Regulating Psychotherapy

Title, scope of practice, and restricted activities (if any) that may be used or performed by psychotherapy practitioners, on and after November 29, 2027, will be prescribed in regulation by the BC Ministry of Health. Part 10 of the Health and Care Professionals Regulation, not currently in force, will include these details.

CHCPBC will be responsible for regulating psychotherapy in the public interest by implementing and complying with all regulations and legislation.

Once the regulation prescribed by the Ministry of Health is signed, CHCPBC must apply the regulation to establish the minimum entry-to-practice requirements (general and profession-specific eligibility standards) and Ethics and Practice Standards to regulate the psychotherapy profession in the public interest. CHCPBC must then apply these standards to ensure that individuals who wish to practice psychotherapy in BC meet these standards. This includes granting initial licensure, conducting annual licensure renewal, investigating complaints, and overseeing quality practice activities.

It is important to note that it is the Ministry of Health that prescribes all aspects of the Health and Care Professionals Regulation, which will include the title, scope of practice, and restricted activities, if any, that may be used or performed by psychotherapy practitioners.

Individuals who wish to practise psychotherapy must be licensed by CHCPBC by November 29, 2027, as mandated by the Ministry of Health. CHCPBC will prepare to accept applications for licensure in advance of this date and will share more information on the process once it is available.

General eligibility standards for full licensure with CHCPBC are available in the College Bylaws and will be applicable to the psychotherapy profession.

The specific eligibility standards (entry-to-practice requirements, including education requirements and examination) for psychotherapy have not yet been established. These requirements will be informed by the regulation for psychotherapy determined by the Ministry of Health and in consideration of other Canadian jurisdictions already regulating psychotherapy practitioners to enable labour mobility, where relevant and applicable.

CHCPBC will publish licensure requirements as part of the Bylaws’ amendment and consultation process once the requirements are determined. CHCPBC will provide adequate notice to applicants regarding documentation that will need to be submitted and associated fees for application, registration, and renewal.

The Ministry of Health’s regulation for psychotherapy will provide more information on what services and activities may only be performed by psychotherapy practitioners and other regulated health professionals. In the absence of the regulation, CHCPBC cannot share what services or activity may be performed by unregulated professionals at this time. More information will be provided on this page once it is available.

In general, education, coaching, crisis intervention, and psychosocial support are not considered psychotherapy.

When the Ministry of Health creates regulation for professions, it is because the practice of the professions introduces a significant element of risk to the public. The primary purpose of regulation is not to enhance credibility or recognition of health professions, rather, it is to ensure that patients and clients who seek these services have a level of assurance that the professional has the appropriate knowledge, training, and experience to provide these services safely.

It is important to note that, generally, all healthcare services carry some degree of risk. A service not being regulated does not diminish its value or importance. Rather, it means that, based on the criteria set out in legislation, it has not met the specific threshold that triggers the need for regulation. Similarly, providers who are not regulated often hold important knowledge, training, and experience in their field. The key distinction that regulation introduces is consistency and standardization: it ensures that everyone practicing under a regulated title meets the same defined requirements.

Employers, third party payers, and other organizations may require health professionals to be regulated as a requirement for employment and insurance coverage. CHCPBC has no influence in these decisions as they are not within our mandate to regulate in the public interest.