Behaviour Analyst Transitional Route 2: Section D- Registration Process

REGISTRATION GUIDELINES

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS

The forms needed when applying for a Certificate of Registration Authorizing Autonomous Practice as a Behaviour Analyst using Transitional Route #2 are found on the College’s web site in the Resources section.

• Transitional Route 2 Application for Certificate of Registration as a Behaviour Analyst Authorizing Autonomous Practice (the application form);
• Attestation Forms
• Peer Assessment Form

The application form is completed online and may be printed for your records. The application fee of $230 CAD may be paid online.

ATTESTATION FORMS (ATTESTATION FORM A/B, ATTESTATION FORM C*) AND PEER ASSESSMENT FORM

Attestation Forms

The Attestation forms, labelled ‘Attestation Form A/B’ and ‘Attestation Form C’ must be filled out by the applicant’s attestor and signed by both the attestor and the applicant. These forms may be submitted along with the Transitional Route 2 application form or submitted separately either by email or regular mail.

*Attestation Form C is required for applicants with more than 10 years of experience working within the scope of practice of applied behaviour analysis, but who have had no formal, graduate-level education in behaviour analysis.

Peer Assessment Form

A peer assessment is a requirement for applicants with more than 10 years of experience working within the scope of practice of applied behaviour analysis, but who have had no formal, graduate-level education in behaviour analysis. The Peer Assessment may be conducted in-person or virtually (any confidential documentation must be shared via a secure platform, and either anonymized or with the consent of the client). The Peer Assessment form must be filled out by the applicant’s peer assessor and signed by both the assessor and the applicant. This form may be submitted along with the Transitional Route 2 application form or submitted separately either by email or regular mail.

In addition to the application form, Attestation form(s), and Peer Assessment form, the following instructions outline the additional required documents in the application process.

REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR TRANSITONAL REGISTRATION ROUTE #2

The non-exemptible registration requirements for applicants applying under Transitional Route #2 are found in Section A and Section B of the Guidelines below. Please carefully review the information below which will assist you in determining whether you are eligible to register under this registration route. Please note that the College cannot fully determine whether an applicant will be accepted until an application has been reviewed. All applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

An applicant who cannot provide evidence of required minimum experience and competence to practice cannot proceed in the registration process using this transitional route and may apply for a Certificate of Registration for a Behaviour Analyst Authorizing Supervised Practice using the Entry-Level Registration Route.

Section A:  Mandatory- Evidence of Current Practice as a Behaviour Analyst

1. Evidence of Current Practice as a Behaviour Analyst:  Applicants must provide evidence that they were practising ABA within the statutory scope of practice of the profession at any time within the three years prior to July 1, 2024, the date the Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act, 2021 was proclaimed;

AND

• Evidence of 1500 practice currency hours in Canada, or in a jurisdiction outside of Canada that regulates Behaviour Analysts, prior to applying for registration:  Applicants must also prove that they practised in Canada, or in a jurisdiction outside of Canada that regulates Behaviour Analysts, within the statutory scope of practice of the profession a minimum of 1500 hours within the four years prior to submitting their application. For example, if an applicant submits their application on May 1, 2024, the Registrar will consider relevant experience completed between May 1, 2020, and April 30, 2024.

AND

• The applicant is competent to practice as a Behaviour Analyst responsible for independent clinical decision making.

Section B:  Mandatory- Evidence of Competence to Practice

1. Evidence of Practice Experience: Applicants will provide evidence of experience practising the profession competently.  Information provided in Section A will be considered here, in addition to experience above and beyond experience evidenced in Section A. 

AND

• Education in Behaviour Analysis:  Applicants will provide evidence of formal education, at a minimum master’s level, in behaviour analysis.  Applicants practising the profession for more than 10 years, but have not had formal education in the profession, may provide evidence of competent practise to the Registrar or the Registration Committee by the satisfactory completion of a peer assessment which includes direct observation of the applicant’s work.

The College will only consider formal education in applied behaviour analysis completed at the master’s level or higher. Post-secondary coursework or coursework that is not at the master’s level or higher does not count towards the formal education requirement.

