WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?

Occupational Therapists are university educated health professionals who work with their clients to assume or resume the skills they need for the job of living. The job of living for all people includes many occupations, these are any tasks or activities that occupy your time and energy such as getting dressed, going out or doing household chores. Occupations will vary with age, abilities, interests & responsibilities. The occupations you want or need to be engaged in may be affected by illness/disease or circumstance. Occupational Therapists will work with you to achieve your occupational goals of everyday life.

Where do OT's typically work?

  • schools or daycares

  • community health centres

  • seniors' centres

  • private industry/workplace

  • home care programs

  • long-term care facilities

  • hospitals or specialized rehabilitation centres

  • mental health centres

  • private homes

  • private practice (in clinics or as consultants to the services or places mentioned above)

  • administration (for example, in organizations related to health)

How do I become an Occupational Therapist?

To find out more about a career in occupational therapy, read more on the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists' (CAOT) website.

In order to obtain a practising membership with SCOT in order to work in Saskatchewan as an Occupational Therapist, successful completion of an entry-level Professional Master's program in Occupational Therapy from a Canadian univeristy or education assessed as equivalent by the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO) is required.

All accredited occupational therapy university programs in Canada are registering students in Professional Masters programs. The current status of the accredited programs can be found on the CAOT website.

The Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy University Programs (ACOTUP) provides a list of the occupational therapy programs across Canada. Their website includes a brief overview of the programs (includes program pre-requisites), a brief summary of tuition and fees, as well as information about graduate statistics.

Currently, there are no Occupational Therapy programs in Saskatchewan, however, the Saskatchewan Government currently has an Interprovincial Funding Agreement with the Government of Alberta and Board of Governors of the University of Alberta to provide Occupational Therapy education for Saskatchewan students. Currently, 20 seats per cohort are reserved for Saskatchewan residents until at least June 30, 2025.

How much are Occupational Therapists paid?

Occupational Therapists that work for the Saskatchewan Health Authority are paid according to a collective bargaining agreement that has been negotiated by the union, Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan (HSAS) representing them. Current salary scale information can be found on the HSAS website.

Occupational Therapists who work in private practice or who are hired by other agencies will have wages that vary, and it is best to contact the specific site for their salaries.