health to receive financial support through this program. The ROS agreement states that you intend to complete the full credentialing and licensure process and will work in B.C. with a public sector employer for a specified length of time.
The ROS is an agreement to work in the public health system for one year, if the participant’s employment is over a 0.5 FTE; or two years, if the participant’s employment is 0.5 FTE or less.
A publicly funded health sector employer includes a regional health board designated under section 4(1) of the Health Authorities Act, Provincial Health Services Authority, First Nations Health Authority or Providence Health Care; or (b) an employer at a publicly funded long-term care or assisted living facility. Qualifying employers exclude contract agencies supplying temporary and/or short-term staffing solutions to eligible facilities.
Note: Once eligibility has been confirmed, HMBC will send a ROS agreement to the applicant which must be signed and returned.
Financial Support (Bursaries)
| Licensure Process Steps Eligible for Bursary Program | Bursary Amount | Requirements for Reimbursement |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment of credentials by World Educational Services (WES). | $269 CAD + applicable taxes | Reimbursement can occur upon completion and with proof of payment provided to HMBC. |
| Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) Phase 1. | $470 CAD + applicable taxes | For Participants who have not yet started the SEAS Program: Upon proof of payment to Health Match BC. For Participants who have started Phases 1 and/or 2 of the SEAS Program: Upon proof of payment to Health Match BC. For Participants who have completed Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the SEAS program: Upon proof of payment to Health Match BC. These Participants will also be required to provide proof of a positive Determination Report from the Determination Committee. |
| Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) assessment Phase 2. After receipt of the Academic Credential Assessment (ACA), and prior to the Jurisprudence Test (JKAT) and Profession Specific Credential Assessment (PSCA). | $1,500 CAD + applicable taxes | For Participants who have not yet started the SEAS Program: Upon proof of payment to Health Match BC. For Participants who have started Phases 1 and/or 2 of the SEAS Program: Upon proof of payment to Health Match BC. For Participants who have completed Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the SEAS program: Upon proof of payment to Health Match BC. These Participants will also be required to provide proof of a positive Determination Report from the Determination Committee. |
| JKAT Remote Proctoring Fee. | The exact amount, to a maximum of $45 CAD | Reimbursement can occur with proof of payment provided to Health Match BC. |
| Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) assessment Phase 3. After completion of the JKAT, PSCA, and the Language Readiness Assessment, and prior to the Competency Assessment (CA). | $2,150 CAD + applicable taxes | For Participants who have not yet started the SEAS Program: Upon proof of payment to Health Match BC. For Participants who have started Phases 1 and/or 2 of the SEAS Program: Upon proof of payment to Health Match BC. For Participants who have completed Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the SEAS program: Upon proof of payment to Health Match BC. These Participants will also be required to provide proof of a positive Determination Report from the Determination Committee. |
| Completion of course required by SEAS: “Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning and Application in Canadian Occupational Therapy”. | Up to a maximum of $3,000 CAD + applicable taxes | Reimbursement can occur with proof of payment and after course completion provided to Health Match BC and after proof of SEAS assessment. Up to 2 attempts will be reimbursed. |
| English Language Proficiency (ELP) Testing. | Up to a maximum amount of $800 CAD, inclusive of any applicable taxes | After proof of payment for SEAS Program. The ELP test bursary is available for up to two (2) attempts of a SEAS-accepted test, whether an applicant is successful or not. Funding is up to $400 CAD per test and is based on official receipts and completion of testing from a recognized English Language Proficiency Test. |
| UBC Program for Internationally Educated Occupational Therapist (PIE-OT) – Optional step. | $2,500 CAD, inclusive of any applicable taxes | Reimbursement can occur with proof of payment and course completion provided to Health Match BC. |
| Canadian Association of Occupational Therapist Exam Prep course – Optional step. | $395 CAD + applicable taxes | Reimbursement can occur with proof of payment and course completion provided to Health Match BC. |
| Maximum Possible Bursary Amount: | $11,129 CAD + applicable tax |
Documents Required
To be eligible for the Internationally Educated Occupational Therapists (IEOT) Bursary through Health Match BC, applicants must:
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