Section C:  Optional-Additional Evidence Verifying Competence to Practise as a Behaviour Analyst

Applicants who cannot provide the minimum evidence in Section B, may provide additional evidence of experience and competence as a Behaviour Analyst.  Behaviour Analysts practise in various settings and may engage in other activities within the profession, which may also be recognized by the College.  Categories of activities within the profession, outlined in Section C, below, provide opportunities for experienced Behaviour Analysts to provide evidence of their additional prior learning and experience. 

EVIDENCE OF CURRENT EXPERIENCE PRACTISING THE PROFESSION OF APPLIED BEHAVIOUR ANALYSIS

Section A-Mandatory

• An applicant must provide evidence of current practice in Applied Behaviour Analysis within the three years prior to proclamation AND evidence of a minimum of 1500 hours of practise in Canada within the four (4) years prior to applying for registration with the College.
• Acceptable supporting documentation is described below for each category.  However, the Registration Committee has the right to request further information to verify practice experience and competence.

SECTION A: Current Experience in ABA

Acceptable Supporting Documentation

1.  Practising as a Behaviour Analyst: (i)  within the 3 years prior to July 1, 2024, AND (ii)  a minimum of 1500 hours in Canada, or in a jurisdiction outside of Canada that regulates Behaviour Analysts, within the 4 years prior to applying to the College. The practice must be clearly within the scope of practice of the profession while providing services directly to clients and/or while supervising others in the provision of services, which involve clinical decision-making responsibility for the services provided.

1. A chronological CV which includes the applicant’s history practising within the scope of practice of the profession, with start and finish dates for each listed position. AND 2. Attestation A Form* (one or more), from an appropriate attestor, which is someone who: 1. Holds one of the following professional credentials: Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA or BCBA-D), Registered Behaviour Analyst in Ontario (after July 1, 2024) or a psychologist or psychological associate, registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario who has expertise in behaviour analysis, and, 2. Has observed the applicant in their practice and can attest to the applicant’s current experience and competence to practice within the scope of practice of the profession, including clinical decision-making.  Additional attestations from insurance or government program provider, referral source, etc., may attest to the applicant’s experience in practice. *This form is available to download in the Resources section of the website.

The College has developed a guideline for applicants describing activities that are deemed acceptable as practice currency hours and as well as those activities that will not be counted towards this requirement.  Evidence of Current Practice of the Profession can be found in Appendix H of the Registration Guidelines.

EVIDENCE OF COMPETENCE TO PRACTICE AS A BEHAVIOUR ANALYST-SCORING SYSTEM

A minimum of 50 points must be achieved in the following section(s) for an applicant to challenge the OEPPABA.  An applicant who does not achieve a minimum of 50 points cannot proceed in the registration process using this transitional route.

• Before proceeding to Section B, an applicant must be able to provide acceptable evidence of current practice in the profession as described in Section A. 
• In Section B, applicants will provide evidence of further practice experience (if any) and education. 
  • Applicants, practising the profession for fewer than 10 years, must provide evidence of education related to behaviour analysis or in a related field. 
  • Applicants who have practised the profession for more than 10 years, and who have no formal education in behaviour analysis or a related field, may provide evidence of competence through the satisfactory completion of a peer assessment. 
  • Applicants who do not achieve a minimum of 50 points in Section B, may accumulate additional points in Section C. 

ASSIGNMENT OF POINTS

Minimum number of points required to be eligible to write the OEPPABA is 50

Points are assigned based on an applicant’s evidence of practice competence, including education (with supporting documentation).   Practice currency (Section A) and a minimum points threshold must be met in Section B, and if applicable, Section C, to demonstrate evidence of competence to practise within the statutory scope of practice of ABA.  An applicant must reach the minimum number of points to be considered as meeting these requirements to be able to challenge the OEPPABA. 

IF THE MINIMUM THRESHOLD OF 50 POINTS IS NOT REACHED: 

An applicant who does not meet the minimum points threshold, cannot proceed in the application process using this transitional registration route. Additional training or experience may be necessary to meet the minimum number of points.  An applicant may re-apply during the transitional period, following completion of additional training or work experience, or may apply, at any time, using the Entry-Level Registration Route.

