I am an applicant to the College. Am I able to access the Practice Support Service?
No. The service is only available to registrants of the College. Once you have achieved registration with the College you are welcome to contact the service.
Can I practice psychology while I am an applicant?
Applicants must be under supervision in their provision of psychological services. If you wish to provide psychological services in B.C., while you are an applicant, you are required to submit a supervision plan to the College.
I want to get registered as soon as possible. What can I do to move things along?
You can avoid delays by responding promptly to any College queries or notices about your documentation, qualifications, course work, references, etc.
Make your College examinations a priority. Study well for them, but do not “put them off”. Many applicants linger in the ‘examination phase’ which is a common cause for delayed registration.
Applicants whose education is non-accredited or foreign, may also require additional time to complete the application process because additional information may be requested of them. If this is the case for you, responding promptly to requests for more information from the College will facilitate the processing of your file.
How are application fees determined?
The application process operates on a cost recovery basis. Application fees are set to cover the cost of processing applications.
How do I communicate my status as an applicant to clients, employers, etc.?
Applicants for registration are welcome to inform their clients and employers that they have applied for registration. However, the Code of Conduct states “Applicants for registration or registrants awaiting the awarding of a degree must not describe themselves as ‘candidate for degree’ or ‘candidate for registration’.
What is an appropriate way to communicate my credentials if I am neither registered with the College nor an applicant, but have training in psychology?
The Psychologists Regulation outlines the parameters for regulation of the provision of psychological services in British Columbia. Terms such as intern, counsellor, therapist, and consultant may be used by those not registered with the College. Registration or licensure in another jurisdiction may not be used to describe expertise in psychology in B.C.
What is the AIT and how does it affect me as an applicant?
The federal government’s Agreement on Internal Trade is a Canada-wide agreement intended to facilitate the mobility of professionals across the country. In British Columbia, the Labour Mobility Act governs how regulatory bodies are to recognize professionals licensed in other Canadian jurisdictions in British Columbia.
What are Mobility applications, and how are they different from Reciprocal applications?
An applicant for Reciprocal registration is one who is currently registered or licensed to practice psychology in a jurisdiction with which the College has a reciprocal registration agreement – this includes all Canadian jurisdictions. Applicants who are licensed to practice psychology in other jurisdictions may be considered as Mobility applicants for registration.
The College Bylaws stipulate the conditions that must be satisfied for both Reciprocal and Mobility applications.
What is the CPQ?
The CPQ is the Certificate of Professional Qualifications and is a psychology credential issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). Having a CPQ is one item upon which a Mobility application with the College may be based. Please visit the ASPPB website for information about how to obtain a CPQ.
How does one become registered with the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology?
The National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology is a psychology credentialing organization. Being registered with the National Register is one item upon which a Mobility application with the College may be based. Please visit the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology website for information about how to become a registrant with the National Register: www.nationalregister.org
Do psychologists registered in other jurisdictions need to be registered in B.C. in order to provide expert testimony?
Psychologists registered in other jurisdictions who give testimony in B.C. cannot refer to themselves as “psychologists” (See the Psychologists Regulation for a list and description of prohibited terms).
A psychologist registered in another jurisdiction who wishes to give testimony in B.C. may apply for “temporary registration”. Temporary registration permits a psychologist to practice in B.C. for a time limited period. Additional information is available in the Application Process and Fees section of this website and in the Registration Requirements document.
Does the College have a list of acceptable psychology programs?
The College does not provide pre-approval or assistance in terms of choosing a psychology training program. For psychology students training in Canada and the United States, the Registration Committee recommends that they complete training accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association or the American Psychological Association (APA)/(CPA). Information Sheet - Psychology Training.
Will the College accept a transcript prior to convocation?
For applicants who have completed all requirements for their degree, but have not yet convocated, the Registration Committee will accept a pre-convocation transcript for purposes of reviewing the application. The transcript must be accompanied by a signed letter from the Senate or Registrar of the University or appropriate Department of Psychology designate (e.g., Director of Clinical Training), indicating that all degree requirements have been fulfilled.
Before they can be added to the Register, applicants are required to submit a post-convocation transcript indicating that the degree has been granted.
What if my degree is from outside Canada or the United States?
Applicants with foreign credentials (excluding the United States) must have their degree evaluated for Canadian equivalency as part of the application process. For more information, please see the Foreign Trained Psychology Professionals section of the website.
When can I write the Written Jurisprudence Exam (WJE)?
The schedule for the WJE can be found in the Examination and Workshops section of the website.
Where and when can I write the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)?
The EPPP can be taken at a variety of sites across Canada and the United States. However, one needs to be an applicant for registration with a regulatory body in order to be eligible to write the examination.
