The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) requires all regulatory health Colleges to administer a mandatory Quality Assurance Program. As defined in the Health Professions Procedural Code of the RHPA, the program is “to assure the quality of practice of the profession and to promote continuing evaluation, competence and improvement among the members.” Under Ontario Regulation 209/94 to the Psychology Act, 1991, the Quality Assurance Program of the College of Psychologists of Ontario has the following components:
- Self-assessment
- Peer and practice assessment
- Continuing education and professional development
- Mechanisms for the College to monitor members’ participation in, and compliance with, the program
The need for safe and competent psychological services has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and, although the experiences of the past two years has introduced many challenges for all of us, the legislated requirements for Quality Assurance activities by the College remain as relevant as ever.
The College recognizes that, in some cases, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to engage in in-person QA related activities. If members are unable to meet any of the QA requirements for reasons related to the pandemic, they are asked to contact qualityassurance@cpo.on.ca, describing the specific obstacles preventing completion of the requirements.
Members with an “even” registration number, or those holding a Certificate of Registration Authorizing Interim Autonomous Practice or a Certificate of Registration Authorizing Supervised Practice may be required to complete one or two components of the Quality Assurance Program this year. Please see below for a description of the Self-Assessment Guide and Professional Development Plan (SAG) and the Continuing Professional Development Program (CPD) to determine which component(s) of the Quality Assurance Program you must complete this year.
Self Assessment Guide and Continuing Professional Development Plan (SAG)
The Self-Assessment Guide and Continuing Professional Development Plan, and the online Declaration of Completion, are now available for completion this year by members with “even registration numbers” and all members with Certificates Authorizing Supervised or Interim Autonomous Practice.
Self-Assessment Guide and Continuing Professional Development Plan
Members with the following certificates are required to make the Declaration of Completion for the SAG by June 30, 2022
- Autonomous Practice Certificate – Even registration number
- Interim Autonomous Practice Certificate – All
- Supervised Practice Certificate – All
- Academic Certificate – Even registration number
- Inactive Certificate – Even registration number
The Self-Assessment Guide and Continuing Professional Development Plan (SAG) form is available on the College website in the Quality Assurance section – Click Here.
After completing the SAG form please follow these instructions to submit the SAG declaration:
- Log into your account for College Membership Services.
- Select the “CLICK HERE TO SIGN SAG & CPD DECLARATIONS.”
- This will take you to a page where your SAG Declaration is displayed in a purple box on the left hand side
- Click the checkbox that applies to you and click “submit”
- If the declaration has been submitted successfully, you will receive a confirmation email (Please check your junk folder for this email).You are not required to send in the fully completed SAG if you submit your Declaration by June 30, 2022.
Continuing Professional Development Program (CPD)
Members with “even” registration numbers are required to make an online Declaration of Completion of the Continuing Professional Development Program requirements for the 2020-2022 CPD cycle this year. The declaration for CPD should be made no later than June 30, 2022.
All members, except for those holding a Retired Certificate of Registration, are required to complete the requirements of the Mandatory CPD program every two years and are required to make a Declaration that they have completed the requirements at the end of every two-year cycle. The two-year cycle begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 two years later.
Members with the following certificates are required to make the Declaration of Completed for the CPD program by June 30, 2022:
- Autonomous Practice Certificate – Even registration number
- Interim Autonomous Practice Certificate – Even registration number
- Supervised Practice Certificate – Even registration number
- Academic Certificate – Even registration number
- Inactive Certificate – Even registration number
We recognize that the social distancing required to avoid transmission of COVID-19 may mean delays in some opportunities for members to participate in CPD activities that involve face to face interaction. We ask that members do not place themselves, their families, or members of the community at any risk out of concern about collecting adequate credits for the current CPD cycle. If you are unable to obtain all of the required credits for reasons related to the pandemic, please complete the Alternate Declaration form, which is provided in the same location as the regular form.
Information about documenting your CPD requirements is available on the College website here.
After completing the form, please follow these instructions to submit the CPD declaration:
- Log into your account for College Membership Services.
- Select the “CLICK HERE TO SIGN SAG & CPD DECLARATIONS.”
- This will take you to a page where your CPD Declaration is displayed in a purple box on the right-hand side
- Click the checkbox that applies to you and click “submit”
- If the declaration has been submitted successfully, you will receive a confirmation email (Please check your junk folder for this email). You are not required to send in CPD documents if you submit your Declaration by June 30, 2022.
The College’s current online CPD credit tracking system will not available for use following the end of the 2020-2022 CPD cycle. A new system is under development but not yet ready for use. Further information will be provided to members as soon as possible. In the meantime, a form which members may use to keep track of their CPD credits on their own personal devices is available on the College website and provided here.
Please note there are separate declarations for SAG and CPD. Please ensure you have submitted the correct declarations.
If you have any questions or if there are extenuating circumstances which may impact on your ability to complete the form and make the Declaration please don’t hesitate to contact Ms. Madeleine Lee at qualityassurance@cpo.on.ca