SECTION B- MANDATORY

SECTION B: Current experience and education in ABA

Current Experience and Education in ABA	Acceptable Supporting Documentation	Maximum and Minimum Points	Points Range
1. Experience must be clearly within the scope of practice of the profession while providing services directly to clients and/or while supervising others in the provision of services, which involve clinical decision-making responsibility for the services provided.  The College has developed a guideline for applicants describing activities that are deemed acceptable as practice experience as well as activities that will not be counted as practice experience.  The document is found here.	1. A chronological CV which includes the applicant’s history practising within the scope of practice of the profession, with start and finish dates for each listed position. AND 2. Attestation B Form* (one or more) from an appropriate attestor, which is someone who: holds one of the following professional credentials: Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA or BCBA-D), Registered Behaviour Analyst in Ontario (after July 1, 2024) or a psychologist or psychological associate, registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario who has expertise in behaviour analysis, and has observed the applicant in their practice and can attest to the applicant’s current experience and competence to practice within the scope of practice of the profession, including clinical decision-making. Additional attestations from insurance or government program provider, referral source, etc., may attest to the applicant’s experience in practice.   *This form is available to download in the Resources section of the website.	Maximum:  30 Points for evidence of 5 years or more of full-time (or part-time equivalent-please see below for conversion into points) experience working within the scope of practice of Applied Behaviour Analysis.  May also include providing clinical supervision to others where the applicant is responsible for clinical decision- making.    Minimum: 10 Points   How to calculate part-time/full-time hours: Part-time: less than 30 hours per week Full-time: 30+ hours per week   Examples: 5 years (=60 months) full-time: 30 points   5 years (=60 months) part-time = 30 months: 20 points   3 years (=36 months) full-time: 25 points   3 years (=36 months) part-time = 18 months: 12 points   4 years (=48 months) of 2 years full-time (=24 months) and 2 years part-time (=12 months) = 36 months: 25 points	Less than 5 years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) experience: 12-17 months 10 points 18-23 months 12 points 24-29 months 15 points 30-35 months 20 points 36-59 months 25 points 60 months or more  30 points
2. Completion of a degree, at a minimum master’s level, in behaviour analysis or in a related field, OR Completion of some, but not all recognized graduate-level coursework in behaviour analysis.	Transcripts sent directly from academic institution.	Maximum:  20 points for completion of post-graduate degree at a minimum master’s level and completion of recognized coursework in Behaviour Analysis or graduation from a post-graduate program in behaviour analysis, at a minimum master’s level, that is accredited by ABAI.    Minimum:  5 points (*unless #3 applies)	Post-graduate degree, at a minimum master’s level, in a related field, including psychology. 10 points   AND/OR For partial completion of recognized graduate level coursework in behaviour analysis, points will be assigned to a maximum of 20 based on the number of course hours Less than 180 hours: 5 points 180 hours or more: 10 points OR  A post-graduate program in behaviour analysis, at a minimum master’s level, that is accredited by ABAI: 20 points
3.* For applicants with more than 10 years experience, but who have had no formal education in behaviour analysis, or a related field.	1. Completion of a peer assessment* by an appropriate assessor, which is someone who holds one of the following professional credentials: Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA or BCBA-D), Registered Behaviour Analyst in Ontario (after July 1, 2024) or a psychologist or psychological associate, registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario who has expertise in behaviour analysis; and has at least three (3) years of experience practicing within the scope of practice of applied behaviour analysis. The peer assessment must include direct observation of the applicant’s work. 2. Attestation C Form* (one or more) from an appropriate attestor, which is someone who: holds one of the following professional credentials: Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA or BCBA-D), Registered Behaviour Analyst in Ontario (after July 1, 2024) or a psychologist or psychological associate, registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario who has expertise in behaviour analysis, and can attest to the applicant’s experience practicing within the scope of practice of applied behaviour analysis. *Form available to download in the Resources section of the website.	20 points- for completion of peer assessment to the satisfaction of the Registrar or Registration Committee.	0 points for unsuccessful completion or 20 points for successful completion.  No partial points awarded.

