Guidelines for Autonomous Practice Psychology Registrants Adding a New Area of Practice or Client Group

Sections 10., and 18., of Ontario Regulation 193/23, Registration, specifies that it is a term, condition and limitation for all classes of certificates of registration for a psychologist or psychological associate, that a registrant shall practise the profession only within practice areas of the profession that are authorized for the registrant by the Registrar or a panel of the Registration Committee, or under the supervision of a registrant who is authorized by the Registrar or a panel of the Registration Committee to practice in those areas.  

Any change in area of practice or client group constitutes a change of the statutory terms of a registrant’s registration and therefore the registrant must apply for a variation pursuant to Section 19. of the Regulated Health Professions Act (Code). 

Autonomous practice psychology registrants wishing to expand their areas of practice or client group must undertake training and supervision to yield competency comparable to other autonomous registrants of the College who are authorized for similar practice.  Registrants must undertake training and supervision to achieve competency comparable to other autonomous practice psychology registrants of the College who are authorized for similar practice.   This is also consistent with the College’s Standards of Professional Conduct, Section 5.3 which states:

Psychology registrants seeking to change or expand their professional practice to include a new authorized area of practice or client group must inform the College. Pursuant to the College’s direction, they must undertake appropriate training, education and supervision, and satisfy any other formal requirements directed by the College. Registrants wishing to provide services outside of their authorized areas of practice or their authorized populations, where specialized knowledge, training and experience are required, may do so only under supervision.

Training consists of two elements:  acquisition of knowledge and acquisition of skills.   The amount of training required will vary, depending on the degree of overlap between the new area of practice and that for which the registrant already holds a certificate for autonomous practice, as well as on the registrant’s prior academic preparation.  (For example, registrants wishing to extend their practice to include clinical psychology or clinical neuropsychology may need to undertake considerable training.    The addition of adolescent clients to the practice of a registrant already practising autonomously with children may require less training.)

Acquisition of knowledge

Acquisition of knowledge includes successful completion of graduate level courses, individual reading, and to a lesser degree attendance at workshops/conferences.   Content should include not only the necessary clinical material but should also cover ethical and jurisprudence issues relevant to the new area of practice.   The training curriculum should ensure coverage of all facets of knowledge for the area of practice listed in Appendix C of the Registration Guidelines and which the registrant had not previously acquired.

Acquisition of skills

Skills are acquired through practice under the supervision of another autonomous practice psychology registrant authorized to practice psychology in the new area.   As well as client contact, this will include discussion of relevant clinical and especially diagnostic issues with the supervisor and discussion of the practical application of ethics and jurisprudence knowledge. Registrants must familiarize themselves with the supervision standards set out in the Standards of Professional Conduct and in particular Sections 4 and 5.3.

Submitting an application

The registrant must submit an application to the Registration Committee, and the application form will include:

a)   a statement of the area(s), and/or client groups which the registrant wishes to add;

b)   a detailed description of the knowledge acquired or to be acquired by the registrant, including transcripts of courses, a list of readings completed or to be completed, and certificates of continuing education if applicable; this information should be presented in such a way as to demonstrate that the combination of the registrant’s prior training and the new training yields the requisite knowledge for the proposed area of practice as described in Appendix C of the Registration Guidelines;

c)   a description of the skills to be acquired including the number and type of clients to be seen in supervision, and the nature of the services provided.

The application will be reviewed by a panel of the Registration Committee (the panel) who may request additional information from the registrant or the supervisor(s).  The panel will provide the registrant with feedback on their application, and the panel will notify the registrant and their supervisor(s) about how the supervisor may report on the completion of the registrant’s plan. Upon successful completion of the approved plan, the panel will require independent verification in the form of a report from the supervisor confirming that the training described in points b) and c) has been completed successfully, describing the knowledge and skills attained by the registrant and attesting to the registrant’s readiness for autonomous practice in the new area and/or new client group;

Following receipt of the supervisor’s report, the panel would then be in a position to advise whether the registrant should also be invited to attend an interview administered by the College as an additional means of verifying readiness for autonomous practice in the new area, and/or client group. Interviews are conducted by three or more psychology registrants of the College, at least one of whom must be competent in the new area, and/or client group.  A public member of Council may be present at any interview as an observer.  The usual interview fee will apply.

If an interview is required, the registrant should anticipate that it will cover their readiness for autonomous practice in the new area, and/or client group.  This will include a review of the application of relevant ethics and jurisprudence.

Upon receiving the application and submissions of the registrant, and after considering the application and submissions pursuant to Section 19(5) of the RHPA Procedural Code, as well as the report of the interview team (if applicable), the panel may make an order doing one of the following:

• Refusing the application;
• Directing the Registrar to modify the condition on the certificate of registration, thereby authorizing the registrant for autonomous practice in the new area and/or client group

Relevant Guidelines, Legislation and Standards: