Slides from CPO Registrar's talk March 6, 2012

1. Registration with the College
of Psychologists of Ontario
Catherine Yarrow, MBA, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Registrar & Executive Director
March 2012

2. Enabling Legislation - Ontario
Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991
with Procedural Code
Psychology Act, 1991
Regulations under Psychology Act, 1991
– Registration
– Professional Misconduct
– General (advertising, quality assurance)

3. Objects of the College
1. To regulate the practice of the profession and to govern
the members in accordance with the health profession
Act, this Code and the Regulated Health Professions
Act, 1991 and the regulations and by-laws.
2. To develop, establish and maintain standards of
qualification for persons to be issued certificates of
registration.
3. To develop, establish and maintain programs and
standards of practice to assure the quality of the
practice of the profession.
4. To develop, establish and maintain standards of
knowledge and skill and programs to promote
continuing evaluation, competence and improvement
among the members.

4. Objects of the College
5. To develop, establish and maintain standards of
professional ethics for the members.
6. To develop, establish and maintain programs to assist
individuals to exercise their rights under this Code and
the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.
7. To administer the health profession Act, this Code and
the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 as it
relates to the profession and to perform the other duties
and exercise the other powers that are imposed or
conferred on the College.
8. To promote and enhance relations between the College
and its members, other health profession colleges, key
stakeholders, and the public.

5. Objects of the College
9. To promote inter-professional collaboration with
other health profession colleges.
10. To develop, establish, and maintain standards
and programs to promote the ability of members
to respond to changes in practice environments,
advances in technology and other emerging
issues.
11. Any other objects relating to human health
care that the Council considers desirable.

6. Duty
In carrying out its objects, the College
has a duty to serve and protect the
public interest.
RHPA Code, s. 3(2)

7. Scope of Practice
The practice of psychology is
the assessment of behavioral and mental
conditions
the diagnosis of neuropsychological disorders
and dysfunctions and psychotic, neurotic and
personality disorders and dysfunctions
the prevention and treatment of behavioral and
mental disorders and dysfunctions, and
the maintenance and enhancement of physical,
intellectual, emotional, social and interpersonal
functioning
Psychology Act, 1991

8. Authorized Act
In the course of engaging in the practice of
psychology, a member is authorized, subject
to the terms, conditions and limitations
imposed on his or her certificate of
registration,
– to communicate a diagnosis identifying, as the
cause of a person’s symptoms, a
neuropsychological disorder or a psychologically
based psychotic, neurotic or personality disorder.
1991, c. 38, s. 4.
Psychology Act, 1991

9. Another Authorized Act
to apply, or order the application of,
electricity for aversive conditioning
– 6. A member of the College of Psychologists
of Ontario is exempt from subsection 27 (1) of
the Act for the purpose of applying, or
ordering the application of, electricity for
aversive conditioning. O. Reg. 107/96, s. 6.
Regulation under the RHPA

10. Future Authorized Act
To treat, by means of psychotherapy
technique delivered through a therapeutic
relationship, an individual’s serious
disorder of thought, cognition, mood,
emotional regulation, perception or
memory that may seriously impair the
individual’s judgement, insight, behaviour,
communication or social functioning. 2007,
c. 10, Sched. R, s. 18.
Currently, anyone may do this.

11. Registration Process - Overview
Complete graduate degree requirements
Submit completed application to College
College staff reviews application, transcripts,
references, proposed supervised experience
If acceptable, issuance of certificate authorizing
supervised practice & authorization to take
written examinations

12. Registration Process (Cont’d)
Successful completion of written
examinations and supervised experience
Completion of any required additional
training or supervised experience
Authorization to take oral examination

13. Registration Process (Cont’d)
All requirements met, issue certificate of registration
authorizing autonomous practice
Doubts that applicant meets a requirement, refer to
Registration Committee
Applicant may seek review of any adverse registration
decision
– By Registration Committee
By Health Professions Appeal and Review Board

14. Registration Certificates
Psychologist/Psychological Associate
Authorizing supervised practice
Authorizing autonomous practice
Authorizing interim autonomous practice

