Explore how Canadian students thrive in UWS chiropractic programs that meet U.S. and Canadian licensure, offering support, training, and global career prep.

Each year, Canadian students enroll at University of Western States (UWS) to pursue a Doctor of Chiropractic degree that prepares them for professional practice in both the United States and Canada. With an accredited curriculum aligned to cross-border regulatory standards, UWS offers a practical pathway for students planning to complete licensure and build careers in Canadian health care systems.

UWS’ Doctor of Chiropractic program emphasizes evidence-informed, patient-centered care while meeting the educational requirements necessary for Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board (CCEB) licensure. For Canadian students seeking broad clinical training and professional flexibility, this approach supports long-term career readiness across jurisdictions.

Explore how UWS empowers Canadian students to turn their goals into meaningful chiropractic careers.

Why Canadian Students Choose UWS for Chiropractic Education

Canadians make up 35% of the UWS student population, choosing to study at UWS due to a combination of program accessibility, licensure alignment, and professional preparation. UWS’ Doctor of Chiropractic program provides a more efficient pathway to licensure, allowing students to complete the program in three years. Canadian programs typically are designed to be completed in four years.

Geographic Access and Program Availability

For students from Western Canada, UWS’ location in Portland, Oregon offers a practical alternative to Canadian chiropractic programs, which are largely concentrated in Eastern Canada. Combined with cross-border accreditation, this proximity allows students to train in the U.S. while preparing for Canadian practice requirements. Additionally, the DC program at UWS has two intakes every year, allowing students more flexibility and access to the program.

Small Cohorts and Faculty Instruction

UWS delivers chiropractic education in small class and lab settings, supporting direct faculty instruction and applied learning. Coursework is grounded in evidence-informed care, with a focus on diagnostic reasoning, clinical decision-making, and patient management. This structure allows students to consistently apply foundational science to clinical scenarios encountered later in training.

“It is a great privilege to be a graduate from such an esteemed educational institute,” says. David Peeace, DC, a 1996 graduate of UWS. “This has instilled in me to give back to our esteemed profession.”

Proven Exam Success and Career Flexibility

UWS has a strong reputation for high board exam pass rates, reflecting the academic rigor and personalized support that prepare students for success. The ability to train in the United States while preparing for licensure in both countries offers unmatched flexibility after graduation. Some students return to Canada to care for their communities, others stay in the U.S. to gain experience, and some go on to practice internationally. See where UWS graduates are practicing around the globe.

A Cross-Border Alumni Network

UWS graduates benefit from a cross-border alumni network in the United States and Canada. For Canadian chiropractors, the network provides practical support during licensure, early career transitions, and practice development. These connections help graduates build professional relationships that support long-term career mobility on either side of the border.

Meeting Canadian Chiropractic Licensure Requirements with UWS

Preparing for licensure in two countries requires early planning and regulatory alignment. UWS’ Doctor of Chiropractic program is structured to support Canadian students throughout this process.

• UWS’ program meets the standards of the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board (CCEB) as well as U.S. regulatory boards, ensuring students are ready for licensure on either side of the border.
• Accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), the program meets educational requirements across all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories.

For Canadian students, this means their academic training aligns with CCEB exam content and competency expectations.

• Core coursework includes anatomy, physiology, neurology, biomechanics, and diagnostic imaging
• Program structure supports eligibility for both U.S. and Canadian licensure exams
• Advisors familiar with Canadian regulatory requirements assist students with exam timelines and documentation

Because licensing requirements vary by province, UWS encourages students to stay informed and connected with their local regulatory bodies. The university’s admissions and advising teams are always available to help interpret requirements and ensure a smooth path to professional practice.

Curriculum and Testing Support

The UWS curriculum is designed to prepare students for clinical practice and board examinations simultaneously.

Students progress through foundational sciences before advancing into technique labs, diagnostic training, and clinical education. All coursework emphasizes evidence-informed practice and clinical applicability.

