Since 2015 the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) has provided a centralized process for the assessment of educational qualifications and competencies of internationally educated occupational therapists (IEOTs) who wish to work in Canada.

Once IEOT’s successfully complete the SEAS processes, they are found to be substantially equivalent to a Canadian educated occupational therapist. They can then apply for registration with any Canadian occupational therapy provincial regulator with the exception of Quebec, which has its own similar processes.

In recent years over 175 IEOTs have applied to SEAS annually, and this is increasing each year.

IEOTs are one important part of meeting the growing demand for occupational therapy services across Canada.

SEAS is embarking on a three-year project to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness in the foreign recognition process for IEOTs.

From 2025 through 2028, ACOTRO will:

• Strengthen all SEAS components
• Reflect the new Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada into both the education qualification recognition and competency verification components
• Automate processes for greater efficiency and effectiveness
• Develop and implement simplified program navigation and case study tools for IEOTs

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program, and in part by the Government of British Columbia’s Ministry of Health.

While this project is underway, IEOTs will continue to be assessed by SEAS, which will implement its enhanced processes as they become available.

Watch this page for further updates as the project progresses.

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SEAS Applications Are Going Online!

Effective June 1, 2026, Internationally Educated Occupational Therapists (IEOTs) will be able to submit their initial Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) applications online!

Currently, the first step to apply to SEAS is to obtain an application package by contacting SEAS.associate@acotro.org. As part of our SEAS is Being Enhanced project, we are switching from manual forms to an online system for your initial application. This online application portal, developed with funding from the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program, will require fewer steps, automate parts of the application process, and is anticipated to reduce overall application processing timelines.

Important Dates:

• May 31, 2026 – last day to submit manual application forms.

• June 1, 2026 – all new applications must be completed online. An application manual will guide you in this process.

Whether you apply using the current manual forms or the online application function, your application will still be processed in the order in which it was received.

Further updates are planned to bring even more SEAS functions online between June 2026 and March 2028. Watch this page for further updates as the project progresses.

For questions about the manual or online application process, please contact SEAS.associate@acotro.org.