The Council of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts met virtually on December 13, 2024. Information provided to members of Council for their review in anticipation of their deliberations and decision-making is posted on the homepage of College website a week in advance of meetings. Following the meeting, this information is archived on the website in the Council Meeting Materials Reference Library.
POLICY ISSUES
College Policies (Amendments)
Council has approved amendments to the following College policies:
- Policy II – 5(ii): Peer Assisted Review: Criteria for Exemption or Deferral Policy to account for the registration of Behaviour Analysts with the College, such that members who have held a Certificate of Registration Authorizing Autonomous Practice for a total of less than two years would be excluded from the Peer Assisted Review selection process.
- Policy II – 2(vi): Vulnerable Sector Screening Policy for Behaviour Analysts, expanding the Criminal Background Check and Vulnerable Sector Screen requirements to include psychology registrants.
- Policy – II – 8(i): Finance and Audit Committee Terms of Reference/Role to include addition of one (1) College member in the Committee’s composition
Changes in Registration
Council also approved changes to College’s registration processes, in alignment with the feedback provided by the Office of the Fairness Commissioner (OFC):
- Review of entry-to-practice registration examinations, with a focus on modernization and “right-touch” regulation approach particularly the utility of the Oral Examination in its current form.
- Revision of the Registration Guidelines to remove the maximum number of attempts permitted to pass registration examinations (psychology and applied behaviour analysis).
- Change in administration of the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination (JEE), transitioning it to a low-stakes format with the plan for it to become an on-demand, learning module and no-fail examination.
BUSINESS ISSUES
Membership Fees
- Cap on Fees for Dual Certificate Holders (Psychology and ABA Registrants)
At its September 27, 2024 meeting, Council passed a motion to circulate amendments to By-law 18: Fees to obtain feedback and comments from members. The proposed amendments to By-law 18: Fees, specifically on Section 18.5.2. ensures that annual membership fees for dual certificate holders, regardless of the class of each certificate, do not exceed $1,200.
Following closing of the consultation on December 2, 2024, Council reviewed all responses and approve amendments to By-law 18: Fees.
- Waived Fees for Interim Autonomous Practice Certificate for Manitoba Registrants via Winnipeg Health Authority – Consultation On-going
The proposed amendment seeks to waive application fees and annual dues for those psychology professionals working on inter-professional teams of the Winnipeg Health Authority providing publicly funded telepsychology services to a specific region of Northwestern Ontario (Interim Autonomous Practice certificate under the Interjurisdictional Telepsychology MOU).
Comments on the consultation are requested by Monday, February 17, 2025. The proposed amendments and a feedback submission form is available here.
OTHER BUSINESS
The next meeting of Council will be held in-person on March 21, 2025.