Psychology

The College of Health and Care Professionals of BC grants registration to applicants who meet the registration requirements and standards established by the Health Professions Act (HPA), the Psychologists Regulation, and the CHCPBC Bylaws. CHCPBC confirms an applicant meets these standards through a careful review and validation of an applicant’s education, training, and practice experience, as well as requiring oral and written exams.

All applicants are required to provide references from three licensed/registered psychologists. The College also requires a criminal record and national police record check and examines an applicant’s history for any investigations, discipline, or limitations on practice in other jurisdictions. The application process is detailed and thorough and ensures College registrants meet the high standard required to protect public health and safety.

Selecting the Application Type

• The first step is determining which type of application to make. This is based on several variables including where an applicant was educated, whether they currently hold registration in Canada or the US, and other certifications. Applicants should carefully review the headings listed in the menu on the left and on this page to determine which application is appropriate for them.

Document Collection

• Once an applicant submits an application form, required enclosures, and fees, CHCPBC does an initial review of the documentation to determine whether any immediate clarification is needed or if anything is missing. All applicants will receive an email acknowledging their application and noting the expiry date of their application.
• During this phase, the College requests and/or files documentation received from third parties (e.g., referees, criminal records review program, transcripts, etc.) and reminds applicants of any outstanding information required in order to review their file.
• The onus is on applicants to ensure that all required documentation is sent to the College.

File Review

• Once all documentation has been collected, CHCPBC reviews the application file to determine whether any additional information is required or if there are issues requiring further exploration. If there are no further questions and the file is determined to meet the basic registration criteria for their application category, the applicant will receive an email permitting them to proceed to the examination phase of the process.

Accreditation

The following applies only to applicants to become a Registered Psychologist:

The standard for entry to practice as a Registered Psychologist in British Columbia is completing a Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) or American Psychological Association (APA) accredited doctoral degree in psychology completed in residence and a CPA or APA accredited 12-month pre-doctoral internship, or the equivalent.

Accreditation is a rigorous external review process through which programs and internships demonstrate they meet established criteria for faculty, institutional resources, and student support services, provide instruction on the required competencies for entry to practice as a professional psychologist, and critically evaluate both academic and practice performance of students and interns for their readiness to practice.

The CHCPBC Registration Committee considers that a doctoral program or pre-doctoral internship holding any form of conditional accreditation status with the CPA or APA, including “accredited, on probation” or “accredited, on contingency” status, is not deemed to be accredited for the purposes of the criteria in the College’s bylaws. An applicant who completed their degree or internship while the CPA or APA accreditation status of their doctoral program or internship was “on probation”, “on contingency” or subject to other conditions may be required to provide additional evidence to satisfy the Registration Committee that their degree or internship meets the criteria of the CHCPBC Bylaws.

• Information about CPA accredited doctoral programs
• Information about APA accredited doctoral programs

Applicants cannot proceed to the examination phase until it is determined that their education, training and experience, and other general registration requirements have been met for the application type.

Examinations

Depending on the category of application that has been made, applicants are required to complete one or more examinations. See Examinations for more information.

Placement on the Register

• Once all required examinations have been completed and applicants have received written notice that they have passed, they will be informed that their file will go to the Registration Committee for a motion to place them on the Register.
• Once a motion has been made, the College invoices the applicant for registration fees and requests they complete a form.
• Upon receipt of the completed form, fees, and verification of professional liability insurance, the College will issue a registration number and certificate, and the applicant will be added to the register as a registered psychologist.

Timelines

Timelines for the application process are affected by:

• Submission of documents by applicant and third parties
• Completion of exams by applicant
• Oral Examination administration schedule
• Time required for the College to determine whether applicant’s knowledge, skills, and abilities are substantially equivalent to the standards
• Registration Committee’s meeting schedule if they must review the application
• College’s response time during periods of high volume

The table below shows the estimated minimum timelines for four registered psychologist application types.

The information in this section is for applicants who: 

• Are currently licensed or registered for active practice in another Canadian jurisdiction, as the equivalent of a CHCPBC Registered Psychologist registrant, and 
• Are of good character and not subject to practice limitations, restrictions, or conditions in another Canadian jurisdiction, and 
• Will maintain registration in your home jurisdiction up to the point of being granted registration with CHCPBC. 

The Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) facilitates the mobility of workers across the country. Applicants currently registered in another Canadian jurisdiction as the equivalent of a Registered Psychologist may apply through a streamlined registration process in accordance with the BC Labour Mobility Act, the CFTA, and the College’s Bylaws. 

Registrants of the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) who have not completed a CPA or APA accredited pre-doctoral internship, and who apply for registration in BC on the basis of their Alberta registration, must also provide satisfactory evidence of meeting CAP’s requirements to declare “formal assessment” as a professional activity, in order to demonstrate the equivalency of their Alberta registration to registration as a Registered Psychologist in BC. To learn more, read Information for Registrants of CAP (PDF) 

Application Requirements

1. Application form 

Applicants must complete the CFTA/US Mobility Application Form found in the Applicant Portal and upload other required items.  

• Step 1: Request access (PDF) to the Applicant Portal. 
• Step 2: Log in to the Applicant Portal after receiving your username and password. 
• Step 3: Complete your application and upload required items.  

2. Certificates of Standing  

The College requires verification(s) of licensure and registration status from the following: 

• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a previous or current application for psychology licensure 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a licence to practice another health profession 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant is currently, or was previously, licensed or registered as a psychologist or other health professional. 

The Verification of Licensure and Registration Status form (PDF) must be sent directly to the College from other regulatory bodies/licensing boards. 

Applicants are also expected to request that verifications of status be sent directly to the College for any Certificate of Professional Qualification issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), any present listing with the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers (CRHSPP), and/or any present listing with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSP).

3. Declaration of Area of Practice  

For the purposes of registration, applicants must select one area of practice and complete a declaration of competence. A declaration of competence in an area of practice is a declaration by the applicant that they have the appropriate training, education, and experience in that area of psychology to be able to offer the wide range of activities and services within that area. Definitions of the recognized areas of psychology practice are in the CHCPBC Bylaws: Schedule 7, Table 2: Areas of Psychology Practice (PDF). 

A declaration in an area of practice should be consistent with the graduate program completed and subsequent internship. If the declared area of practice is different from what is documented on a transcript, the applicant may be required to document competence in that area. Consistent with other psychology regulatory bodies in North America, the College does not offer specialty licenses to Registered Psychologists in any practice area.

