Short answer: Yes. WorkSafeBC covers occupational therapy for injured workers with an accepted claim when it will help their recovery. WorkSafeBC refers you to a provider in its contracted OT Services network, and OT is delivered at home, at work or in the community. Your case manager is the starting point.
The short version
- WorkSafeBC funds OT through a network of contracted providers across BC. Creative Therapy Consultants is one of them.
- Access is through a WorkSafeBC referral. Talk to your case manager if you think OT would help.
- There are three streams: physical injury, mental health and brain injury.
- OT covers daily function at home, equipment, and planning a return to work.
- Approved services are billed to WorkSafeBC, so you shouldn't pay out of pocket.
What is WorkSafeBC occupational therapy?
WorkSafeBC's OT Services program helps injured workers develop, maintain or recover the skills they need for daily living and working. The goal is a return to a productive life, which for most people includes a return to work.
According to WorkSafeBC, OT Services typically include:
- Assessing your baseline function and what interventions you need.
- Setting up and delivering a treatment plan. This can include a rehabilitation worker if your claim owner approves it.
- Putting a return-to-work plan in place.
- Recommending equipment, such as mobility aids and home safety devices.
Services happen in your home or in the community. That matters, because the problems that keep people off work usually show up in real settings, not in a clinic.
Who qualifies for WorkSafeBC occupational therapy?
You need an accepted WorkSafeBC claim, and OT needs to be a reasonable part of your recovery. WorkSafeBC decides that, based on your injury and what is getting in the way of your recovery.
Referrals fall into one of three streams, based on your primary diagnosis and barriers:
- OT for physical injury (OT-PI): back, neck, shoulder and limb injuries, fractures, surgeries and chronic pain.
- OT for mental health (OT-MH): work-related psychological injuries, such as PTSD, anxiety or depression after a traumatic event at work.
- OT for brain injury (OT-BI): concussion and other brain injuries.
For a real example of the mental health stream, read how one BC social worker went from PTSD back to full-time work with OT.
How do you get OT through WorkSafeBC?
- Report the injury and file a claim. Your employer and your doctor also report to WorkSafeBC.
- Talk to your case manager. If daily tasks, pain, concentration or getting back to work are a struggle, say so. Your doctor, physio or psychologist can also recommend OT.
- WorkSafeBC makes the referral. It sends the referral to a contracted OT provider in your area.
- The provider contacts you. At CTC, we contact the client within 1 business day of receiving the referral.
- Assessment, then treatment. The OT assesses you, reports to WorkSafeBC and starts treatment toward agreed goals.
How long does approval take?
It varies with your claim. The main factors are whether your claim has been accepted, how quickly your case manager decides OT is needed, and whether your health care providers have flagged it. Once a referral reaches a provider, things move faster. If you've asked about OT and heard nothing, follow up with your case manager.
What happens during WorkSafeBC occupational therapy?
Your first appointment is an assessment. The OT will ask about your injury, your job, and what your days look like now. They'll usually watch you do some everyday tasks and may visit your workplace.
Treatment then depends on your stream and goals. Common examples:
- Physical injury: pacing, graded activity, body mechanics for your job, home equipment and a graduated return to work.
- Mental health: building routine, managing symptoms in daily life, graded exposure to work-related situations, and a staged return.
- Brain injury: managing fatigue and symptom triggers, strategies for memory and attention, and grading screen time, driving and work.
Return to work is usually the thread through all of it. A typical plan starts with reduced hours or modified duties and builds up over set weeks, with the OT checking in and adjusting. Our ICBC article covers how this differs for crash injuries.
Return to work, modified duties and your employer
Employers have a big part to play. Since January 1, 2024, BC's Workers Compensation Act has required employers and workers to cooperate with each other and with WorkSafeBC on a safe and timely return to work. Some employers also have a duty to maintain the injured worker's employment. WorkSafeBC explains both on its duty to cooperate page.
An OT helps by translating your abilities into concrete duties. Instead of "light duties," the plan might say four-hour shifts, no lifting over 10 kg, and a break every 45 minutes for the first two weeks. That gives your employer something they can actually schedule.
Employers can read our return-to-work guide for BC employers, or see our services for employers, including job demands analyses.
What other WorkSafeBC services does CTC provide?
Alongside OT, CTC works with WorkSafeBC through:
- Functional capacity evaluations. CTC's legal entity, Creative Rehabilitation Services, is on WorkSafeBC's approved FCE provider list in Kamloops. See what is a functional capacity evaluation.
- Vocational rehabilitation, including transferable skills analysis and labour market research.
- Kinesiology and counselling.
- The Occupational Skills and Support (OSS) group program.
See our WorkSafeBC page for the full list.
How much does WorkSafeBC OT cost?
Nothing, for services WorkSafeBC has approved under your claim. The provider bills WorkSafeBC directly. WorkSafeBC can also reimburse some travel to appointments, such as mileage. Ask your case manager what applies to you.
Frequently asked questions
Does WorkSafeBC cover occupational therapy?
Yes. WorkSafeBC funds OT for injured workers with an accepted claim when OT will help their recovery. It refers workers to providers in its contracted OT Services network.
Can I refer myself to a WorkSafeBC occupational therapist?
Not directly. WorkSafeBC makes the referral. Tell your case manager what you're struggling with, and ask your doctor or other treating provider to recommend OT if they agree it would help.
Can I choose or change my WorkSafeBC occupational therapist?
WorkSafeBC refers you to a contracted provider, and your case manager is the person to ask if you have a preference. If the fit isn't working, raise it with the OT first, then your case manager. Changing providers is a WorkSafeBC decision.
Will a WorkSafeBC OT come to my home or workplace?
Usually, yes. WorkSafeBC OT Services are delivered at home or in the community, and workplace visits are common when planning a return to work.
Does WorkSafeBC cover OT for mental health injuries?
Yes. OT for mental health (OT-MH) is one of the three referral streams, for workers with an accepted psychological injury claim.
Does WorkSafeBC cover OT for a concussion?
Yes. Brain injury, including concussion, has its own stream (OT-BI). WorkSafeBC also runs specialized head injury programs.
How long does WorkSafeBC occupational therapy last?
It depends on your injury and goals. WorkSafeBC approves services in stages, and your OT reports on progress. Some people need a few weeks of support. Complex claims can need several months.
What's the difference between my OT and my case manager?
Your case manager works for WorkSafeBC and makes decisions about your claim and benefits. Your OT is a health care provider who assesses and treats you, and reports to WorkSafeBC on your progress.
Does WorkSafeBC pay for equipment an OT recommends?
It can. Recommending equipment such as mobility aids and home safety devices is part of WorkSafeBC's OT Services. WorkSafeBC approves the purchase.
I work in Alberta. Is it the same?
No. Alberta claims go through WCB-Alberta, which has its own rules. CTC is a WCB-Alberta provider and offers OT from our Calgary office.
How Creative Therapy Consultants can help
CTC is a long-standing WorkSafeBC provider. Our occupational therapists see injured workers at home, at work and in the community from 12 offices across BC and Alberta, including rural and northern regions.
Case managers can send referrals to referrals@creativetherapyconsultants.ca or call 1-888-880-3222. We contact the client within 1 business day. Workers and employers can use our referral page or contact us with questions.
Clinically reviewed by David McInerney, BSc OT, occupational therapist and co-owner of Creative Therapy Consultants. Last reviewed October 2026. This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. For decisions on your claim, contact WorkSafeBC.