For internationally trained OTs
CTC hires occupational therapists trained in the UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa and elsewhere for community rehabilitation roles across BC. Here is what the move involves and what we cover.
1986
Established in British Columbia
12+
Locations across BC and Alberta
~90
Clinicians and support staff
Employee owned
Our team shares in our success
The steps
Credential recognition
Occupational therapists educated outside Canada usually start with the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS), run by the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO), which compares your education and experience with Canadian standards.
Registration in BC
To practise in BC you need to be registered, or eligible to be registered, with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC). Check current requirements directly with COTBC.
Right to work
You will also need permission to work in Canada. We connect you with a registered immigration consultant who matches you to the right route: the IEC Working Holiday (open to citizens of the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand), an employer-supported work permit or permanent residency.
Getting set up
Most community roles need a valid driver's licence and a reliable vehicle, as you will see clients at home, at work and in the community.
Getting here
Organized applicants usually complete registration in around 18 months. In BC you can apply for provisional licensure and practise under supervision before you sit the national exam.
Talk to us
A no-pressure conversation about your experience, where you would like to live and your timing, with an honest view of how long the move takes.
Sort your visa
We connect you with a registered immigration consultant who matches you to the right route: IEC Working Holiday, an employer-supported work permit or permanent residency.
Get registered
Complete SEAS through ACOTRO, then register with the BC or Alberta college. You pay the fees up front and CTC reimburses them once you are working with us in Canada.
Get ready to fly
A pre-arrival briefing on climate, cost of living, housing, the health system and what a working week really looks like.
Land and settle
A car for your first month, help finding a home through our local contacts, and someone on hand for every small question.
Your first weeks
Help with your bank account, Social Insurance Number and health card, then introductions to the team and local outdoor groups.
What CTC covers
The work
They made the move
Jett Flexman
Graduated from Deakin University in Geelong, Australia, in 2023 and practised for three years in Australia before moving to Canada in early 2026.
Megan Hendricks
Trained at the University of Cape Town, completed her community service at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, and has worked in pediatrics for over 12 years.
Anwen Edmonds
Worked in the NHS in Wales for 22 years in stroke, orthopaedic, neurological and palliative care before joining CTC in the South Okanagan.
David McInerney
Trained in Australia and worked in rural acute and rehabilitation settings before moving to Kelowna. He now owns CTC with Nadia Hudon.
In their words
Where you would live
We are hiring occupational therapists in Penticton, Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George and Terrace. Rural and regional practice has real trade-offs, and we would rather you know them up front.
Questions
Organized applicants typically complete the process in around 18 months. In BC you can apply for provisional licensure and start practising under supervision before you sit the national exam.
It depends on your citizenship, age, plans and timeline. Citizens of the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand can use the IEC Working Holiday. Employer-supported work permits and provincial routes to permanent residency are open to everyone. Our registered immigration consultant will match you to the right route.
You pay up front, and CTC reimburses those costs once you are working with us in Canada.
Yes. Community OT means travelling to clients, so a full driving licence is essential. We provide a car for your first month while you settle in.
No. Talk to us first. We will help you plan registration, your visa and your move together, so the timing works.
Every move is different
No commitment. Tell us where you trained, how much experience you have and when you might move, and we will help you make a plan that works.