Short answer: yes. An occupational therapist in northern BC can have a large part of their B.C. student loan forgiven, earns at the top of our pay range, and pays a fraction of Vancouver prices for a home. For a new grad carrying debt, it is the fastest way I know to get ahead.
The short version
- OT is on the list for the B.C. Loan Forgiveness Program, and Prince George, Terrace and Williams Lake are eligible communities.
- Eligible OTs can have up to 20% of their B.C. student loan forgiven each year for up to five years.
- Homes cost a fraction of what they do in the Lower Mainland.
- We pay $50 to $65 an hour, with our higher rates in our regional offices, plus a sign-on bonus and relocation help.
B.C. student loan forgiveness for OTs
Occupational therapy is an eligible occupation under the B.C. Loan Forgiveness Program. If you work in an underserved community, the province forgives part of the B.C. portion of your student loan each year, based on your in-person service hours:
- 400 or more hours: 20%
- 250 to 399 hours: 15%
- 100 to 249 hours: 10%
A full-time community OT clears 400 hours comfortably. Over five years, the B.C. portion of your loan can be gone. Our northern clinicians claim this now.
A few things to know:
- Apply as soon as you start. Payments you make before you are approved don't count.
- It covers the B.C. portion of a Canada-B.C. integrated student loan, not the federal portion or a private line of credit.
- Check the current community list and rules with StudentAid BC. We are happy to help with the application.
Housing
This is the big one. A house in Terrace, Prince George or Williams Lake costs a fraction of what it does in Vancouver, Victoria or Kelowna. For a lot of OTs, that is the difference between renting for the next ten years and owning a home with a yard within a couple of years of starting work. I went through the numbers in Can an OT afford a house in BC? Vancouver vs the north.
Pay
We pay community OTs $50 to $65 an hour, with our higher rates going to our regional offices, and you can work as an employee or a contractor. There is a $2,500 sign-on bonus and relocation help on top. Your income doesn't drop when you move north. Your rent, mortgage and commute do.
Quality of life
Money is only part of it. Short commutes give you time back. The outdoors is right there and mostly free. The communities are small enough that you know people quickly. Most of our northern staff would tell you it is the time, not the money, that keeps them there.
The honest downsides
Winters are long and dark. Flights out cost more and get cancelled. Some specialist services mean a drive. I would rather you know that now than find out in February.
Frequently asked questions
Is occupational therapy eligible for B.C. student loan forgiveness?
Yes. OT is on the eligible occupations list, as long as you work in an eligible underserved community and meet the hours.
Which northern BC communities qualify?
Prince George, Terrace and Williams Lake are on the list, along with others such as Quesnel, Kitimat, Smithers and Prince Rupert. Check StudentAid BC for the current list.
Do you help with relocation?
Yes, with relocation support and a sign-on bonus for northern roles.
Next step
See our Terrace, Prince George and Williams Lake OT jobs, read about working in northern BC, or email hr@creativetherapyconsultants.ca and we'll connect you with one of our northern OTs.
David McInerney, OT, owner of Creative Therapy Consultants