4. References 

Applicants must identify one colleague who is a Registered Psychologist to provide a reference. The referee must be familiar with the applicant’s current clinical work (work within the five-year period immediately preceding the application). The College will correspond directly with the referee. They will be sent supporting materials and a reference form to complete and return directly to the CHCPBC.  

For reference purposes, a retired referee will be considered registered or licensed for a given application if they retired within five years of the applicant’s date of application for registration, and were registered or licensed for at least two years, in good standing, immediately prior to the date of their retirement.   

5. Transcripts 

Applicants must provide an official transcript for the highest degree on which registration/licensure is based in the home jurisdiction(s). Photocopied transcripts are acceptable. 

6. Criminal Record Check 

All applicants must undergo an online criminal record check through the provincial government’s Criminal Record Review Program. Detailed information, including the required access code, is available in the Applicant Portal. 

7. National Police Check(s)  

Applicants must submit original documentation providing the results of a national police check or the equivalent for every jurisdiction in which they resided during the five‐year period immediately before the date of application. If it is not reasonably practicable to obtain such documentation for the applicable jurisdiction, a letter of explanation is required and will go before the Registration Committee.  

For Canadian jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the police or RCMP. For US jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the FBI. For all other jurisdictions, a national check must be completed by the police or an equivalent authority. Each check must be the most comprehensive check available in terms of coverage of records checked.  

Applicants must arrange for completed police check(s)to be sent directly to CHCPBC, where possible. The FBI and some police detachments will mail paper record checks directly to the College when the applicant requests that the check is sent to them “c/o CHCPBC” and uses the College’s Vancouver mailing address. In circumstances where the police will only send paper copies to the applicant, applicants should forward the unopened envelope to the College when they receive it. 

8. English Language Proficiency 

Applicants from other Canadian jurisdictions are not required to provide evidence of their proficiency in English unless they are currently registered in Quebec. In these cases, if applicants completed their highest-level psychology degree at an English-language university, the transcript serves as evidence and no further documentation is required.  

Applicants who did not complete their degree at an English language university can learn more about how they can demonstrate proficiency in English by reading the English Language Proficiency Policy (PDF). 

9. Examinations 

Applicants are required to pass the Written Jurisprudence Examination. For more information, please see the Examinations section below. 

10. Fees 

The fee for making an application can be found in the Psychology Fee Schedule (PDF) of the CHCPBC Bylaws. Applicants will receive instructions on how to complete payments through the online Alinity platform.

The information in this section is for applicants who:  

• Hold licensure in a US jurisdiction, as the equivalent of a registered psychologist, and  
• Are of good character and not subject to practice limitations, restrictions, or conditions, and 
• Are currently registered with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSP) or currently holding a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), and  
• Will maintain licensure in their home jurisdiction and a current CPQ certificate or registration with NRHSP up until they are granted registration with CHCPBC. 

Application Requirements

1. Application form
Applicants must complete the CFTA/US Mobility Application Form found in the Applicant Portal and upload other required items.  

• Step 1: Request access (PDF) to the Applicant Portal. 
• Step 2: Log in to the Applicant Portal after receiving your username and password. 
• Step 3: Complete your application and upload required items.  

2. Certificates of Standing  

The College requires verification of licensure and registration status from the following: 

• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a previous or current application for psychology licensure 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a licence to practice another health profession 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant is currently, or was previously, licensed or registered as a psychologist or other health professional. 

The Verification of Licensure and Registration Status form (PDF) must be sent directly to the College from other regulatory bodies/licensing boards. 

Applicants must request that verifications of status be sent directly to the College for any Certificate of Professional Qualification issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), any present listing with the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers (CRHSPP), and/or any present listing with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSP). 

3. Declaration of Area of Practice  

For the purposes of registration, applicants must select one area of practice and complete a declaration of competence. A declaration of competence in an area of practice is a declaration by the applicant that they have the appropriate training, education, and experience in that area of psychology to be able to offer the wide range of activities and services within that area. Definitions of the recognized areas of psychology practice are in the CHCPBC Bylaws: Schedule 7, Table 2: Areas of Psychology Practice (PDF). 

A declaration in an area of practice should be consistent with the graduate program completed and subsequent internship. If the declared area of practice is different from either what is documented on a transcript or the attestation provided by the program training director, the applicant may be required to document competence in that area. Consistent with other psychology regulatory bodies in North America, the College does not offer specialty licenses to Registered Psychologists in any practice area. 

4. References  

Applicants must identify one colleague who is a registered/licensed psychologist to provide a reference. The referee must be familiar with the applicant’s current clinical work (work within the five-year period immediately preceding the application). The College will correspond directly with the referee. They will be sent supporting materials and a reference form to complete and return directly to CHCPBC.  

5. Transcripts 

Applicants must provide an official transcript for the highest degree on which registration/licensure is based in the home jurisdiction(s). Photocopied transcripts are acceptable. 

6. Criminal Record Check 

All applicants must undergo an online criminal record check through the provincial government’s Criminal Record Review Program. Detailed information, including the required access code, is available in the Applicant Portal. 

7. National Police Check(s)  

Applicants must submit original documentation providing the results of a national police check or the equivalent for every jurisdiction in which they resided during the five‐year period immediately before the date of application. If it is not reasonably practicable to obtain such documentation for the applicable jurisdiction, a letter of explanation is required and will go before the Registration Committee.  

For Canadian jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the police or RCMP. For US jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the FBI. For all other jurisdictions, a national check must be completed by the police or an equivalent authority. Each check must be the most comprehensive check available in terms of coverage of records checked.  

Applicants must arrange for completed police check(s) to be sent directly to CHCPBC, where possible. The FBI and some police detachments will mail paper record checks directly to the College when the applicant requests that the check is sent to them “c/o CHCPBC” and uses the College’s Vancouver mailing address. In circumstances where the police will only send paper copies to the applicant, applicants should forward the unopened envelope to the College when they receive it. 

8. English Language Proficiency 

All applicants for registration are required to provide evidence that demonstrates their proficiency in English. Most applicants will meet this requirement if their highest-level psychology degree was completed at an English language university. In these cases, the transcript serves as evidence and no further documentation is required.  

Applicants who did not complete their degree at an English language university can learn more about how they can demonstrate proficiency in English by reading the English Language Proficiency Policy (PDF). 

9. Examinations 

Applicants are required to pass the Written Jurisprudence Examination. For more information, please see the Examinations section below. 

