Information for foreign-trained psychologists
(4151) Verified: 2011 10 05
Information on requirements to practise
The profession of psychologist is regulated in Canada, which means that one must be registered or chartered (i.e. licensed) to practice psychology. The requirements for registration as a psychologist in Canada vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
Once you know where you want to settle and work, you should contact the regulatory body of psychology in that jurisdiction to find out if and how you might be eligible for registration (see list below). The provincial and territorial regulatory bodies of psychology set these requirements and register those deemed eligible. There are mechanisms and agreements in place so that a psychologist who is licensed/registered to practise by one provincial/territorial regulator may be recognized to practise in another jurisdiction.
Information on the study and practice of psychology in Canada can be found on the website of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) http://www.cpa.ca/public/psychologyquickfacts/. The CPA is a national, professional association of psychologists which accredits the Canadian doctoral and internship programmes that train psychologists but does not license psychologists to practice. CPA can be contacted for further information at
- Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)
- 141 Laurier Ave. West, Suite 702
- Ottawa ON K1P 5J3 Canada
- Phone : 613-237-2144
- Phone (alternate): 1-888-472-0657
- Fax : 613-237-1674
- Email : cpa@cpa.ca
- http://www.cpa.ca/
Each jurisdiction has a professional association of psychology (most often separate from the jurisdictional regulatory body), which can provide information about the study and practice of psychology in that jurisdiction. A listing of the provincial and territorial associations of psychology can be found at http://new.cpa.ca/public/psychologyquickfacts/PTassociations/.
Information on assessment of qualifications
Even if you are already licensed to practise a regulated occupation in Canada, employers may request that you provide them with a formal assessment of your academic credentials.
If that is the case, or if you wish to have your credentials assessed for a purpose other than practising a regulated occupation in Canada, you may consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada" and contact an academic credential evaluation service. Although evaluation services offer expert advice on how qualifications obtained abroad compare with academic credentials obtained in Canada, their evaluations are advisory only and do not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment or certification purposes in Canada. Please note that evaluation services charge a fee for their assessments.
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada regarding
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
List of provincial/territorial regulatory bodies
Alberta
- College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP)
- 2100 SunLife Place, 10123-99 Street
- Edmonton AB T5J 3H1 Canada
- Phone : 780-424-5070
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-659-0857
- Fax : 780-420-1241
- Email : psych@cap.ab.ca
- http://www.cap.ab.ca/
British Columbia
- College of Psychologists of British Columbia (CPBC)
- 404 - 1755 West Broadway
- Vancouver BC V6J 4S5 Canada
- Phone : 604-736-6164
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-665-0979
- Fax : 604-736-6133
- http://www.collegeofpsychologists.bc.ca/
Manitoba
- Psychological Association of Manitoba (PAM)
- 162-2025 Corydon Avenue, Suite 253
- Winnipeg MB R3P 0N5 Canada
- Phone : 204-487-0784
- Fax : 204-489-8688
- Email : pam@mts.net
- http://www.cpmb.ca/
New Brunswick
- College of Psychologists of New Brunswick (CPNB)
- P.O. Box 201, Stn. A
- Fredericton NB E3B 4Y9 Canada
- Phone : 506-382-1994
- Fax : 506-857-9813
- Email : cpnb@nbnet.nb.ca
- http://www.cpnb.ca/
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland and Labrador Psychology Board (NLPB)
- P.O. Box 8275, Station A
- St. John's NL A1B 3N4 Canada
- Phone : 709-579-6313
- Fax : 709-753-6080
- Email : registrar@nbep.info
- http://www.nlpsychboard.ca/
Northwest Territories
- Professional Licensing, Department of Health and Social Services, Government of the Northwest Territories
- Box 1320, CST-8
- Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Canada
- Phone : 867-920-8058
- Fax : 867-873-0484
- Email : samantha_vangenne@gov.nt.ca
- http://www.hlthss.gov.nt.ca/english/services/professional_licensing/
Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology (NSBEP)
- Suite 455, 5991 Spring Garden Road
- Halifax NS B3H 1Y6 Canada
- Phone : 902-423-2238
- Fax : 902-423-0058
- Email : nsbep@nsbep.org
- http://www.nsbep.org/
Nunavut
- Professional Licensing, Department of Health and Social Services, Government of Nunavut
- P.O. Box 390
- Kugluktuk NU X0B 0E0 Canada
- Phone : 867-982-7672
- Phone (alternate): 867-982-7668
- Fax : 867-982-3256
- Fax (alternate): 867-982-7640
- Email : hssnunavutregistrar@gov.nu.ca
- http://www.gov.nu.ca/health/
Ontario
- College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO)
- 110 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 500
- Toronto ON M4R 1A3 Canada
- Phone : 416-961-8817
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-489-8388
- Fax : 416-961-2635
- Email : cpo@cpo.on.ca
- http://www.cpo.on.ca/
Prince Edward Island
- Prince Edward Island Psychologists Registration Board (PEIRPB)
- c/o Philip Smith, Registrar
Department of Psychology
University of PEI- Charlottetown PE C1A 4P3 Canada
- Phone : 902-566-0549
- Fax : 902-629-4359
- Email : smithp@upei.ca
Quebec
- Ordre des psychologues du Québec (OPQ)
- 1100, avenue Beaumont, bureau 510
- Mont-Royal QC H3P 3E5 Canada
- Phone : 514-738-1881
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-363-2644
- Fax : 514-738-8838
- Email : info@ordrepsy.qc.ca
- http://www.ordrepsy.qc.ca/
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan College of Psychologists (SKCP)
- 348 Albert Street
- Regina SK S4R 2N7 Canada
- Phone : 306-352-1699
- Fax : 306-352-1697
- Email : skcp@sasktel.net
- http://www.skcp.ca/