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ON Regulation

Current as of May 5, 2019

Status: Regulated

Type of Regulation: Protected Title and Controlled Act

Title Protected: Registered Psychotherapist

Website: www.crpo.ca

  • In 2002 the Ontario Alliance of Mental Health Practitioners (formerly the Ontario Coalition of Mental Health Professionals) was formed.
  • This group consists of representatives from 14 different counselling-related organizations in Ontario.
  • The Alliance has had significant input related to the regulatory initiatives undertaken by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
  • In 2007, the Government of Ontario passed legislation to amend the Regulated Health Professions Act by adding to it a new section entitled Schedule R: Registered Psychotherapy and Registered Mental Health Therapists Act.
  • The Act makes provisions for the creation of a regulatory college to regulate professionals with the titles Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Mental Health Therapist.
  • In 2009, the Transitional Council (TC) was appointed.
  • The TC establishes the regulations and protocols for the new College.
  • There was a great deal of controversy with regard to the two titles.
  • On April 1, 2015 the Psychotherapy Act was proclaimed. However, the Controlled Act was not proclaimed as further work was required to explain the Controlled Act to practitioners.
  • The Controlled Act will be given to the following Colleges in Ontario: Physicians, Occupational, Therapists, Social Workers, Psychologists, Nurses, and Psychotherapists.
  • A committee was formed wherein representatives of each of the above Colleges contributed to developing a document to explain the Controlled Act.
  • All of the Colleges with the exception of the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons has adopted the document.
  • The Ontario government proclaimed the Controlled Act of Psychotherapy on December 21, 2017.
  • They have included a transition period of two years, beginning December 31, 2017, so that individuals may become registered with the appropriate colleges or change their practices so that they do not perform the controlled act of psychotherapy.
  • By the end of the two-year transition period, anyone performing the controlled act of psychotherapy must be registered with one of the six colleges whose members are eligible to do so (College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, College of Psychologists of Ontario, Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, College of Nurses of Ontario, College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, and College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario).
  • CRPO has been tasked by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care with providing further clarity on the practice of psychotherapy.
  • The material requested was delivered by July 1, 2018.
  • A response from the Ministry is anticipated.
  • The College has granted RP status to approximately 6,400 practitioners.
  • The grandparenting route ended on March 31, 2017.
  • With regard to the CFTA, Ontario has announced that they will recognize practitioners from Quebec and Nova Scotia.