10. Fees 

The fee for making an application can be found in the Psychology Fee Schedule (PDF) of the CHCPBC Bylaws. Applicants will receive instructions on how to complete payments through the online Alinity platform. 

The information in this section is for applicants who: 

• Graduated from a Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)/American Psychological Association (APA) accredited doctorate degree program completed in residence, and 
• Completed a full-time CPA/APA-accredited 12-month internship, or the equivalent, and 
• Have not yet registered to practise in Canada. 

Applicants must complete the application requirements outlined here before they can be granted permission to take the oral and written exams and establish eligibility for registration and licensure.  

• To check if your program was accredited, please review the CPA or APA accredited program list.  
• To review the resident study and training requirement, please review Registered Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). 

Application Requirements for Graduates of a CPA- or APA-Accredited Program

1. Application form  

Applicants must complete the Registered Psychologist Registration Application Form in the Applicant Portal and upload other required items.  

• Step 1: Request access (PDF) to the Applicant Portal 
• Step 2: Log in to the Applicant Portal after receiving username and password 
• Step 3: Complete your application and upload required items  

 2. Coursework requirements and resident study and training 

Applicants who have graduated from CPA/APA accredited doctoral programs that satisfy the criteria for resident study and training requirement described in Registered Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF) will be deemed to have met the coursework requirements and other program characteristics criteria described in bylaw and the Coursework Requirements (Registered Psychologists) policy (PDF). Applicants who have graduated from CPA/APA accredited programs are still required to document coursework on the application form. 

Applicants must complete and upload FORM E–RP Accred Program RST, found in the applicant portal to demonstrate how their program meets each of the criteria outlined for resident study and training. 

3. Pre-doctoral internship  

Applicants who have completed a CPA/APA accredited pre-doctoral internship will be deemed to have met the pre-doctoral internship criteria. 

Applicants who have completed a pre-doctoral internship that was not CPA/APA accredited must submit a detailed description, in their own words, of how the internship meets each of the criteria outlined in Registered Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). This must be submitted via FORM B–RP Non-Accred Internship found in the applicant portal. 

4. Transcripts 

Applicants must request final, official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate training to be sent directly from the university to CHCPBC. The transcripts should be electronically sent directly from the degree-granting institution to registration@chcpbc.org.  

Applicants who have completed all the requirements for their degree but who have not convocated by the date of the application can provide a letter from the senate of the university, director of clinical training of the program, or other designated official from the department of psychology, attesting that the applicant has completed all the requirements of the degree. An original transcript indicating that the degree has been awarded is required prior to registration and placement on the College Register. The specific program completed (e.g., clinical psychology, counselling psychology) must be listed on the transcript or a letter must be sent directly from the department chair or training director to the College attesting that a specific program was completed by the applicant

5. Declaration of Area of Practice  

For the purposes of registration, applicants must select one area of practice and complete a declaration of competence. A declaration of competence in an area of practice is a declaration by the applicant that they have the appropriate training, education, and experience in that area of psychology to be able to offer the wide range of activities and services within that area. Definitions of the recognized areas of practice are found in Registered Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). 

A declaration in an area of practice should be consistent with the graduate program completed and subsequent internship. If the declared area of practice is different from either what is documented on a transcript or the attestation provided by the program training director, the applicant may be required to document competence in that area. Consistent with other psychology regulatory bodies in North America, the College does not offer specialty licenses to Registered Psychologists in any practice area. 

6. References  

Applicants must identify three referees who are registered/licensed psychologists in good standing for the past two years.  

• One of the referees must be the internship director.  
• All three referees should have supervised the applicant’s current clinical work (work within the five-year period immediately preceding the application).  

The College will correspond directly with referees. They will be sent supporting materials and a reference form to complete and return directly to CHCPBC. 

For reference purposes, a retired referee will be considered registered or licensed for a given application if they retired within five years of the applicant’s date of application for registration, and were registered or licensed for at least two years, in good standing, immediately prior to the date of their retirement. 

7. Criminal Record Check 

All applicants must undergo an online criminal record check through the provincial government’s Criminal Record Review Program. Detailed information, including the required access code, is available in the Applicant Portal. 

8. National Police Check(s)  

Applicants must submit original documentation providing the results of a national police check or the equivalent for every jurisdiction in which they resided during the five‐year period immediately before the date of application. If it is not reasonably practicable to obtain such documentation for the applicable jurisdiction, a letter of explanation is required and will go before the Registration Committee.  

For Canadian jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the police or RCMP. For US jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the FBI. For all other jurisdictions, a national check must be completed by the police or an equivalent authority. Each check must be the most comprehensive check available in terms of coverage of records checked.  

Applicants must arrange for completed police check(s) to be sent directly to the College, where possible. The FBI and some police detachments will mail paper record checks directly to the College when the applicant requests that the check is sent to them “c/o CHCPBC” and uses the College’s Vancouver mailing address. In circumstances where the police will only send paper copies to the applicant, applicants should forward the unopened envelope to the College when they receive it. 

9. Certificates of Standing  

The College requires verification of licensure and registration status from the following: 

• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a previous or current application for psychology licensure 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a license to practice another health profession 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant is currently, or was previously, licensed or registered as a psychologist or other health professional. 

The Verification of Licensure and Registration Status form (PDF) must be sent directly to the College from other regulatory bodies/ licensing boards. 

Applicants are also expected to request that verifications of status be sent directly to the College for any Certificate of Professional Qualification issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), any present listing with the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers (CRHSPP), and/or any present listing with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSP).  

10. Supervision Plan 

Applicants planning to provide psychological services in BC during the application period must submit a supervision plan form found in the Application Documents section of the website, cosigned by the Registered Psychologist supervisor, including the name of the supervisor who has agreed to provide supervision and a description of proposed arrangements. The supervisor will complete a short form at the time the applicant completes their last exam to confirm that the supervision took place according to the plan submitted. 

11. English Language Proficiency 

All applicants for registration are required to provide evidence that demonstrates their proficiency in English. Most applicants will meet this requirement if their highest-level psychology degree was completed at an English language university. In these cases, the transcript serves as evidence and no further documentation is required.  

Applicants who did not complete their degree at an English language university can learn more about how they can demonstrate proficiency in English by reading the English Language Proficiency Policy (PDF). 

12. Examinations 

The College uses three different examinations for Registered Psychologist applicants: the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), the Written Jurisprudence Examination (WJE) and the Oral Examination. After an applicant is notified that their documentation is in order, they will be invited to register for the series of examinations. Applicants may complete the EPPP and the WJE in the order they wish, but they can only proceed to the Oral Examination if they have been successful at both the EPPP and the WJE. 

