Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Frequently asked questions

CAOT members

Membership renewal/insurance

General information about CAOT

How do I login to the Members Only section?
To login to the Members Only section of the website you will need your CAOT member ID (found on your membership card) and your password. If you cannot remember your password you can access a new one using our password retrieval system . This will require that you enter the email address we have on file for you. Once you have done this your new password will be sent to the address CAOT has on file for you.   If you have recently changed your email address but did not advise CAOT, please contact us by telephone (1- 800-434-2268 Ext 221) or email to update your account.
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I cannot remember my password.
If you cannot remember your password you can access a new one using our password retrieval system as soon as you click into any area of the CAOT Members Only Section. This will require that you enter the email address we have on file for you. Once you have done this your new password will be sent to the address CAOT has on file for you. If you have recently changed your email address but did not advise CAOT, please contact us by telephone (1- 800-434-2268 Ext 221) or email to update your account.
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I cannot remember my CAOT Member ID.
You will find your CAOT member ID on the membership card you received when you renewed your membership. Most membership cards are mailed out within two weeks of processing the registration/renewal. If you have not received your new membership card, your member ID will not change from year to year. If you cannot find your membership card, please contact us by telephone (1- 800-434-2268 Ext 221) or email (membership@caot.ca) to obtain your member ID.
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How do I change my contact details and profile online?
To change your contact details (excluding last name) and or profile information, you will first need to login to the Members Only section of the website. Click on the My Profile link at the top right corner of the webpage. There are several tabs within the profile section that will help you navigate through the various sections and update your record as needed. To make changes to your last name, please contact us by telephone (1- 800-434-2268 Ext 221) or email (membership@caot.ca).
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How can I access the full Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy (CJOT) or Occupational Therapy Now (OTNow)? 
To access the full articles for CJOT and OTNow you must be logged in as a member. Click into the CAOT Member section- the periodics can be found in the Periodics and Publications section under Professional Development. Please note that these periodicals are only available to CAOT members or subscribers to the online version of CJOT. Click here if you would like to subscribe to either periodical.
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I understand that as a CAOT member I can access other journals- where can I find them?
To access the other journals that CAOT offers, including the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, the New Zealand Journal of Occupational Therapy, the Journal of Occupational Science and Work Journal) you must be logged in as a member. Click into the CAOT Member section- the periodics can be found in the Periodics and Publications section under Professional Development. Please note that these periodicals can only be access by CAOT members.
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How do I get member pricing for the online store?
To ensure you receive member pricing when making purchases from the online store, it is important that you first log in as a CAOT member. Click the Online Store link on the top right of the webpage. Once you get to the Online Store home page, you will see a link that says CAOT Member log in. Once you log in, you can start shopping. If you are having problems with the on-line store, please contact us. 
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How do I become a volunteer at CAOT?
Volunteers play a critical role at CAOT, and it is only through the work of these volunteers that we are able to meet our mission of advancing excellence in occupational therapy. CAOT has a broad range of volunteer positions ranging from committee work to representing the Association at national consultations to serving on our Board of Directors. Benefits of volunteering include professional and personal growth gained through networking opportunities with members and individuals outside our profession from across Canada. Click here for more information.
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How can I become a member of CAOT?
We appreciate your interest! Becoming a CAOT member is easy; please click here for more information. To review the benefits of CAOT membership, please click here.   
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Can I renew online?
Online renewal is available year long; providing you were an individual member of CAOT the previous year (this does not include student, associate or affiliate members).  To renew online, please click here. Online payments can be made using Visa, MasterCard or through our Pre-Approved Payment Plan (PAPP - Canadian banks only). 
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Is online renewal easy to use? What payment options are available and will my payment be secure over the internet? Can I renew online and pay later?
Online renewal is very user friendly, but if you do encounter problems a representative from our Membership Department is just a phone call away and would be happy to help. Online payments can be made using Visa, MasterCard or through our Pre-Approved Payment (PAP) Plan (Canadian banks only). Rest assured that CAOT is committed to the safety of its members and has used Psigate (a full-service Canadian provider of electronic processing services) to process online payments for several years without incident. Please note that payment must be made at the time of online renewal and cannot be sent separately.
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I do not wish to renew online. How can I obtain a paper copy of the renewal form?
To download a paper copy of the renewal form, please click here. Or please contact us by telephone (1- 800-434-2268 Ext 221). 
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Did you get my renewal form?
During the peak of membership season (early September to early November) we are inundated with a high volume of membership forms and are unable to provide immediate confirmation that we have received your form. Renewing online is the only way to receive immediate confirmation as it is sent to your email address immediately upon completion of the registration process.  
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Can I join CAOT online if I have never been a member before?
In order to join CAOT for the first time, please contact our Membership Department to determine what category of membership you would fall under. You can reach us by telephone (1-800-434-2268 Ext 221) or email.
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My membership card lists me as Non-Practicing but I am practicing out of the country.
All individuals who are practicing outside Canada fall under the non-practicing category and pay non-practicing fees.
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I do not work directly with patients (i.e. teaching or in administration). Is my status Non-Practicing? 
If your employment is related in any way to occupational therapy, your status is Part-Time or Full-Time, depending on the number of hours you work, including teaching and administration. Non-Practicing status is intended for members who are not employed, members who are working outside Canada or are employed in a position wholly unrelated to occupational therapy.
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I am going on a leave of absence (parental or otherwise).  Is there a discounted rate for my situation?
CAOT determines membership status based on the number of hours worked from October 1st through September 30th. If you will not practice at all, renew as Non-Practising; if you will work between 1 and 800 hours during this time period, renew as Part-Time. If you will work more than 800 hours renew as Full-Time.   If you are not sure if you will work you can renew as Non-Practising and upgrade your status when you know you will be returning to work. Even if you are not currently practising, it is strongly recommended that you renew your malpractice insurance because your insurance is on a claims made basis. This means that you must have insurance in place when the claim is filed, regardless of when the action or treatment took place.
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How can I upgrade/downgrade my membership?
If you have already renewed for the year and need to upgrade/downgrade your membership status, please click here to obtain the appropriate form. If you wish to discuss your upgrade, please contact us by telephone (1- 800-434-2268 Ext 221) or email.

