Ontario Psychology Registration Reforms: What They Mean and Why They Matter

The College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO) has released a consultation document proposing significant changes to how psychologists are educated, supervised, and registered in the province. These changes represent a shift in long-standing professional standards, with important implications for public safety, service quality, and the future of mental health care in Ontario.

This post offers an overview of what’s being proposed, outlines key concerns, and encourages thoughtful engagement from professionals, clients, and community members alike.

The Current Proposal for Reform

The CPBAO has proposed to lower the educational and entry-to-practice standards for professional psychology in Ontario. These changes are aimed at addressing concerns raised by the Ontario Office of the Fairness Commissioner (OFC). However, the implications of these proposals are far-reaching and merit close examination. Table I summarizes the current and proposed registration standards for practicing as a Psychologist in Ontario.

Table I: Summary of Current and Proposed Registration Standards

Requirement	Current Standard	Proposed Change
Education	Doctoral Degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D.) with two practica and a predoctoral internship OR M.A. degree with one practicum + four years supervised experience*	Masters Degree (M.A.) with one practicum
Supervised Practice	1-year post-doctoral residency (“Supervised Practice”)	1-year post-degree residency (“Supervised Practice”)
Licensing Exams	Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) with limited attempts	EPPP with unlimited attempts
Ethics & Jurisprudence Exam	Jurisprudence Examination	No-fail Online Ethics Module
Oral Examination	Required	Removed

*The M.A. pathway to registration as a Psychological Associate is equivalent to the doctoral (PhD, PsyD) pathway to registration.

What These Changes Mean in Practice

The proposed changes remove the doctoral standard and eliminate the four-year supervision period for Master’s degree applicants, effectively removing the “doctoral equivalent” standard in the Psychological Associate pathway. The oral examination for autonomous practice will be eliminated, and competency assessments such as ethics exams are being weakened by replacing them with no-fail online modules.

Reductions in Training and Supervision

During my own graduate training, I completed four practica totaling over 1800 hours of clinical practice, along with a full 1800-hour internship across various hospital mental health programs. The proposed model would require only one 300-hour practicum and no internship—a significant reduction in clinical training.

Loss of Critical Evaluation and Feedback

Weekly supervision and formal evaluations by registered psychologist supervisors were essential to my professional development. Over multiple rotations, these evaluations identified training gaps early and provided coaching to develop competence, ethical reasoning, and reflective practice. The proposed changes will reduce these opportunities, and risks inadequate preparation for entry-level practice.

The Risks of Weakening Evaluation Mechanisms

Lowering training requirements while dismantling critical competency assessments is a serious risk to public safety. In addition, the rapid pace and manner of these changes raise serious concerns. Until recently, the doctoral degree was considered a non-exemptible standard to ensure practitioner competence and patient safety. If this standard is lowered, we must call upon the CPBAO to provide strong, evidence-based assurances that public protection will not be compromised.

The responsibility lies with CPBAO to show how these changes will maintain or improve the quality of psychological care for Ontarians.

Conclusion

Each aspect of current training contributes vitally to developing safe, ethical, and effective psychological practice. The proposed changes put these safeguards at risk in an effort to improve access and diversity. A balanced approach is needed-one that maintains rigorous standards while addressing current issues of access through funding, program expansion, and streamlined registration without lowering quality.

Call to Action: Make Your Voice Heard

The CPBAO consultation period is open until December 9, 2025. Psychologists, community members, and stakeholders are urged to review the proposals and provide feedback to ensure public safety and high standards are preserved in Ontario’s psychological services.

➤ Read more about the proposed changes: https://cpbao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Consultation-Amendments-to-Registration-Regulation-under-the-Psychology-and-Behaviour-Analysis-Act-2021-5.pdf

➤ Submit comments to the CPBAO consultation portal: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BZ5SB8Q

➤ Contact your local MPP to express your concerns about maintaining professional standards and public protection.

➤ Share this information with colleagues, clients, and community groups to raise awareness.

Together, we can advocate for access to mental health care that does not compromise quality or safety.

Lapses in training or ethics can cause harm; competence is essential.

References:

1. Canadian Psychological Association (October 8, 2025). Message from the CPA’s Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer regarding the CPBAO revision of educational and training standards. https://cpa.ca/message-from-the-cpas-board-of-directors-and-chief-executive-officer-regarding-the-cpbao-revision-of-educational-and-training-standards/