For more information, please see the Examinations section below. 

13. Fees 

The fee for making an application can be found in the Psychology Fee Schedule (PDF) of the CHCPBC Bylaws. Applicants will receive instructions on how to complete payments through the online Alinity platform. 

The information in this section is for applicants who: 

• Graduated from a doctorate degree program in Canada or the US that was not Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)/American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited and completed in residence, and 
• Completed a full-time 12-month internship or the equivalent, and 
• Have not yet registered to practise in Canada. 

Applicants who have completed a program of study or internship that was not CPA- or APA-accredited and completed in residence must have their education and internship assessed by the Registration Committee before eligibility to take the oral and written exams can be established. If you are unsure whether your program or internship was accredited at the time you completed it, please review the CPA or APA accredited program list. For more information about doctoral program and internship requirements, please review Registered Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF).

Application Requirements for Graduates of non-CPA- or APA-Accredited Program

1. Application form   

Applicants must complete the Registered Psychologist Registration Application Form found on the Applicant Portal and upload other required items. 

• Step 1: Request access (PDF) to the Applicant Portal 
• Step 2: Log in to the Applicant Portal after receiving username and password 
• Step 3: Complete your application and upload required items  

2. Criteria for Evaluating Programs of Study and Coursework Requirements 

Applicants from non-CPA/APA-accredited programs must submit a detailed description, in their own words, of how their doctoral program meets each of the criteria outlined in the Registered Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). Applicants must also demonstrate proof of completion of the Coursework Requirements outlined in the Coursework Requirements (Registered Psychologists) policy (PDF). This must be submitted via FORM A–RP Non-Accred Program found in the applicant portal. Supporting documentation to confirm all responses in FORM A must also be uploaded to the Applicant Portal. 

3. Pre-doctoral internship 

Applicants who completed a pre-doctoral internship that was not CPA/APA accredited must submit a detailed description, in their own words, of how their internship meets each of the criteria outlined in Registered Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). This must be submitted via FORM B–RP Non-Accred Internship found in the applicant portal. 

4. Declaration of Area of Practice  

For the purposes of registration, applicants must select one area of practice and complete a declaration of competence. A declaration of competence in an area of practice is a declaration by the applicant that they have the appropriate training, education, and experience in that area of psychology to be able to offer the wide range of activities and services within that area. Definitions of the recognized areas of practice are found in the Registered Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). 

A declaration in an area of practice should be consistent with the graduate program completed and subsequent internship. If the declared area of practice is different from either what is documented on a transcript or the attestation provided by the program training director, the applicant may be required to document competence in that area. Consistent with other psychology regulatory bodies in North America, the College does not offer specialty licenses to Registered Psychologists in any practice area. 

5. References  

Applicants must identify three referees who are registered/licensed psychologists in good standing for the past two years.  

• One of the referees must be the internship director.  
• All three referees should have supervised the applicant’s current clinical work (work within the five-year period immediately preceding the application).  

The College will correspond directly with referees. They will be sent supporting materials and a reference form to complete and return directly to CHCPBC. 

For reference purposes, a retired referee will be considered registered or licensed for a given application if they retired within five years of the applicant’s date of application for registration, and were registered or licensed for at least two years, in good standing, immediately prior to the date of their retirement. 

6. Criminal Record Check 

All applicants must undergo an online criminal record check through the provincial government’s Criminal Record Review Program. Detailed information, including the required access code, is available in the Applicant Portal. 

7. National Police Check(s) 

Applicants must submit original documentation providing the results of a national police check or the equivalent for every jurisdiction in which they resided during the five‐year period immediately before the date of application. If it is not reasonably practicable to obtain such documentation for the applicable jurisdiction, a letter of explanation is required and will go before the Registration Committee.  

For Canadian jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the police or RCMP. For US jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the FBI. For all other jurisdictions, a national check must be completed by the police or an equivalent authority. Each check must be the most comprehensive check available in terms of coverage of records checked.  

Applicants must arrange for completed police check(s) to be sent directly to the College, where possible. The FBI and some police detachments will mail paper record checks directly to the College when the applicant requests that the check is sent to them “c/o CHCPBC” and uses the College’s Vancouver mailing address. In circumstances where the police will only send paper copies to the applicant, applicants should forward the unopened envelope to the College when they receive it.

8. Certificates of Standing  

The College requires verification of licensure and registration status from the following: 

• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a previous or current application for psychology licensure 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a licence to practice another health profession 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant is currently, or was previously, licensed or registered as a psychologist or other health professional. 

The Verification of Licensure and Registration Status form (PDF) must be sent directly to the College from other regulatory bodies/licensing boards. 

Applicants are also expected to request that verifications of status be sent directly to the College for any Certificate of Professional Qualification issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), any present listing with the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers (CRHSPP), and/or any present listing with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSP).  

9. Supervision Plan  

Applicants planning to provide psychological services in BC during the application period, must submit a supervision plan form found in the Application Documents section of the website, cosigned by the Registered Psychologist supervisor, including the name of the supervisor who has agreed to provide supervision and a description of proposed arrangements. The supervisor will complete a short form at the time the applicant completes their last exam to confirm that the supervision took place according to the plan submitted. 

10. English Language Proficiency 

All applicants for registration are required to provide evidence that demonstrates their proficiency in English. Most applicants will meet this requirement if their highest-level psychology degree was completed at an English language university. In these cases, the transcript serves as evidence and no further documentation is required.  

Applicants who did not complete their degree at an English language university can learn more about how they can demonstrate proficiency in English by reading the English Language Proficiency Policy (PDF). 

11. Examinations 

The College uses three different examinations for Registered Psychologist Applicants: the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), the Written Jurisprudence Examination (WJE) and the Oral Examination. After an applicant is notified that their documentation is in order, they will be invited to register for the series of examinations. Applicants may complete the EPPP and the WJE in the order they wish, but they can only proceed to the Oral Examination if they have been successful at both the EPPP and the WJE. 

For more information, please see the Examinations section below. 

 12. Fees 

The fee for making an application can be found in the Psychology Fee Schedule (PDF) of the CHCPBC Bylaws. Applicants will receive instructions on how to complete payments through the online Alinity platform. 

The information in this section is for applicants who: 

• Were educated/practiced as a psychology professional outside of Canada and the US, and 
• Do not hold registration or licensure in another Canadian jurisdiction as the equivalent of this class of Registrant, and 
• Intend to practice psychology in BC and use the title “psychologist” upon becoming registered with CHCPBC. 

