Newsletter | November 2025

Important News

Information and Updates

2025 Annual Report

The College's 2025 Annual Report is now available. Learn about how we work to support the delivery of high-quality occupational therapy services in Ontario.

You can view the 2025 Annual Report in English and French.

Board Elections Coming Soon:

Nominations Open December 10th

Board elections are coming soon. There will be elections in early 2026 for the following districts:

• District 2 (Central West) for two positions (3-year terms)
• District 3 (Central East) for one position (1-year term)

Nominations open Wednesday, December 10, 2025 and close Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 4pm. Watch your inbox for more details and learn more about the process online.

Why consider getting involved? By participating in the election, either as a candidate or through voting, you have an opportunity to help shape the future of occupational therapy practice and self-regulation.

Watch our video with Registrar & CEO Gillian Slaughter to learn why these elections are important and how you can take part.

Committee Opportunity

Join the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee

Interested in contributing to the College’s regulatory work? We are seeking two registrants to serve on the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC). 

The ICRC plays a critical role in protecting the public by reviewing concerns about an occupational therapist’s practice that are brought to the College’s attention. Committee members contribute their professional knowledge, judgment and experience to support fair, consistent and transparent decision-making.

Learn more about the commitment and opportunity. Interested registrants are invited to submit their application by Monday, December 15, 2025.

Holiday Hours

Reminder for submission of registration documents

The College will close at noon on December 24, 2025 and re-open at 8:30 a.m. on January 2, 2026.

If you want to start working as an occupational therapist in Ontario on or before January 2, 2026, we ask that you submit all outstanding documents by end of day on December 15, 2025. Documents received after this date will be processed but may be delayed due to the holiday closure.  

Please contact registration@coto.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Case of the Month

Learnings From a Complaint About Equipment Funding

Even with an occupational therapist's best intentions, complaints can happen, especially in situations when clients don't receive the funding or equipment they feel they need.

Read about the complaint that occurs when client Estelle does not receive the expected approval for a power scooter to go to the grocery store.

Risk Ready

Protecting Clients & Your Practice

The Quality Assurance (QA) program is sharing insights from activities including competency assessments, learning plans and eLearning modules. It’s our way of reflecting knowledge back to all occupational therapists about helpful practices and strategies.

Risk Ready: Protecting Clients & Your Practice is a new resource based on what we heard from occupational therapists during the competency assessment. See if it helps you to rethink risk in your practice.

Contact qaprogram@coto.org with questions or feedback.

External Supports for

Registrant Wellness

Registrants have access to a variety of wellness and practice supports offered by external organizations.

If you are looking for mental health programs, legal supports, safety services, or professional development options, visit our new list of external supports for registrant wellness. 

Reminder for

Provisional Registrants

Ask your university to send your final transcript directly to the College

If you graduated from an approved Canadian university, the College typically receives confirmation directly from your university that you have met the requirements for graduation. This confirmation allows you to register as a Provisional Registrant while we wait for your final transcript.

Important: Once you have convocated, be sure you ask your university to send your final transcript directly to the College at registration@coto.org.  

The transcript is required to complete your registration and move from provisional to general registration.

Contact us at registration@coto.org with any questions! We are here to help.

Reminder: Proof of Registration

Available Online

Registrants who need to confirm their registration status can do so by searching their name in the College’s list of registered occupational therapists. Your public profile acts as proof that you are registered and entitled to practise.

Profiles include your general information, registration history, employment information and any concerns or conditions if applicable.

Looking for the Standards of Practice and other resources?



Resources are available here: Practice Standards and Guidance

Tip: 📑 Bookmark the page for future reference!

October Board Meeting Highlights

The College Board held a meeting on October 30, 2025. View the key decisions in the highlights from the meeting.



All Board meetings are open to the public. Meeting dates and materials are posted online.

Do you know someone who would like to be added to our mailing list?

They can sign up here. Have additional comments or suggestions for the College email news? Send your thoughts to communications@coto.org.

DO NOT UNSUBSCRIBE IF YOU ARE A REGISTRANT OF THE COLLEGE.

If registrants unsubscribe, they will be contacted to re-subscribe. The College communicates to occupational therapists by email regarding changes to standards, mandatory registration requirements, public consultations and more. We strive to keep communication relevant and to a minimum.

View past issues of the College's enewsletter in our archive

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