Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations

The Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) is a centralized evaluation program managed by the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO). It is designed specifically for internationally educated occupational therapists (IEOTs) who want to work in Canada (excluding Quebec). The program's primary purpose is to assess an applicant's educational qualifications and professional competencies to ensure they are substantially equivalent to those of an occupational therapist educated in Canada. SEAS is being deployed on our Regulatory Software & Database offering.

Completing the SEAS assessment is the mandatory first step toward practicing in the country. Once candidates successfully demonstrate substantial equivalency, either directly or by completing required gap-filling activities, they are issued a Certificate of Substantial Equivalency. This credential enables them to apply for licensure with a provincial regulator, which ultimately grants them permission to write the National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE) and obtain full licensure.