The College welcomes psychology professionals who have been educated and practiced outside of Canada and the US and works to fairly and efficiently evaluate all applications to determine if they meet the standards for entry to practice in BC. In BC, the title “psychologist” can only be used by professionals who are registered by CHCPBC, unless specifically exempted by regulation. 

Entry to Practice Standards 

The standard for entry to practice as a Registered Psychologist in British Columbia is completion of a Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) or American Psychological Association (APA) accredited doctoral degree in psychology in residence and a CPA or APA accredited 12-month pre-doctoral internship, or the equivalent. You can find more information about doctoral program and internship requirements in Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). 

Starting the process before arriving in Canada  

You can start the application process while outside Canada, including the following steps:  

• Submit the Registered Psychologist Registration Application with the appropriate fee and required supporting documentation 
• Submit university transcripts 
• Submit credential evaluations 
• Submit police checks 
• Submit proof of English Language Proficiency 
• Complete the Written Jurisprudence Examination (once eligible)  
• Complete the Oral Examination (once eligible) 

Application Requirements

1. Application form

Applicants must complete the Registered Psychologist Registration Application Form found in the Applicant Portal. 

• Step 1: Request access (PDF) to the Applicant Portal 
• Step 2: Log in to the Applicant Portal after receiving your username and password 
• Step 3: Complete your application and upload required items  

2. Criteria for Evaluating Programs of Study and Coursework Requirements 

Applicants from non-CPA/APA-accredited programs must submit a detailed description, in their own words, of how their doctoral program meets each of the criteria outlined in the Registered Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). Applicants must also demonstrate proof of completion of the Coursework Requirements outlined in the Coursework Requirements (Registered Psychologists) policy (PDF). This must be submitted via FORM A–RP Non-Accred Program found in the Applicant Portal. Supporting documentation to confirm all responses in FORM A must also be uploaded to the Applicant Portal. 

3. Pre-doctoral internship 

Applicants who have completed a pre-doctoral internship that was not CPA/APA accredited must submit a detailed description, in their own words, of how the internship meets each of the criteria outlined in Registered Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). This must be submitted via FORM B–RP Non-Accred Internship found in the Applicant Portal. Supporting documentation to confirm all responses in FORM B must also be uploaded to the Applicant Portal. 

4. Verification of Credentials  

Applicants trained outside of Canada and the US must provide documentation showing their degrees have been reviewed by an international credentialing agency acceptable to the Registration Committee and indicating the agency’s evaluation of the equivalency between the applicant’s foreign training and a Canadian degree. CHCPBC will accept education credential assessments from an educational credential assessor designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for Education Credential Assessment. 

5. Transcripts 

Applicants must request final, official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate training to be sent directly from the university to CHCPBC. The transcripts should be electronically sent directly from the degree-granting institution to registration@chcpbc.org.  

Applicants whose transcripts are not in English must submit translated and notarized copies of their transcripts, in addition to the original transcripts. 

6. Declaration of Area of Practice  

For the purposes of registration, applicants must select one area of practice and complete a declaration of competence. A declaration of competence in an area of practice is a declaration by the applicant that they have the appropriate training, education, and experience in that area of psychology to be able to offer the wide range of activities and services within that area. Definitions of the recognized areas of practice are found in Registered Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). 

A declaration in an area of practice should be consistent with the graduate program completed and subsequent internship. If the declared area of practice is different from either what is documented on a transcript or the attestation provided by the program training director, the applicant may be required to document competence in that area. Consistent with other psychology regulatory bodies in North America, the College does not offer specialty licenses to Registered Psychologists in any practice area. 

7. References  

Applicants must identify three referees who are registered/licensed psychologists in good standing for the past two years.  

• One of the referees must be the internship director.  
• All three referees should have supervised the applicant’s current clinical work (work within the five-year period immediately preceding the application).  

For reference purposes, a retired referee will be considered registered or licensed for a given application if they retired within five years of the applicant’s date of application for registration, and were registered or licensed for at least two years, in good standing, immediately prior to the date of their retirement. 

8. Criminal Record Check 

All applicants must undergo an online criminal record check through the provincial government’s Criminal Record Review Program. Detailed information, including the required access code, is available in the Applicant Portal. 

9. National Police Check(s)  

Applicants must submit original documentation providing the results of a national police check or the equivalent for every jurisdiction in which they resided during the five‐year period immediately before the date of application. If it is not reasonably practicable to obtain such documentation for the applicable jurisdiction, a letter of explanation is required and will go before the Registration Committee.  

For Canadian jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the police or RCMP. For US jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the FBI. For all other jurisdictions, a national check must be completed by the police or an equivalent authority. Each check must be the most comprehensive check available in terms of coverage of records checked.  

Applicants must arrange for completed police check(s) to be sent directly to the College, where possible. The FBI and some police detachments will mail paper record checks directly to the College when the applicant requests that the check is sent to them “c/o CHCPBC” and uses the College’s Vancouver mailing address. In circumstances where the police will only send paper copies to the applicant, applicants should forward the unopened envelope to the College when they receive it. 

10. Certificates of Standing  

The College requires verification of licensure and registration status from the following: 

• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a previous or current application for psychology licensure 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a licence to practice another health profession 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant is currently, or was previously, licensed or registered as a psychologist or other health professional. 

The Verification of Licensure and Registration Status form (PDF) must be sent directly to the College from other regulatory bodies/ licensing boards. 

Applicants are also expected to request that verifications of status be sent directly to the College for any Certificate of Professional Qualification issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), any present listing with the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers (CRHSPP), and/or any present listing with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSP).  

11. Supervision Plan  

Applicants currently providing, or planning to provide, psychological services in BC during the application period, must submit a supervision plan form found in the Application Documents section of the website, cosigned by the Registered Psychologist supervisor, including the name of the supervisor who has agreed to provide supervision and a description of proposed arrangements. The supervisor will complete a short form at the time the applicant completes their last exam to confirm that the supervision took place according to the plan submitted. 

12. Examinations 

The College uses three different examinations for Registered Psychologist applicants: the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), the Written Jurisprudence Examination (WJE) and the Oral Examination. After an applicant is notified that their documentation is in order, they will be invited to register for the series of examinations. Applicants may complete the EPPP and the WJE in the order they wish, but they can only proceed to the Oral Examination if they have been successful at both the EPPP and the WJE. 

For more information, please see the Examinations section below. 