To support licensure readiness, UWS offers:

• Individualized academic advising
• Small-group exam preparation sessions
• Faculty mentorship for CCEB exam planning and scheduling, helping students stay on track while balancing coursework and clinical training

This combination of rigorous academics and personalized support helps students develop effective study strategies, clinical reasoning skills, and exam readiness prior to graduation.

Hands-On Clinical Training That Prepares Canadian Students to Practice

UWS’s approach to chiropractic education is rooted in experience. Students start gaining practical skills early: first in technique and simulation labs, then through direct patient care.

From Labs to Clinics

Early lab work allows students to build confidence with adjustments and assessments in a low-pressure setting. As they advance, they transition to the university’s on-campus clinic and affiliated health care sites, where they work with real patients under faculty supervision.

Real-World Learning

During clinical training, students treat a wide range of patient presentations under faculty supervision. These experiences support the development of communication skills, diagnostic confidence, and treatment planning, which are essential for independent practice.

Preparation That Travels

Clinical training reflects interdisciplinary and preventive care models common in Canadian health care systems, supporting graduates as they transition back into practice environments across provinces. Canadian students may be able to complete part of their clinical training in Canada. Depending on the province, their clinical training in Canada could be up to nine months.

Resources and Support for Canadian Students at UWS

UWS provides structured support services that address the logistical and regulatory needs of Canadian students.

Admissions, Advising, and Licensure Guidance

Admissions and international student teams assist with visa processes and relocation planning. Academic advisors support course sequencing, exam preparation, and licensure planning specific to Canadian requirements.

Financial Aid and Cross-Border Planning

Financial aid counselors help Canadian students navigate government loan options, UWS scholarships, and external funding sources, providing clarity around tuition and cost planning.

Housing and Student Life Resources

UWS assists students in identifying housing near campus and encourages participation in professional and academic organizations that support networking and career development.

Alumni Network in Canada

Canadian alumni remain engaged with the university through mentorship and professional networking, offering guidance on licensure, clinic development, and career transitions after graduation.

How UWS Graduates Succeed in Canadian Health Care

UWS graduates return to Canada prepared to integrate into a range of chiropractic practice settings. With a strong foundation in evidence-informed practice and patient-centered care, UWS alumni transition smoothly into professional life, whether opening private practices, joining interdisciplinary clinics, or pursuing further research and specialization.

For example, Jennifer Forbes, DC, a 2000 graduate, opened her own clinic in 2002 and now oversees a multidisciplinary practice in British Columbia.

Canadian alumni consistently demonstrate strong CCEB exam performance and report confidence entering practice due to extensive clinical training and academic preparation. Many graduates contribute to community health through patient education, clinic leadership, and professional service.

By combining accredited U.S. training with Canadian licensure preparation, UWS graduates bring adaptable clinical skills and cross-border perspective to the Canadian health care system.

Grow Your Future in Chiropractic Care

For Canadian students, University of Western States offers a clear and practical pathway to chiropractic practice. Through accredited education, structured licensure preparation, and hands-on clinical training, UWS prepares graduates to meet professional standards in both the U.S. and Canada, helping to strengthen access to chiropractic care.

Explore our resource hub for Canadian students at UWS, or learn how UWS can help you prepare for a chiropractic career in Canada and the United States.

For more information, complete the brief form below.

Explore how occupational therapists are redefining mental health care through practical, person-centered support.

Occupational therapy professionals (OTPs) have long been associated with physical rehabilitation, but their expertise increasingly plays a vital role in psychiatric care. From managing the impact of trauma to helping individuals rebuild disrupted lifestyles, the role of occupational therapists has become essential, offering personalized support that helps people function in their daily lives.

At University of Western States (UWS), this intersection of mental and functional health is core to the institution’s philosophy. Guided by a whole-person approach to health, UWS prepares occupational therapists to understand the full complexity of a person’s life, environment, and goals, training them to restore practical function.

Learn more about the impact OTPs are making within the field of mental health.

A Whole-Person, Function-First Philosophy

When mental health conditions take hold, even simple routines can unravel. Getting out of bed, showering, preparing a meal, or sticking to a sleep schedule can feel like monumental tasks. Through trauma-informed care practices, occupational therapists learn to see people as more than diagnoses. Their focus on function helps them empower patients to rebuild routines and reestablish confidence in their ability to navigate life.