If you are renewing for the current year and using online renewal you will select from the drop down menu your new membership category when you get to Section 4 (Membership Options) of the online renewal process. If you are renewing by mail, there is a box on the renewal form where you can indicate the category of membership you are selecting. 
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What kind of insurance is available through CAOT?
CAOT, through its broker, AON Reed Stenhouse, currently offers many different types of professional insurance to fit your needs. These include, but are not limited to, professional liability insurance, clinic and business insurance and home and auto insurance. Please visit the CAOT/AON Website for complete details, by clicking here.
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I need to provide proof of membership/insurance to my employer. When will I receive confirmation of my renewal?
Immediately after you complete your online renewal confirmation will be sent to you by email. A copy of this message can be provided to your employer until your official renewal documents arrive in the mail (please note that renewal documents should be mailed within two weeks of your renewal being processed).
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Do I need to send a copy of my insurance certificate to my regulatory authority?
Please forward a copy of your malpractice insurance to your regulatory authority upon receipt as many regulatory authorities require you to have malpractice insurance in place in order to practice. CAOT does not send a copy of this certificate to anyone other than the member.  If the regulatory authority requires confirmation of your membership/insurance prior to you receiving the official documentation, we would be happy to email them a letter of good standing, with a copy to you. 
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If I have misplaced documents related to my CAOT membership or liability insurance can I obtain copies?
Duplicate copies of most CAOT membership documents (i.e. insurance certificates, membership cards and receipts) are available for a minimal fee. For an outline of the services available and the associated costs, please click here. 
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I need to contact someone at CAOT- where I can find this information?
The contact list for the CAOT National Staff can be found by clicking here. In the contact section, you can also find the contact details for the CAOT Board of Directors, University Occupational Therapy Educational Programs in Canada, Educational programs for support personnel in occupational therapy, Provincial/ Territorial Occupational Therapy Professional Associations, Provincial Regulatory Organizations, and the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation
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What is your return policy on items purchased through your online store?
The return and purchasing terms for the CAOT store can be found by clicking here.
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What is the copyright policy on material on the CAOT website?
The copyright for material found on the CAOT website- including the CJOT, OTNow and public resources can be found by clicking here.  
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I am interested in becoming an occupational therapist- where can I get more information?
If you are interested in a career in occupational therapy click here for more information.
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I am considering moving to Canada to practice- what steps are involved in practicing in Canada?
CAOT has developed the Internationally Educated Occupational Therapists (IEOT)Portal which provides information to IEOTs  interested in exploring a career in occupational therapy in Canada. This portal includes information for registering to practise in Canada, moving to Canada, working in Canada, success stories, and resources. To link to the portal, please click here.
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I work in the media- how do I contact someone at CAOT for information?
CAOT is happy to accommodate media requests. If you require assistance in retrieving information on occupational therapy or setting up an interview, please contact the communications coordinator.
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How do I advertise with CAOT?
CAOT offers a number of ways to reach occupational therapists across Canada.  For information on how to advertise in print, online or purchase mailing lists, click here or contact the advertising manager. 
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How do I find an occupational therapist in my area?
To find an occupational therapist closest to you, use our OT Finder. 
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Where can I ask a general question about how an occupational therapist can help?
Ask an OT is a public service for consumers organized by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT). CAOT members who are registered and qualified occupational therapists have volunteered to answer questions regarding health-related concerns or problems. Click here to ask a question. 
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Do you have specific tips for children?
If you are a teacher or parent and wondering if occupational therapy can help, click here.
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