13. Fee  

The fee for making an application can be found in the Psychology Fee Schedule (PDF) of the CHCPBC Bylaws. Applicants will receive instructions on how to complete payments through the online Alinity platform. 

The information in this section is for applicants who: 

• Are currently licensed or registered for active practice in another Canadian jurisdiction, as the equivalent of a CHCPBC Registered Psychologist registrant, and 
• Are not subject to any practice limitations, restrictions or conditions in another jurisdiction, and 
• Are planning to provide psychological services in BC, for a period of up to 15 consecutive calendar days in a calendar year, for the purpose of: 
  • acting as an expert witness, 
  • conducting a psychological assessment, 
  • participating in, or acting as an instructor for, a course, conference, or other time-limited educational event, or 
  • another temporary purpose acceptable to the Registration Committee, including continuity of care or cross jurisdictional families/couples services. 

The Temporary (visitor) Registration is specifically intended for individuals who are providing psychological services in BC on a time limited basis for a purpose meeting the criteria specified in the CHCPBC Bylaws. It is NOT intended for individuals who seek to practice in BC in an ongoing way. Such individuals must apply for registration as a Registered Psychologist based on being concurrently registered in a Canadian jurisdiction or based on their licensing in the US. 

Temporary (visitor) Registrants may only use the titles “visiting psychologist” and “registered visiting psychologist.” 

Continuity of Care

If an applicant requests temporary (visitor) registration for the purpose of providing temporary non-emergency related services to an existing client who is moving to or temporarily located in BC, on the basis that it would be clinically ill-advised to stop providing services to the client or to transfer the client’s care to a registrant of CHCPBC, the applicant may be granted temporary (visitor) registration for a period longer than 15 consecutive days, on the condition that the applicant’s practice in BC will be limited to providing services to that existing client on a maximum of 30 non-consecutive days over a 12-month period, and provided that the applicant meets all other applicable conditions and requirements for temporary (visitor) registration. 

Cross Jurisdictional Families/Couples Services

If an applicant requests temporary (visitor) registration for the purpose of providing temporary non-emergency related services to a family/couple located in BC and in another Canadian or US jurisdiction, the applicant may be granted temporary (visitor) registration for a period longer than 15 consecutive days on the condition that the applicant’s practice in BC will be limited to providing services to that family/couple a maximum of 30 non-consecutive days over a 12-month period, and provided that the applicant meets all other applicable conditions and requirements for temporary (visitor) registration. 

Application Requirements

1. Application form. 

Applicants must complete the Temporary (visitor) Application Form found on the applicant portal and upload other required items.  

• Step 1: Request access (PDF) to the Applicant Portal 
• Step 2: Log in to the Applicant Portal after receiving your username and password 
• Step 3: Complete your application and upload required items  

2. Verification of Licensure and Registration Status

The College requires a verification of licensure and registration status from the jurisdiction in which the applicant is registered.

Applicants can provide one of the following:

• The regulator in the other jurisdiction sends the Verification of Licensure and Registration Status form (PDF) directly to CHCPBC,

 Or 

2. Publicly available evidence on the other jurisdiction’s website that includes any current limits and conditions and whether or not the registration is current/active.

3. Criminal Record Check 

All applicants must undergo an online criminal record check through the provincial government’s Criminal Record Review Program. Detailed information, including the required access code, is available in the Applicant Portal. 

4. Fees  

The fee for making an application can be found in the Psychology Fee Schedule (PDF) of the CHCPBC Bylaws. Applicants will receive instructions on how to complete payments through the online Alinity platform. 

The information in this section is for applicants who: 

• Graduated from a master’s degree in psychology from a Canadian or US school, and 
• Completed a school psychology internship, and  
• Have not yet registered to practice in Canada. 

Changes to the Psychologists Regulation established the restricted activities of psychology diagnosis and school psychology diagnosis for registered psychologists and school psychologists respectively.

Only CHCPBC registrants may make a psychology diagnosis or a school psychology diagnosis. This change is in the interest of public safety and aligns the services provided by school psychologists with the requirements and expectations of other professionals regulated under the HPA. See the revisions to the Psychologists Regulation (PDF). 

Application Requirements

1. Application form 

Applicants must complete the School Psychologist Registration Application Form found in the Applicant Portal and upload other required items. 

• Step 1: Request access (PDF) to the Applicant Portal. 
• Step 2: Log in to the Applicant Portal after receiving your username and password. 
• Step 3: Complete your application and upload required items.  

 2. Criteria for Evaluating Programs of Study and Coursework Requirements 

Applicants must submit a detailed description, in their own words, of how their program meets each of the criteria outlined in School Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). This must be submitted via FORM C–SP Program found in the “Forms” section of the Applicant Portal. Supporting documentation to confirm all responses in FORM C must also be uploaded to the Applicant Portal. 

Applicants who currently hold certification by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) are deemed to have met the coursework requirements. Applicants who are NASP certified should request verification of their certificate to be sent directly from NASP to the College. 

 3. Internship  

Applicants must submit a detailed description, in their own words, of how their school psychology internship meets each of the criteria outlined in School Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). Applicants must also demonstrate proof of completion of the Coursework Requirements outlined in the Coursework Requirements (School Psychologists) policy (PDF). This must be submitted via the FORM D–SP Internship found in the “Forms” section of the Applicant Portal. Supporting documentation to confirm all responses in FORM D must also be uploaded to the Applicant Portal. 

 4. Transcripts 

Applicants must request final, official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate training to be sent directly from the university to CHCPBC. The transcripts should be electronically sent directly from the degree-granting institution to registration@chcpbc.org.  

Applicants who have completed all the requirements for their degree but who have not convocated by the date of the application can provide a letter from the senate of the university, director of clinical training of the program, or other designated official from the department of psychology, attesting that the applicant has completed all the requirements of the degree. An original transcript indicating that the degree has been awarded is required prior to registration and placement on the College Register. The specific program completed (e.g., school psychology) must be listed on the transcript or a letter must be sent directly from the department chair or training director to the College attesting that a specific program was completed by the applicant. 

 5. Declaration of Area of Practice  

All applicants for this registration class will be required to declare School Psychology as their area of practice. A declaration of competence in an area of practice is a declaration by the applicant that they have the appropriate training, education, and experience in that area of psychology to be able to offer the wide range of activities and services within that area. The definition of School Psychology is found in the School Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF)

6. References  

Applicants must identify three referees who are either registered/licensed psychologists or certified school psychologists who have been in good standing for the past two years. All three references should have supervised the applicant’s current clinical work (work within the ten-year period immediately preceding the application). 