“Think of it as the doing therapy instead of the talking therapy,” says Michele Tilstra, OTD, Ph.D. The founding program director for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at UWS, Dr. Tilstra has more than 30 years of OT experience, having practiced in hand therapy, home health, skilled nursing, and mental/ behavioral health. To her, an OTP’s work is grounded in the belief that healing happens through meaningful activity, helping patients reconnect with who they are and what they can do.

By focusing on function, not just symptoms, OTs empower people to rediscover balance and purpose in their everyday lives.

What Does It Mean To Be Function-First in OT?

In occupational therapy, every goal connects back to one thing: the functions needed for a patient’s daily life. “Function-first means everything we do has to apply to a daily activity,” says Dr. Tilstra. “Everything you do in your life counts as a function. Sleeping, getting dressed, showing up on time for work or school, sitting at a desk, grocery shopping: These are all functional tasks or your occupations.”

Being function-first means focusing on what people need to do: helping them adapt, stay engaged, and live with purpose each day. For clients living with depression, anxiety, or major life changes, OT care might involve rethinking routines that suddenly feel impossible. For example, “If someone loses a spouse, counseling helps with grief, while OTs look at how that loss affects daily life,” explains Dr. Tilstra. “Was the spouse responsible for paying bills, buying groceries, or keeping track of appointments? How can the patient maintain functioning while still working through their grief? In OT, we step in to help them build systems that make everything more manageable.”

This lens also aligns with the University of Western States commitment to whole–person health, which recognizes how physical, mental, socio-economic, cultural, and environmental factors intersect to impact well-being.

Collaboration and Care Teams: Why Occupational Therapists Belong in Mental Health

Imagine someone facing depression who can’t get out of bed to take their medication or prepare a meal, or a trauma survivor struggling to focus at work. OTPs step in to help rebuild routines, adapt environments, and create strategies that make daily life more manageable and meaningful.

This practical, person-centered approach reflects the values of University of Western States where collaboration is at the heart of the educational experience. Students in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program learn to think across disciplines, combining evidence, empathy, and real-world understanding to support whole person health. This prepares students for the collaborative nature of occupational therapy. OTPs often collaborate with other mental health providers to create integrated treatment plans that center both clinical and functional recovery.

How Is an Occupational Therapist Different From a Counselor, Psychologist, Psychiatrist, or Social Worker?

Occupational therapy and counseling often go hand in hand: one helps people understand their struggles, while the other helps them live differently because of that understanding.

“Counseling is where you go deep into the ‘why,’ while OT is about the ‘how,’” explains Dr. Tilstra. “We’re always applying what we talk about to daily life.” She notes that more than half of her clients see both a counselor and an OT.

While counselors help clients explore and process trauma, OTPs focus on how those experiences show up in everyday routines. “OTPs are trauma-informed and aware of factors that contribute to behaviors, but we focus on the day-to-day activities people are struggling to accomplish.”

For example, when a client experienced anxiety after being attacked in a grocery store, counseling helped her process the trauma. Occupational therapy focused on the next step: rebuilding confidence to return to the store. “We looked at what was stopping her and created small, practical goals to help her get back to doing what she needed to do,” Dr. Tilstra says.

What Does OT Care Look Like for Different Age Groups?

Occupational therapy is a valuable resource for patients across ages and backgrounds. In community-based practice, Dr. Tilstra serves a wide range of neurodivergent clients with autism, ADHD, anxiety, or depression, from toddlers to adults in their 60s. “With the little ones, it’s a lot of sensory regulation: teaching families about sensory needs and how to meet them in healthy ways,” she explains. “For adults, it might be about organization, task initiation, or giving them permission to find strategies that actually work for them.”

Dr. Tilstra recalled working with a college student newly diagnosed with ADHD who struggled with organization and self-doubt. “We went through his syllabi, mapped out his schedule, and built in time for work, exercise, and socializing. It was the first time he had seen his whole life in one view,” she says. “He left with strategies that worked for his brain, and permission to do things differently.”