Once your file has been reviewed and deemed acceptable by the Registration Committee, you will be given permission to proceed to the examination phase. Please note that we must receive your request and administration fee for the EPPP before we will provide verification of your eligibility to PES.
For more information, please visit the Examinations and Workshops section of this website.
How many times can I write the EPPP?
Within an application, the EPPP may be written 3 times.
What is the process of the oral examination?
The oral exam is a standardized, scenario-based exam with specific criteria for scoring. There are three possible outcomes: (1) full pass; (2) pass with recommended limitations; and (3) fail. The entire exam may be repeated if failed or if limitations are recommended.
More information about the oral examination can be found in the Examinations and Workshops section of this website.
Does the College offer employment services?
The College is a regulatory body and does not offer employment services. While we do not maintain information on job openings, those interested are encouraged to check other websites such as the Canadian Psychological Association, (http://www.cpa.ca/careers/) and the British Columbia health authorities (http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/socsec/index.html).
What do I need to know to immigrate to Canada?
If you want to learn more about immigration to Canada, please consult Citizenship and Immigration Canada at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp
How do I find a job in BC?
The College of Psychologists of BC does not provide information on job openings. Those interested are encouraged to check other websites for information on job openings such as the Canadian Psychological Association, (http://www.cpa.ca/careers/) and the British Columbia health authorities (http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/socsec/index.html ).
Where do I find out about training in psychology?
The College does not provide pre-approval or assistance in terms of choosing a psychology training program. For psychology students training in Canada and the United States, the Registration Committee recommends that they complete training accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association or the American Psychological Association (APA)/(CPA). Information Sheet - Psychology Training.
Do I have to become a registrant of the College if I am working within the Industrial / Organizational field (e.g., Human Resources, training, assessment centre)?
The College of Psychologists regulates the practice of psychology in BC. If you practice psychology in BC and wish to refer to yourself as a ‘psychologist’, you must be a registrant of this College. The Psychologists Regulation currently provides for a limited number of exemptions based on employment setting and should be reviewed. Industrial/Organizational practitioners who wish to be identified as a psychologists are registered with the College.
What is my status here? What can I call myself here?
As per the Psychologists Regulation, only those who are registered with the College of Psychologists can use the title “psychologist”. Words such as “consultant,” “counsellor,” and “mental health” are not, currently, regulated terms.
I need to have my foreign credentials evaluated. What are the names of credentialing agencies recommended by the College?
The College recommends the following credentialing agencies:
If I have been supervised by a non-psychologist as part of my practica or post degree work, will the College accept these supervised hours?
In the context of professional psychology training, it is expected that a licensed/registered psychologist will oversee and have primary responsibility for practica and that the majority of the supervision will be provided by a psychologist so that the training received is primarily psychological in nature.
While it is recognized that some diversity of supervision can provide a valuable learning experience, the Registration Committee expects that the majority of an applicant’s supervised practica and post degree supervised work, will be provided by a psychologist who is licensed to practice psychology in the province/state in which the supervision takes place.
Will you accept my online degree(s)? Are my internship plans ok? Can you look at my cv and comment on the likelihood that I will qualify for registration?
The College does not have a pre-approval process. We receive many letters with questions like these from people interested in applying. However, we do not provide feedback of this nature. Your education, training and experience will be carefully reviewed after a formal application has been made. Individuals are encouraged to closely study the Registration Requirements document and make an application when their education, training, and experience meet the registration requirements.
What does it mean that a supervisor must be a psychologist who is licensed (certified or registered) and in good standing with a psychology regulatory body for a minimum of two years?
This means that the supervisor must be licensed to practice psychology in the province/state in which the supervision takes place. A listing of state, provincial and territorial agencies responsible for the licensure and certification of psychologists throughout the U.S. and Canada can be found on the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards website (www.asppb.net).
If I do not meet the _____ requirement can I still be registered? If I have less hours of supervision than what the requirements stipulate, is that ok? Can I do ____ in lieu of what the requirements ask for?
If an applicant wishes to become a registrant of the College, they must meet all of the registration requirements in effect at the time of their application or demonstrate substantial equivalence.
I do not understand what some of these internship, program characteristics, supervised experience, etc. requirements mean.
The College`s registration requirements for education, training and experience are based on accredited, North American, training models. Applicants who are unfamiliar with accredited training standards, are encouraged to visit the websites of the following associations: Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), American Psychological Association (APA) and Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) .
If I am making a `Regular` application, and am a graduate of an APA or CPA accredited doctoral program, do I need to complete the Coursework and Practica sections of the application form?