Applicants who are unable to meet this requirement should refer to the Referees (School Psychologists) policy (PDF) for more information. 

The College will correspond directly with referees. They will be sent supporting materials and a reference form to complete and return directly to CHCPBC. 

 7. Criminal Record Check  

All applicants must undergo an online criminal record check through the provincial government’s Criminal Record Review Program. Detailed information, including the required access code, is available in the Applicant Portal.  

 8. National Police Check(s)  

Applicants must submit original documentation providing the results of a national police check or the equivalent for every jurisdiction in which the applicant resided during the five‐year period immediately before the date of application, if it is not reasonably practicable to obtain such documentation for the applicable Jurisdiction, a letter of explanation is required and will go before the Registration Committee.  

For Canadian jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the police or RCMP. For US jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the FBI. For all other jurisdictions, a national check must be completed by the police or an equivalent authority. Each check must be the most comprehensive check available in terms of coverage of records checked.  

Applicants must arrange for completed police check(s) to be sent directly to the College. The FBI and some police detachments will mail paper record checks directly to the College when the applicant requests that the check is sent to them “c/o CHCPBC” and uses the College’s Vancouver mailing address. In circumstances where the police will only send paper copies to the applicant, applicants should forward the unopened envelope to the College when they receive it.  

 9. Certificate of Standing 

The College requires verification of licensure and registration status from the following: 

• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a previous or current application for psychology licensure 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a license to practice another health profession 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant is currently, or was previously, licensed or registered as a psychologist or other health professional. 

The Verification of Licensure and Registration Status form (PDF) must be sent directly to the College from other regulatory bodies/licensing boards. 

Applicants who are certified by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) must request that verification of certification be sent directly from the organization to the College. 

 10. Supervision Plan 

Applicants currently providing, or planning to provide, psychological services in BC during the application period, must submit the Supervision Plan form found in the Application Documents section of the website, cosigned by the Registered Psychologist/School Psychologist supervisor, including the name of the supervisor who has agreed to provide supervision and a description of proposed arrangements. The supervisor will complete a short form at the time the applicant completes their last exam to confirm that the supervision took place according to the plan submitted.  

 11. English Language Proficiency 

All applicants for registration are required to provide evidence that demonstrates their proficiency in English. Most applicants will meet this requirement if their highest-level psychology degree was completed at an English language university. In these cases, the transcript serves as evidence and no further documentation is required.  

Applicants who did not complete their degree at an English language university can learn more about how they can demonstrate proficiency in English by reading the English Language Proficiency Policy (PDF). 

 12. Examinations 

The College uses three different examinations for School Psychologist applicants: the Praxis School Psychologist Examination, the Written Jurisprudence Examination (WJE) and the Readiness for Practice Examination (RPE). After an applicant is notified that their documentation is in order, they will be invited to register for the series of examinations. Applicants may complete the Praxis and WJE in the order they wish, but they can only proceed to the RPE if they have been successful at both the Praxis and the WJE. 

For more information, please see the Examinations section below. 

 13. Fees 

The fee for making an application can be found in the Psychology Fee Schedule (PDF) of the CHCPBC Bylaws. Applicants will receive instructions on how to complete payments through the online Alinity platform. 

The information in this section is for applicants who: 

• Were educated/practiced as a school psychology professional outside of Canada and the US, and 
• Do not hold registration or licensure in another Canadian jurisdiction as the equivalent of this class of Registrant. 
• Intend to practice school psychology in BC and use the title “school psychologist” upon becoming registered with CHCPBC. 

Starting the process before arriving in Canada  

You can start the application process while outside Canada, including the following steps:  

• Submit the School Psychologist Registration Application with the appropriate fee and required supporting documentation 
• Submit university transcripts 
• Submit credential evaluations 
• Submit police checks 
• Submit proof of English Language Proficiency 
• Complete the Examinations 

Application Requirements

1. Application form 

Applicants must complete the School Psychologist Registration Application Form found in the Applicant Portal and upload other required items. 

• Step 1: Request access (PDF) to the Applicant Portal. 
• Step 2: Log in to the Applicant Portal after receiving your username and password. 
• Step 3: Complete your application and upload required items.  

2. Criteria for Evaluating Programs of Study and Coursework Requirements

Applicants must submit a detailed description, in their own words, of how their program meets each of the criteria outlined in School Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). Applicants must also demonstrate proof of completion of the Coursework Requirements outlined in the Coursework Requirements (School Psychologists) policy (PDF). This must be submitted via FORM C–SP Program found in the “Forms” section of the Applicant Portal. Supporting documentation to confirm all responses in FORM C must also be uploaded to the Applicant Portal. 

Applicants who currently hold certification by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) are deemed to have met the coursework requirements. Applicants who are NASP certified should request verification of their certificate to be sent directly from NASP to the College. 

3. Internship 

Applicants must submit a detailed description, in their own words, of how their school psychology internship meets each of the criteria outlined in School Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). Applicants must also demonstrate proof of completion of the Coursework Requirements outlined in the Coursework Requirements (School Psychologists) policy (PDF). This must be submitted via the FORM D–SP Internship found in the “Forms” section of the Applicant Portal. Supporting documentation to confirm all responses in FORM D must also be uploaded to the Applicant Portal. 

4. Transcripts 

Applicants must request final, official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate training to be sent directly from the university to CHCPBC. The transcripts should be electronically sent directly from the degree-granting institution to: registration@chcpbc.org.  

5. Verification and Translation of Credentials  

Applicants who were educated outside of Canada and the US must provide documentation showing their degrees have been reviewed by an international credentialing agency acceptable to the Registration Committee and indicating the agency’s evaluation of the equivalency between the applicant’s foreign education and a Canadian degree. CHCPBC will accept education credential assessments from an educational credential assessor designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for Education Credential Assessment. 

6. Declaration of Area of Practice  

All applicants for this registration class will be required to declare School Psychology as their area of practice. A declaration of competence in an area of practice is a declaration by the applicant that they have the appropriate training, education, and experience in that area of psychology to be able to offer the wide range of activities and services within that area. The definition of School Psychology is found in the School Psychologist Applicants: Information on Academic and Internship Equivalency Frameworks (PDF). 

7. References  

Applicants must identify three referees who are either registered/licensed psychologists or certified school psychologists who have been in good standing for the past two years. All three references should have supervised the applicant’s current clinical work (work within the ten-year period immediately preceding the application). 

