Today, the transitional Council was advised by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) that the Psychotherapy Act, 2007 will come into force on April 1, 2015, thereby creating the new College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario (CRPO). In addition, Council learned that proclamation of the controlled act of psychotherapy has not been proclaimed into force at this time. 

All those who have submitted applications for registration with the new College are advised that soon we will begin sending out notifications, via our Member Management System, regarding the status of applications. Along with the notification, successful applicants will receive an invoice for their first year's registration fee, and instructions about next steps to complete the registration process. IMPORTANT: please wait for your official invoice before attempting to pay your registration fee. If you have submitted an application and do not receive a notification in the next 2-3 weeks, this means your application is still under review.

Who should register?

• Anyone who wishes to use the title, "psychotherapist" (or an abbreviation of that title), or who holds him/herself out as qualified to practise as a psychotherapist in Ontario must become registered, unless they are already a member of one of the other regulated professions whose members may practise psychotherapy. 

For established practitioners, the 'Grandparenting' route to registration will be available for two years - until March 31, 2017. This does not mean that such practitioners should wait until the end of the grandparenting period to apply. Rather, they should consider whether they need to be registered, and should apply as soon as it is reasonably possible to do so.

Many will be wondering about the implications of this postponement and why it is necessary. Given that the controlled act is very broad, it has caused many mental health service providers to see themselves as possibly involved in performing this activity, thus requiring registration with the new College. Postponement of the controlled act will allow time to develop a better understanding of its meaning and implications. In the meantime, child and youth workers, addiction counsellors and mental health workers may continue to provide services without concerns about the proposed controlled act.

Contacting the College

Due to the high volume of emails and telephone calls we anticipate at this time, we kindly ask that you read the information above and on our Info for Applicants page at www.crpo.ca, as well as CRPO's Registration Guide, if you have questions regarding eligibility for registration. Remember: unless you wish to use the title, "psychotherapist" (or an abbreviation), or hold yourself out as qualified to practise as a psychotherapist, or unless your employer requires you to be registered (or may do so in the foreseeable future), the choice is yours - assuming you have completed the required education & training and clinical experience. It is up to you, therefore, to decide whether or not you wish to become a Member!

If you are learning about the creation of this new regulatory college for the first time or were unaware that psychotherapists are to become a new regulated profession in Ontario, please take some time to read the information on our website, particularly the section called "Info for Applicants". There you will find all the information you need about registration requirements and the registration process.

Our Mission: To develop standards and procedures to regulate psychotherapists in the public interest, striving to ensure competent and ethical practice within a professional accountability framework.

Our Vision: Leadership in professional self-regulation, dedicated to the principles of excellence, fairness, openess, responsiveness and respect for diversity.