In school settings and nursing homes, OTPs will sometimes create dedicated sensory rooms (depending on state and institutional resources). For pediatric patients, these rooms might feature climbing features, bubble tubes, swings, soft textures, compression vests, and compression tunnels to help with calming. In assisted living facilities, these rooms might have quiet music, calming scents, bubble tubes, soft textures, and baby dolls.

Beyond the sensory room, environmental modifications benefit patients of all ages, creating comfort and preserving dignity. Dr. Tilstra shares an example of an elderly patient who is hesitant to shower: “Sometimes it’s because they’re embarrassed, cold, or just don’t understand what’s happening,” she says. “It’s amazing what lowering the lights and putting a robe around them to keep them warm can do to reduce agitation and improve some behaviors.”

No matter the age or diagnosis, the goal is the same: helping clients understand themselves, build practical coping tools, and move toward greater balance and independence.

What Mental Health Conditions Are Supported by Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy professionals in mental health settings support clients across a wide range of diagnoses. While the specifics vary, here are some of the most common conditions and the functional strategies OTs bring to care:

• Depression: Reestablishing routines, increasing engagement in activities, and overcoming fatigue and low motivation
• Anxiety Disorders: Grounding techniques, calming routines, and trigger management
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Trauma-informed safety strategies, sensory regulation, and gradual reentry into community
• Substance Use Disorders: Healthy-lifestyle routines, relapse-prevention strategies, and reintegration into work, school, or community
• Serious Mental Illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder): Independent-living skills, medication management, social participation, and vocational readiness
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Organizational strategies, time management tools, and sensory regulation techniques

For example, in patients with schizophrenia, OT interventions have been found to improve social functioning and cognitive performance, reducing the duration and rate of rehospitalization. By focusing on function and context, OTPs help clients carry therapeutic progress into daily life.

Where Do Occupational Therapists Serve?

Occupational therapy professionals make a difference wherever people need help finding their strength and independence. While many work in hospitals or clinics, OTs serve across a variety of settings. UWS graduates will go on to serve in roles within skilled nursing facilities, transitional housing programs, nonprofit agencies, and more.

Inpatient and psychiatric settings

In hospital and psychiatric environments, OTPs lead practical, hands-on sessions that help patients reestablish daily routines like cooking, nutrition, hygiene, and budgeting.

“It’s not always about the physical act itself,” Dr. Tilstra says. “Sometimes it’s about helping someone remember to take care of themselves: bathing, dressing, or preparing meals.”

These activities build life skills patients can carry into everyday life after discharge.

Community and Outpatient Clinics

In community-based care, therapy becomes highly individualized as OTPs help clients navigate real-world challenges.

“If someone has panic attacks, it might take us three weeks to work toward going to the grocery store,” Dr. Tilstra says. “We plan together, build familiarity, and practice coping strategies, breaking big fears into manageable steps.”

These sessions combine emotional awareness with real-world problem-solving to rebuild confidence and independence.

Creative and Group-Based Therapies

OTs use shared, purposeful activities (such as crafts, cooking, or team projects) to build emotional regulation and social skills in safe, engaging ways.

Occupational therapy has deep roots in creative, activity-based interventions, and those methods are making a comeback. Participating in activities (such as crafts, cooking, or team projects) builds emotional regulation and social skills in safe, engaging ways.

“I might have a group of four adolescent boys building birdhouses,” Dr. Tilstra says. “While they’re working, we’re talking about anger: what happens when you start to feel it, and what you can do differently.”

Using the birdhouse example, Dr. Tilstra emphasizes how activity-based interventions help cultivate problem-solving skills. “If there aren’t enough materials for everyone to make their birdhouses, for example, they learn to share and work together,” she says. “Those are real social skills, and it all falls under the OT umbrella,” Dr. Tilstra says.

Forensic and Correctional Settings

In state hospitals, youth detention centers, and forensic units, OTPs often focus on long-term independence and reintegration.

“We work on transitional living skills,” explains Dr. Tilstra. “That is, what it takes to care for yourself, make safe choices, and build friendships that lead to healthier outcomes.”

