Internationally Educated Occupational Therapist (IEOT) Credential Assessment and Education Bursary

What you will need

• ✓ Register for an account with Health Match BC
• ✓ Complete the IEOT Bursary Application provided by your recruitment team
• ✓ Supporting identification document containing legal first and last names
• ✓ Proof of completion of a university-level degree in occupational therapy from a country other than Canada
• ✓ Proof that you have initiated or will initiate the SEAS Program with ACOTRO
• ✓ Signed Return of Service (ROS) Agreement committing to work in the BC public sector

About this award

You can receive a total of up to $12,138 CAD plus applicable taxes to help you become licensed to work in British Columbia. This is a bursary, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. The funding is broken down into specific reimbursements: up to $278 CAD plus taxes for your World Educational Services (WES — the organization that verifies foreign credentials) assessment, $4,120 plus taxes for the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS — the process used to evaluate your skills), up to $45 CAD for the JKAT remote proctoring fee, up to $3,000 plus taxes for the "Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning and Application in Canadian Occupational Therapy" course, up to $800 CAD for English Language Proficiency (ELP) testing (capped at $400 per test for two attempts), $3,500 CAD inclusive of taxes for an eligible course, paid on proof of payment, course completion and a positive Determination Report, and $395 CAD plus taxes for the optional Canadian Association of Occupational Therapist Exam Prep course. This is for you if you are an internationally educated occupational therapist who wants to bring your skills to the public healthcare system in British Columbia. No deadline is posted publicly — before you start the application, check Health Match BC's program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. You will need to coordinate with your recruitment consultant regarding the timeline for notifications. This is not described as a competition: Health Match BC confirms your eligibility, then sends you the Return of Service agreement to sign and return. Money is sent to you as a reimbursement after you provide proof of payment and completion of the specific step. If you are applying from outside Canada, you will be reimbursed once you have a Social Insurance Number (SIN — the government ID needed for taxes and payments), a Canadian address, a phone number, and a Canadian bank account for direct deposit. To keep this funding, you must sign a Return of Service (ROS) agreement. This means you agree to work with a qualifying public sector employer in British Columbia for one year if your employment is over 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE — that is, more than half-time), or two years if your employment is 0.5 FTE or less.

Who qualifies

You are eligible if you meet all of these requirements: you must provide identification showing your legal first and last names and proof that you completed a university-level degree in occupational therapy outside of Canada. You must have started or be planning to start the Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) with the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapist Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO — the body that sets standards for the profession). You must have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN), though you can register for the bursary before you have one. Crucially, you must not currently hold, and must never have held, full licensure as an occupational therapist in any Canadian province or territory. Additionally, you must agree to the Return of Service (ROS) commitment to work in the BC public health system. If you qualify for more than one profession under the Allied Health or Nurse bursary programs, you must choose only one profession to apply for; applying for multiple streams may result in your funding being denied.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Open to certificate students
• ✓ Resident of British Columbia
• ✓ Studying occupational therapy

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.

Tips for applying

• DocumentationAvoid sending identification that lacks your full legal name. Instead, make sure your identification document shows your legal first and last names. Double-check that your documents are clear and legible before uploading them to the portal.
• AgreementAvoid signing the Return of Service (ROS) agreement without understanding the time commitment. Instead, clarify with your recruitment consultant exactly how the 0.5 FTE (half-time) threshold affects whether you owe one or two years of service. Map out your potential employment options in the public sector first.
• StrategyAvoid applying for multiple different professional bursaries at once. Instead, pick the one profession where you have the strongest credentials and focus your application there. Contact your recruitment consultant to confirm which stream is best for your background.
• RealismAvoid assuming you will get the full $12,138 CAD immediately. Instead, remember that this is a reimbursement program where you pay first and get paid back after providing proof of payment and completion. Budget for the initial costs of your assessments and tests upfront.

Questions students ask

Similar awards

• Health Match BC, on behalf of the Province of British Columbia (BC Ministry of Health)Internationally Educated Medical Laboratory Technologist (IEMLT) Credential Assessment and Education Bursary$6,153
• Health Match BC, on behalf of the Province of British Columbia (BC Ministry of Health)Internationally Educated Physiotherapist (IEPT) Credential Assessment and Education Bursary$14,837
• Health Match BC, on behalf of the Province of British Columbia (BC Ministry of Health)BC Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) Bursary Program$17,000
• Calgary FoundationJeanne Henuset-Fraser Memorial Bursary for Rural Manitoba Students$2,500
• Autism OntarioEleanor Ritchie Post-Secondary Scholarship
• Calgary FoundationCalgary Black Chambers Nutrien Community Scholarship$7,000
• NPower CanadaNPower Canada: Network Security Professional Program (Fortinet NSE)
• Calgary FoundationOptimist Club William J. Cummer Scholarship$2,500