Yes. All applicants are required to complete the coursework and practica sections of the application form. This information is used to evaluate the suitability of an applicant`s self-declared area of practice and/or intention to engage in specialized work (e.g., neuropsychology, working with children, forensics, etc).
I understand that I must be under supervision while an applicant, how many hours of supervision are required?
At present, the supervision requirement is a reporting requirement only and does not involve a prescribed number of supervised hours. Currently, applicants are not required to complete a certain number of hours nor is the College tracking the number of hours applicants complete. The requirement is that the applicant is under supervision for the duration of the application period until the point of registration. Requirements for a prescribed number of supervision hours, typically required in other North American jurisdictions, is currently under active consideration in B.C.
As an applicant, how frequently am I required to meet with my supervisor? Do we have to meet face to face? Is the supervisor required to co-sign my reports, notes or correspondence?
Presently, the College only requires a supervisor on record with a description of the plan appropriate to the activities supervised. The supervision should be provided in a fashion and at a frequency sufficient to ensure that services are provided according to the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct.
My supervisor has asked if they have to complete any paperwork as part of their role?
When the applicant is scheduled to take their final examination, supervisors will be sent a short form to indicate whether the supervision took place according to the plan submitted.
How do I learn more about the practice of psychology in North America?
To learn more about the practice of psychology, we recommend the websites of the following psychology organizations for more information:
I am a graduate of a non-APA/CPA accredited graduate program, what do I need to submit?
The Registration Committee accepts graduate programs that in its view meet the criteria outlined in Appendix A of the Registration Requirements document. Please submit, with your application, an attachment which outlines how your program meets the criteria listed in Appendix A.
Please note, the outline must describe how the program met the criteria at the time you attended.
My internship was not accredited by APA or CPA, nor was it listed in APPIC or CAPIC. What do I need to submit?
The Registration Committee accepts an internship that in its view meets the criteria outlined in Appendix B of the Registration Requirements document. Please submit, with your application, an attachment which outlines how your internship meets the criteria listed in Appendix B.
Please note, the outline must describe how the internship met the criteria at the time you attended.
My application expiry date is approaching and I will not be able to complete all requirements before that date. What should I do?
It is the policy of the Registration Committee to grant, upon request, a maximum of three consecutive, four month application deadline extensions. Each extension is subject to a fee. Fees may be waived in extenuating circumstances such as an applicant`s serious medical condition with confirming documentation or where the applicant has spent significant time, actively responding to College generated queries or directives.
The College has found that two years is a sufficient amount of time for the overwhelming majority of applicants to complete the process.
I recently had a baby and took a maternity leave. This interfered with the timely completion of my registration. I am hoping you will waive the application extension fee, given my circumstance. Is this possible?
Currently, the College does not grant waivers on the basis of recent maternity or paternity.
I am considering enrolling in a degree program. Can the College review information about the program and tell me whether I’m likely to be eligible for registration?
No. The College does not have a pre-approval process and each application is reviewed on its own merit. We receive many letters with questions like these from people interested in applying. However, we do not provide feedback of this nature. Your education, training and experience will be carefully reviewed after a formal application has been made. Individuals are encouraged to closely study the Registration Requirements document and make an application when their education, training, and experience meet the registration requirements.
Will ____training program prepare me for registration with the College?
Presently, the College does not approve programs. Aside from (APA)/(CPA) accredited programs, the College does not have a list of acceptable programs or degrees. If you are interested in knowing what type of career a program will prepare you for, we recommend that you speak with the program’s director.
Can the College tell me if any of the current registrants graduated from University of _____ in the _____ degree program? I’d like to understand if I’m likely to be registered with a degree from there.
There are many aspects to professional psychology training and successful registration with the College; a graduate degree is only part of it. The strength of an application depends on many things. This is why each application is considered on its own merit. Aside from (APA)/(CPA) accredited programs, the College does not have a list of acceptable programs or degrees. Please visit the (APA) and (CPA)websites for a list of accredited graduate programs.
What kinds of graduate degrees will the College accept? Can I be registered on the basis of an M.Ed.? Do I have to have a Ph.D. or is a Psy.D. acceptable?
Registration can be based on a graduate degree at either the Masters or Doctoral level. There are, however, additional criteria that would need to be met in terms of institutional characteristics, program characteristics, coursework, etc. Please see the Registration Requirements document for more detail.
I am concerned that my degree will not be acceptable for registration with the College. What can you tell me?
The College does not have a pre-approval process and each application is reviewed on its own merit. We receive many letters with questions like these from people interested in applying. However, we do not provide feedback of this nature. Your education, training and experience will be carefully reviewed after a formal application has been made. Individuals are encouraged to closely study the Registration Requirements document and make an application when their education, training, and experience meet the registration requirements.