15. Certificate Authorizing Supervised
Practice: Psychologist
Doctoral degree from a program of study
primarily psychological in nature
Signed undertakings from two members
who each agree to supervise the applicant
Registration regulation & current guidelines

16. Certificate Authorizing Autonomous
Practice: Psychologist
Doctoral degree from a program of
study primarily psychological in nature
Authorized supervised practice
Written and oral examinations
All further professional training or
experience that the College requires
Regulation & current guidelines

17. Certificate Authorizing
Supervised Practice:
Psychological Associate
Masters degree from a program of study
primarily psychological in nature
Four or more years of acceptable
experience
Signed undertakings from two members
who agree to supervise the applicant
Regulation & current guidelines

18. Certificate Authorizing Autonomous
Practice: Psychological Associate
Masters degree from a program of
study primarily psychological in nature
Four years of acceptable experience
Authorized supervised practice
Written and oral examinations
All further professional training or
experience that the College requires
Regulation & current guidelines

19. Registration: Examinations
Examination for Professional Practice in
Psychology (EPPP)
Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination
Oral Examination

20. Areas of Practice
Clinical Psychology
School Psychology
Clinical Neuropsychology
Counselling Psychology
Forensic/Correctional Psychology
Health Psychology
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Rehabilitation Psychology
Guidelines Appendix B

21. Foundational Knowledge
Biological Bases of Behaviour
Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behaviour
Social Bases of Behaviour
Psychology of the Individual

22. Core Competencies
Interpersonal Relationships
Assessment and Evaluation
Intervention and Consultation
Research
Ethics and Standards
Guidelines Appendix C

23. Proposed Regulation Amendment
Registration as Psychologist
Doctoral degree from a psychology
program which is
– (a) accredited by the Canadian Psychological
Association;
– (b) considered by the Registration Committee
to be equivalent to a program accredited by
CPA; or
Proposed amendments must be approved by government

24. Proposed Amendment (Cont’d)
(c) offered outside of Canada or the
United States and considered by the
Registration Committee to be substantially
similar, but not equivalent, to a CPA
accredited program; applicant required to
take additional education and training to
address gaps as compared to a CPA
accredited program.
Proposed amendments must be approved by government

25. Proposed Regulation Amendment
Registration: Psychological Associate
Masters degree from a psychology program
which
– (a) is offered at a recognized degree granting
institution in Canada, or at a recognized
university in a foreign country;
– (b) has as a prerequisite 576 hours (16 half
courses) of undergraduate instruction in
psychology; and

26. Proposed Amendment (Cont’d)
– (c) includes:
(1)one half psychology course in each of psychological
assessment; psychological intervention; professional
ethics and standards for psychology; and research
design, methodology and statistics.
(2) one full psychology course or two half courses in
psychology in at least two of the following foundational
knowledge areas, and a minimum of a half course in
psychology in each of the two remaining foundational
knowledge areas: biological bases of behaviour;
cognitive-affective bases of behaviour; social bases of
behaviour; and psychology of the individual.

27. Proposed Amendment (Cont’d)
Part or all of requirement in paragraph (2) may be met
through equivalent coursework completed at
undergraduate level; no introductory courses will be
accepted;
(3) a supervised psychology practicum or psychology
internship;
(4) a minimum of one academic year of full-time
resident graduate study and training or equivalent part-
time resident graduate study and training;

28. Proposed Amendment (Cont’d)
(5) where the Registration Committee determines
that an applicant has obtained a masters degree
from a psychology program which is substantially
similar, but not equivalent, to that described in
paragraphs (1) through (4); applicant must complete
additional education or training required to address
any gaps in the applicant’s education or training
compared to a program referred to in paragraphs (1)
through (4).

29. Helpful Websites
www.e-laws.gov.on.ca
Regulated Health Professions Act, Psychology
Act, other statutes, regulations
www.cpo.on.ca
bylaws, standards, registration requirements
www.asppb.org
registration/licensure/mobility in Canada/U.S.
www.cpa.ca
program accreditation, code of ethics