SECTION C-OPTIONAL Additional Evidence Verifying Competence to practice as a Behaviour Analyst

An applicant, who provides acceptable evidence of minimum required experience and competence to practice in Sections A and B, but has fewer than 50 points, may accumulate additional points in Section C.  

SECTION C:  Additional Evidence of Practice Categories	Acceptable Supporting Documentation	Maximum Points	Points Range
Experience providing ABA services while under supervision, where the supervisor was ultimately responsible for clinical decision making.  May include practicum or placement hours completed while fulfilling the requirements of recognized coursework in behaviour analysis.	Required: Attestation of clinical supervisor documenting dates of supervision and the nature of tasks completed while under supervision.  Optional: CV of clinical supervisor and/or copies of forms completed during supervised practice, if available.	20 points for 1500 or more hours of supervised practice with evidence	1-499 hours: 5 points 500-999 hours: 10 points 1000- 1499 hours: 15 points 1500 or more hours: 20 points
Teaching in behaviour analysis at a recognized institution	Course Syllabus/OutlineCalendar or website screenshot	10 points for 3 or more distinct semester-length courses in behaviour analysis	1 course: 4 points 2 courses: 7 points 3+ courses: 10 points
Research in applied behaviour analysis affiliated with a recognized institution	Peer reviewed behaviour analytic publication (s) related to clinical skills. Accepted research or grant proposal	10 points for authorship of multiple peer reviewed behaviour analytic publication(s) or of grant or research proposal	1 publication/proposal  4 points  2 publications / proposals 7 points 3 or more publications/proposals   10 points
Other education related to maintaining the standard of practice of applied behaviour analysis, including continuing professional development/education completed within the past 3 years	Copies of certificates as evidence of participation in activities. Education must be formal and include an assessment component to ensure understanding of concepts.	5 points for 30 hours completed within the past 3 years.	1-9 hours: 2 points 10-19 hours: 3 points 20-29 hours: 4 points 30 or more hours: 5 points
Registration with another health or other regulated profession in Ontario.	Certificate of standing from each applicable regulatory authority inside of Ontario	5 points	0 or 5 points
Service to the profession by participating on the Board or a committee of a recognized ABA association	Attestation of an officer of the organization or screen shot of the association website showing applicant’s name and position	5 points	0 or 5 points

OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS

Applicants who are or who have been registered, licensed, or certified to practice a profession in another Canadian jurisdiction or in another country must provide the College with a confirmation of their registration, license, or certification.

Applicants must arrange to have an original confirmation of their current or past registration, license, or certification to be sent directly to the College by the other regulatory authority. The College cannot accept such documents from the applicant themselves.

VULNERABLE SECTOR CHECK

All applicants for registration as a Behaviour Analyst are required to provide the results of a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) as part of their application. A VSC provides an added level of public protection by obtaining information from an outside entity about an applicant’s good character. Please go here for additional instructions on obtaining this type of check.

WHEN AN APPLICANT IS UNABLE TO OBTAIN ORIGINAL DOCUMENTATION

An applicant who is unable to obtain required original documents must advise the College in writing, identifying which documents they are unable to obtain, and detailing the reason for this. The Alternative Documentation Policy found in Appendix E of the Registration Guidelines details the College’s process for determining whether alternative documentation may be accepted.

WHEN AN APPLICATION IS CONSIDERED TO BE COMPLETE AND READY FOR REVIEW

An application is complete and ready for review when the application form, application fee, and all supporting documents specified in the application form have been received by the College. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required documents have been received. A review cannot take place before all of the required documents have been received.

APPLICANTS WITH DEGREES GRANTED BY UNIVERSITIES OUTSIDE CANADA OR THE U.S.