These sessions often include anger management, stress management, and social skill development, all of which are critical tools for stability and self-sufficiency.

Looking Ahead: Why the Mental Health Field Needs More Occupational Therapists

The demand for mental health professionals is rapidly outpacing supply, especially in community-based and rural settings. At the same time, the field continues to broaden its understanding of what effective care looks like.

Effective mental health care extends beyond talk therapy or crisis stabilization. It also requires structured, everyday support that allows individuals to rebuild their lives.

Occupational therapy professionals address such needs. Their training in function, context, trauma, and daily living makes them essential members of any modern mental health care team.

And the workforce need is only growing: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 14% increase in demand for occupational therapists through 2032, much faster than average job growth. This is driven by aging populations, increased attention to chronic illness, and expanding recognition of OTP’s role in mental and behavioral health. “There’s a big gap in care,” Dr. Tilstra says. “Currently, there aren’t enough OTPs to serve the aging population.”

Why Should Someone Pursue a Degree in Occupational Therapy?

For Dr. Tilstra, the beauty of a career in occupational therapy lies in its remarkable variety. “In more than 30 years, I’ve worked in acute care, inpatient rehab, psychiatry, home health, hand therapy, and even pediatric occupational therapy, something I never thought I’d do,” she shares. “The best part is, I’ve always been an OT.”

Whether working with clients for hours each day in a rehab setting, traveling to patients’ homes, or treating children in a playful, creative environment, Dr. Tilstra found that occupational therapy offered endless opportunities to grow. “If you ever feel stagnant, you can take a continuing education class, attend a conference, or develop a new skill set,” she says. “You can completely change your trajectory and still stay within this field.”

How UWS Prepares Occupational Therapists for the Future of Mental Health Care

University of Western States is preparing students to meet this need with the launch of its new Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program, a flexible, hybrid occupational therapy degree designed with working professionals and career changers in mind. Students complete most of their coursework online with limited on-campus residencies, making the program accessible without requiring relocation.

“As the first occupational therapy program within our system, this launch represents a significant step in expanding our ability to impact health care delivery,” says Michael Horowitz, Ph.D., chancellor of The Community Solution Education System. “By offering a flexible and forward-thinking pathway into occupational therapy, UWS is preparing a new generation of practitioners to provide care that addresses not just physical needs, but the overall well-being of the individuals and communities they serve.”

Snapshot of the Occupational Therapist Program

From the very first semester, students take a four-credit mental health course designed to establish a foundation in mental health that runs through every subsequent part of the curriculum. “We wanted students to start with mental health because it’s the foundation for the remaining coursework in the program,” Dr. Tilstra says. “Mental health is woven into everything: our adult and geriatric courses, pediatrics, and even anatomy.”

Early fieldwork experiences reinforce this foundation. The first Level I fieldwork focuses entirely on mental health, giving students experience interviewing clients, writing evaluations and treatment plans, and leading group therapy sessions. “They plan and run social skills or anger management groups—seeing firsthand how people work through challenges together,” Dr. Tilstra explains.

Students also train through video simulations of challenging client behaviors to build confidence for real-world situations. Just as importantly, they’re encouraged to develop self-awareness and understand their own emotional triggers. “Part of mental health is knowing yourself,” emphasizes Dr. Tilstra. “If you haven’t dealt with your own trauma, it’s going to be difficult when you’re sitting with someone else’s pain.”

This holistic approach extends to advising, too. Each student is paired with both a faculty and a student affairs advisor who check in on academics and overall wellness. “They’re not just students,” Dr. Tilstra says. “They’re whole people. When they graduate, we want them emotionally intact and ready to care for others.”

By combining evidence-based training with a whole-person health approach, the OTD program at UWS equips future occupational therapists to support recovery.

Join the Next Generation of Occupational Therapy Leaders

University of Western States prepares students to become thoughtful, evidence-informed practitioners who honor the complexity of human health. Through programs grounded in rigorous science and compassionate understanding, UWS equips future occupational therapists to support recovery with excellent care.

By blending function and research with empathy, today’s OTs are making mental health care more practical and effective.

Learn more about our Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.