The profession of occupational therapy demands personal interaction with people on a day-to-day basis and you face situations daily where you are open to the possibility of charges of wrongdoing. Your clients could hold you responsible for damages they have received, resulting from a negligent act, error, omission or malpractice arising out of your professional capacity as an occupational therapist.

The College requires all registered occupational therapists to hold a minimum of $5 million professional liability insurance to protect a therapist’s personal assets against lawsuits and defense costs and ensure that clients who have suffered damages can be compensated.

It is the intent of this regulation that all professional activities, including clinical, teaching, and research activities, paid and unpaid, are protected.

Employer-provided policies typically cover the employee solely for the professional services rendered for that employer. If you provide occupational therapy services outside of your primary place of employment, for example, provide professional services on a voluntary basis, as a private practitioner, or for other employers, the employer's policy may not protect you.

The College recommends all registered occupational therapists obtain their own professional liability insurance, independent of any employer coverage. Regulated members are required to ensure liability insurance protection on all professional activities meet the College requirements.

Sources for professional liability insurance

ACOT does not endorse one provider or carrier over another. Professional liability insurance may be purchased through:

• Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists (www.saot.ca)
• The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (www.caot.ca )
• An independent insurance broker: a listing of Alberta members is available through the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (www.ibac.ca)