Applicants who are unable to meet this requirement should refer to the Referees (School Psychologists) policy (PDF) for more information. 

The College will correspond directly with referees. They will be sent supporting materials and a reference form to complete and return directly to CHCPBC. 

8. Criminal Record Check 

All applicants must undergo an online criminal record check through the provincial government’s Criminal Record Review Program. Detailed information, including the required access code, is available in the Applicant Portal.  

9. National Police Check(s)  

Applicants must submit original documentation providing the results of a national police check or the equivalent for every jurisdiction in which the applicant resided during the five‐year period immediately before the date of application. If it is not reasonably practicable to obtain such documentation for the applicable jurisdiction, a letter of explanation is required and will go before the Registration Committee.  

For Canadian jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the police or RCMP. For US jurisdictions, the check must be completed by the FBI. For all other jurisdictions, a national check must be completed by the police or an equivalent authority. Each check must be the most comprehensive check available in terms of coverage of records checked.  

Applicants must arrange for completed police check(s) to be sent directly to the College. The FBI and some police detachments will mail paper record checks directly to the College when the applicant requests that the check is sent to them “c/o CHCPBC” and uses the College’s Vancouver mailing address. In circumstances where the police will only send paper copies to the applicant, applicants should forward the unopened envelope to the College when they receive it.  

10. Certificate of Standing 

The College requires verification of licensure and registration status from the following: 

• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a previous or current application for psychology licensure 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant has a license to practice another health profession 
• All jurisdictions in which an applicant is currently, or was previously, licensed or registered as a psychologist or other health professional. 

The Verification of Licensure and Registration Status form (PDF) must be sent directly to the College from other regulatory bodies/ licensing boards. 

Applicants who are certified by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) must request that verification of certification be sent directly from the organization to the College. 

11. Supervision Plan 

Applicants currently providing, or planning to provide, psychological services in BC during the application period, must submit the Supervision Plan form found in the Application Documents section of the website, cosigned by the Registered Psychologist/ School Psychologist supervisor, including the name of the supervisor who has agreed to provide supervision and a description of proposed arrangements. The supervisor will complete a short form at the time the applicant completes their last exam to confirm that the supervision took place according to the plan submitted. 

12. English Language Proficiency 

All applicants for registration are required to provide evidence that demonstrates their proficiency in English. Most applicants will meet this requirement if their highest-level psychology degree was completed at an English language university. In these cases, the transcript serves as evidence and no further documentation is required.  

Applicants who did not complete their degree at an English language university can learn more about how they can demonstrate proficiency in English by reading the English Language Proficiency Policy (PDF). 

13. Examinations 

The College uses three different examinations for School Psychologist applicants: the Praxis School Psychologist Examination, the Written Jurisprudence Examination (WJE) and the Readiness for Practice Examination (RPE). After an applicant is notified that their documentation is in order, they will be invited to register for the series of examinations. Applicants may complete the Praxis and WJE in the order they wish, but they can only proceed to the RPE if they have been successful at both the Praxis and the WJE. 

For more information, please see the Examinations section below. 

14. Fees 

The fee for making an application can be found in the Psychology Fee Schedule (PDF) of the CHCPBC Bylaws. Applicants will receive instructions on how to complete payments through the online Alinity platform. 

Registered Psychologist Documents

• Schedule 7, Table 2: Areas of Psychology Practice (PDF)
• Acceptable Forms of ID
• Verification of Licensure and Registration Status Form (PDF)
• Supervision Plan (PDF)
• About Telepsychology (PDF)

School Psychologist Documents

• Acceptable Forms of ID
• Verification of Licensure and Registration Status Form (PDF)
• Supervision Plan (PDF)

Applications expire two years after the application start date, which is communicated to applicants at the start of their application period. This is subject to any extension(s) the College may grant, upon a request for an extension from an applicant, with payment of an extension fee, as detailed below.

Applicants may, in writing, request a four-month extension of the two-year application period. Such requests must be made at least one month prior to the expiry date. Applicants may be granted a maximum of three extensions. The fee for each extension request is set out in the Fee Schedule (PDF), posted on the College’s website.

This fee may be waived, and/or the extension period extended, 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.  Currently, the College does not grant waivers on the basis of recent maternity or paternity.

General information about psychologist examinations

• Examinations – Registered Psychologist Applicants
• Examinations – School Psychologist Applicants

To request to take one of the examinations, please contact exams@chcpbc.org with the correct form completed, after considering the following:

1. Are you looking to apply as a registered psychologist or school psychologist?
2. Which exam you are requesting to take?

Registered Psychologist Requests

• EPPP
• WJE
• Oral Examination*

School Psychologist Requests

• WJE
• RPE

*Oral Examination (for Registered Psychologist applicants)

The Oral Examination assesses the knowledge, readiness, and competence of the applicant to practice generally, and in particular, in the area of practice declared by the applicant. This examination is typically offered three times each calendar year.

Next exam

• June 2 – July 11, 2025 (online)
• Deadline for sign up: May 7, 2025

The college must receive both the fee and form by the deadline for sign-up.

Please note that the exact examination dates are dependent on examiner availability and are not set until after the deadline for exam sign up has passed. Applicants will be notified of their scheduled date and time via email.

A former applicant may re-apply within two years of an application expiring or closing by submitting a new application form and fee. The re-application will carry forward the following documentation from the previous application: 1) references, 2) transcripts, 3) Written Jurisprudence Examination (WJE) scores, and 4) Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) scores (if applicable).

Certificates of professional qualifications, all criminal record checks, and at least one reference must be current (i.e., the referee must have had contact with the applicant within five years immediately preceding the date of application).  Re-applications will be reviewed according to the registration requirements in place at the time the applicant re-applies.

Regardless of what documents an applicant must re-submit for application purposes, the College may rely on previous information provided by any applicant, at its discretion, for any purpose consistent with its objectives, including assessing any application for registration and dealing with any post-registration disciplinary matter.

• Area of Practice Declaration 
• Application Expiry, Extension and Reapplication
• Continuing Competency Program Requirements 
• Coursework Requirements (Registered Psychologists) 
• Coursework Requirements (School Psychologists)
• English Language Proficiency 
• Examinations (Registered Psychologists) 
• Examinations (School Psychologists)
• Examinations – Accommodations
• Oral Examiners 
• Referees (Registered Psychologists) 
• Referees (School Psychologists) 
• Temporary (Visitor) Registration 
• Transcript and Credential Assessment 
• Verification of Registration (Temporary (Visitor) Registrants)