As a condition of registration renewal each year, occupational therapists must comply with the Occupational Therapists Profession Regulation requirements for liability insurance and good character and must also report the number of hours they have been engaged in the practice of occupational therapy.

The Regulation (Occupational Therapists Profession Regulation (AR 217/2006 (11)) mandates that a regulated member who applies for renewal must have been engaged in the practice of occupational therapy for not fewer than: 400 hours within the past year; 800 hours in the past 2 years; 1200 hours in the past 3 years; or 1550 hours in the past 5 years.

Annual hours are calculated from February 1^st to January 31^st each year.

What are practice hours?

Practice hours are the sum of employment, education and volunteer hours spent in the practice of occupational therapy. In practice, occupational therapists do one or more of the following (Health Professions Act (RSA 2000 cH-7 Sched.15 (3)):

(a)   in collaboration with their clients, develop and implement programs to meet everyday needs in self-care leisure and productivity,

(b)   assess, analyze, modify and adapt the activities in which their clients engage to optimize health and functional independence,

(c)   interact with officials and groups of clinicians, consultants, researchers, educators and administrators, and

(d)   provide restricted activities authorized by the regulations.

Practice hours can be paid or unpaid and can include employment activities: direct service hours, planning and development hours and administrative hours; in-service education hours; courses, conferences, workshops, or self-directed studies directly relevant to the practice of occupational therapy; and volunteer hours directly relevant to the practice of occupational therapy.

Practice hours do not include paid hours for time periods when service was not provided such as vacations or sick/personal leaves.

All practice hours reported to the College must fall within the description of practice (HPA Sched.15 (3)) and all practice hours must be carried out in compliance with the ACOT Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. Occupational therapists are responsible for documenting their compliance with the Standards of Practice.

What if I cannot meet the minimum requirements for practice hours?

If unable to meet the minimum requirements for hours engaged in the practice of occupational therapy, requests for renewal of a practice permit may be refused or issued with conditions.

Occupational Therapists Profession Regulation (AR 217/2006) and the Health Professions Act (RSA 2000 cH-7).