Information on Recognized & Non-Recognized Programs

Education Requirements for Registration

CRPO requires a master’s-level program central to the practice of psychotherapy for registration. This can be a master’s degree or an equivalent graduate diploma that requires completion of a bachelor’s-level program for admission. The program must provide training in the Entry-to-Practice Competencies.

When you apply for registration with CRPO, you will need to indicate whether you have completed a recognized training program/accepted bridging program or a non-recognized program. You can use the information below to determine whether you completed a recognized/accepted program.

Recognized Programs Information

Recognized programs have submitted applications to demonstrate that they meet the minimum education requirements for registration. Recognition does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of a program by the College. If you have completed a recognized program, you don’t need to provide detailed information about your education and training. Except where otherwise noted, recognition is retroactive for a period of five years before the recognition date. If you graduated in the five years prior to the date of recognition, you are considered to have graduated from a recognized program.

Examples:

• Your program was recognized on April 1, 2020. You graduated in 2018. Because you graduated within the five years prior to recognition, you can use the application for recognized programs.
• Your program was recognized on April 1, 2020. You graduated in 2010. Because you graduated more than five years prior to recognition, you are not considered to have completed a recognized program. You must select the Non-recognized program application type and fill out the Mapping Tool.

Programs are recognized by the Registration Committee for a period of five years. At the end of each five-year period, the program must submit an application for renewal to demonstrate that the program still meets the minimum education requirements for registration. If a program’s recognition is not renewed, this will be noted below. Applicants who graduated prior to the end of recognition will still be considered to have completed a recognized program.

Accepted Bridging Program Information

The Bridge to Registration and Employment in Mental Health program (BREM), delivered by the Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto, provides internationally trained mental health professionals with professional language and cultural communication skills, as well as Canadian work experience and currency, to prepare its students for employment and professional registration in Canada.

Students admitted to the BREM program have already completed entry-to-practice training outside of Canada and worked in the profession for at least two years. BREM does not offer re-training for those educated in another field.

By going through the BREM program, students develop their ability to practise in Ontario and deepen their understanding of the entry-to-practice competencies.

Bridge to Registration and Employment in Mental Health: Registration Information for BREM Participants

The Registration Committee accepts successful completion of the Bridge to Registration and Employment in Mental Health (Registration Stream) program as satisfying Section 6(1)(1)(iv) of the Registration Regulation:

6(1) Subject to section 7 and subsection 13 (2), the following are non-exemptible registration requirements for a Registered Psychotherapist certificate of registration:

1) The applicant must…

(iv) have such other education and training, which must include one or more programs in psychotherapy, together with any further education or training, or combination of education and training, that when taken together evidences, in the opinion of the Registration Committee, successful completion of a program that is substantially equivalent to a program referred to in subparagraph i or ii.

This means that applicants to the CRPO can demonstrate that they have met the education requirement for registration through successful completion of the BREM (Registration Stream) program, along with prior international training assessed by BREM.

BREM participants applying for registration with the CRPO can ask BREM to send a transcript confirming that they have completed or substantially completed the BREM (Registration Stream) program. Completion of the BREM (Registration Stream) program means that applicants will not need to submit credential assessments or other information about their international training to CRPO.

Interested in applying to the BREM program?

If you are an internationally trained mental health professional interested in completing the BREM (Registration Stream) program, please visit the BREM website for information on eligibility and program requirements.

Please note that decisions on admission to the BREM (Registration Stream) program are made solely by BREM. CRPO is not involved in assessing program candidates and is not able to comment on the program’s requirements.

Please note that decisions on admission to the BREM (Registration Stream) program are made solely by BREM. CRPO is not involved in assessing program candidates and is not able to comment on the program’s requirements.

Non-Recognized Programs

If the program you have completed or substantially completed is not a CRPO recognized/accepted program, then you must select the non-recognized program application type and fill out the Mapping Tool to demonstrate your education is substantially equivalent to a recognized program. Non-recognized programs must meet the Program Definition Policy.

In order to satisfy the education requirement for registration, applicants must demonstrate that they have completed formal, structured, graduate-level coursework that developed their understanding of each competency. Professional experience cannot be substituted for formal training in meeting the education requirement for registration.

Other education and training that is not part of a coherent psychotherapy program must have admission criteria and an evaluative or certification component in order to be accepted by CRPO. Professional development workshops or seminars lacking an evaluative component will not be accepted.

If you apply with training from a non-recognized program and staff is uncertain whether you have completed training that meets the registration requirements, your application would be referred to a panel of the Registration Committee for further review. As part of the panel process, you would receive a copy of staff’s detailed evaluation and would have the opportunity to respond. If the panel identifies a specific gap in your training, they could require you to complete further training in that area as a requirement for registration. If the gaps are numerous or significant, your application may be refused and you would need to complete further training before re-applying.

Clinical Experience Recognition

Programs granted clinical experience (CE) recognition on top of academic recognition have demonstrated that clinical experience hours obtained in the program meet CRPO’s requirements and develop students’ competence in psychotherapy. All hours successfully completed through a CE-recognized program will be accepted toward meeting CRPO registration requirements. Programs will report completed hours directly to CRPO on their students’ behalf.

Students from the programs listed below no longer need to submit individual confirmation forms to report practicum, clinic, or student practice hours completed on or after April 1, 2018. Students should contact their program to request that they report the total number of practicum hours (direct client contact and clinical supervision) to CRPO.

Students from non-recognized programs and registrants updating CE hours after graduation will still need to submit detailed confirmation forms.

 Instructions for Reporting Hours

1. Once you have finished your clinical experience hours with the program, contact your school to request that they report hours to CRPO.

You should only request this if you have already created an account with CRPO. If you have not yet created an account, CRPO will not be able to process the hours.

1. Program staff will send confirmation of the total hours to CRPO.
2. The hours will be added to your account shortly.
3. Once the hours are added, you will be able to see the hours in your CRPO account.

If your application is in-progress, you will not be able to see any hours until your application is approved.