If the applicant’s degree is from an institution outside Canada or the United States, the degree must be validated and assessed to determine if they are comparable in level to a degree from a Canadian university. Applicants are responsible for any fees associated with these evaluations. An academic credential assessment may be arranged through either Comparative Education Service (CES) or World Education Services (WES):

Comparative Education Service (CES) E-mail: ces.info@utoronto.ca Website: https://learn.utoronto.ca/comparative-education-service Tel.: (416) 978-0393 Fax: (416) 978-2185 Address: University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, 158 St. George Street, Toronto ON M5S 2V8

World Education Services (WES) E-mail: ontario@wes.org Website: www.wes.org/ca Tel.: (416) 972-0070 Tel. (Toll free): 1-866-343-0070 Fax: (416) 972-9004 Address:  2 Carlton Street, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1J3

The academic credential assessment report from CES or WES must confirm that the applicant’s academic credentials are comparable in level to a master’s degree or higher from a Canadian university. While the report from CES or WES will indicate to the College whether the applicant’s academic credentials are comparable in level to a master’s or doctoral degree granted by a Canadian university, the College reserves the right to make a final determination of the level and the content of the degree(s), and will evaluate, in accordance with the academic requirements for registration under Transitional Route #2 outlined in Section B of the registration process, whether the applicant’s education meets these requirements. 

ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE AUTHORIZING AUTONOMOUS PRACTICE

After initial review, where it is determined the applicant meets the non-exemptible registration requirements for a Behaviour Analyst Authorizing Autonomous Practice under Transitional Route #2, including presenting with a passing score on the Ontario Examination for Professional Practice in Applied Behaviour Analysis (OEPPABA), the Registrar will proceed to issue a Certificate of Registration for a Behaviour Analyst Authorizing Autonomous Practice.

During the pre-registration period, successful applicants will be notified via email of their eligibility for a Certificate of Registration for a Behaviour Analyst Authorizing Autonomous Practice. Eligible applicants who have successfully completed the Jurisprudence and Ethics Course and Assessment in Applied Behaviour Analysis (JECAABA) will receive their certificate on July 1, 2024, the date the Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analyst Act, 2021 is proclaimed into law.   

REFERRAL TO THE REGISTRATION COMMITTEE

Where there is doubt, on reasonable grounds, as to whether the applicant has provided evidence of minimum experience and competence to practice under Transitional Route #2, the Registrar will refer such applications to the Registration Committee under Section 15(2)(a) of the RHPA Code. The applicant will be given notice of a thirty-day period in which written submissions may be sent to the Committee prior to the Committee’s review. A Certificate of Registration for a Behaviour Analyst Authorizing Autonomous Practice will not be issued in cases of doubt.

In such cases the Registration Committee, which meets approximately every 6 to 8 weeks throughout the year, will review the application file. The Committee may make one of the following decisions:

• Agree that the applicant’s experience and competence to practice meet the requirements in the registration regulation. In this case, the Committee will direct the Registrar to allow the applicant to challenge the OEPPABA;
• Direct the Registrar to refuse registration to the applicant. In this case, the applicant will receive a written decision and the reasons for the decision. According to the RHPA (Code) Section 21 this decision may be appealed to the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB).

Note: An applicant may re-apply during the transitional period, following completion of additional training or work experience, or may apply, at any time for a Certificate of Registration for a Behaviour Analyst Authorizing Supervised Practice, using the Entry-Level Registration Route.

APPLICATION EXPIRY

At 11:59pm on June 30, 2026, the transitional routes to registration will close. After this date, all applicants will need to apply for registration using the Entry-Level Registration application.

At a minimum, applicants must submit an application form and pay the application fee by the above deadline to qualify via a transitional route. Supporting documentation will continue to be accepted after the deadline, e.g. attestation and peer assessment forms, transcript(s), and Vulnerable Sector Checks.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to track the status of their application. Applications are not kept by the College indefinitely. An application for registration as a Behaviour Analyst under one of the Transitional Routes that has not resulted in the issuance of a Certificate of Registration for a Behaviour Analyst Authorizing Autonomous Practice will expire 24 months after the date the application was submitted.  The College will make reasonable efforts to contact the applicant prior to the date of application expiry.

The College will save an applicant’s application form and any supporting documents for 5 years from the date of application expiry. At the end of the 5-year period, the information will be deleted.

Should the applicant re-apply for registration before the end of the 5-year period, they must submit a new application form and application fee to the College, and the College will endeavour to use whatever of the saved original documentation on file that is appropriate (e.g., transcripts). However, a confirmation of registration from another regulatory authority may need to be re-submitted.

In all cases, an applicant would be required to meet the College’s requirements in effect at the time of their re-application.