Canadian licensure for health professions is provincially and territorially regulated. There have been exciting developments in recent years around licensure in Canada, and NADTA representatives in many provinces and territories are working hard to advocate for drama therapists to be included in developing legislation. In Canada, the permitting agencies who can award licenses are called ‘colleges’ and, in Quebec, ‘orders’, under the Health Professions Acts.

Below are links to the licensure advocacy organizations or colleges in each province or territory.

Please contact the Government Affairs Chair or Canadian Regional Representative if you need further information.

Canadian Psychological Association Regulatory Links: https://cpa.ca/public/whatisapsychologist/regulatorybodies/

Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) Regulation information:
https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/profession-and-regulation/

LINKS FOR COUNSELLING & PSYCHOLOGY LICENSES IN CANADA

British Columbia

BC is currently working towards regulation of counselling and the NADTA is a member of the Federation of Associations for Counselling Therapists in British Columbia (FACT-BC) https://www.factbc.org/.

Currently, many people practicing counselling professions in BC join the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors http://bc-counsellors.org/ . This is not a license, though can allow for work in the province.

Alberta

The Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta acknowledges the RDT in its current expedited phase of licensure. The NADTA is a member of the association, and the association is open as of Fall 2019 for expedited applications. https://www.acta-alberta.ca/

The College of Alberta Psychologists also regulates masters level psychologists https://www.cap.ab.ca/

Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan College of Psychologists regulates masters level psychologists. http://www.skcp.ca/

Saskatchewan is currently working towards regulation for the profession of counselling through the Federation of Associations for Counselling Therapists in Saskatchewan (FACT-SK) http://www.fact-sk.org/. There is currently no NADTA representative for FACT-SK.

Manitoba

Manitoba is currently working towards regulation for the profession of counselling through the Federation of Associations for Counselling Therapists in Manitoba (FACT-Manitoba) http://www.fact-manitoba.org/. The NADTA is a member association of FACT-Manitoba.

Depending on your education and experience, it may also be possible to register with the Manitoba Association for Marriage and Family Therapy https://www.mamft.ca/.

The Psychological Association of Manitoba regulates masters level psychologists https://www.cpmb.ca/

Ontario

The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario https://www.crpo.ca/ regulates the practice of psychotherapy which is now a protected title in Ontario. The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association has provided more information on the Ontario practice of regulation here: https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/profession/ontario-regulation/.

The College of Psychologists of Ontario regulates masters level Psychological Associates http://www.cpo.on.ca/.

New Brunswick

The College of Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick (CCTNB) http://cctnb.ca/

The College of Psychologists of New Brunswick regulates masters level psychologists http://cpnb.ca/.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists https://nscct.ca/

The Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology regulates masters level psychologists. http://www.nsbep.org/

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island (PEI) is currently working towards regulation and licensure through the Prince Edward Island Counselling Association (PEICA) http://peica.org/. Click here to join PEICA (http://peica.org/membership/). The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association has provided more information on the process in PEI here: https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/prince-edward-island-regulation/.

The Prince Edward Island Psychologists Registration Board regulates masters level Psychological Associates. http://www.peipsychology.org/peiprb/

Newfoundland & Labrador

Newfoundland & Labrador is currently working towards regulation for the profession of counselling through the Federation of Associations for Counselling Therapists in Newfoundland and Labrador (FACT-NL). The NADTA is a member of FACT-NL. http://www.fact-nl.org/

The Newfoundland and Labrador Psychology Board (NLPB) regulates psychology and licenses both masters and doctoral level psychologists http://nlpsychboard.ca/

Yukon Territory

Becoming a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) is best practice in the Yukon https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/

Nunavut

Becoming a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) is best practice in Nunavut https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/
It is also possible to register and pursue a Psychology license, contact the Registrar of Professional Licensing for further questions or :
Registrar, Professional Licensing
Nunavut Health and Social Services
Government of Nunavut Box 390
Kugluktuk, Nunavut
X0B 0E0
Telephone: 867-982-7668

Northwest Territories

Becoming a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) is best practice in the Northwest Territories (NWT) and is the necessary credential for practicing Counselling as a Government of the NWT professional. https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/.
It is also possible to register and pursue a Psychology license, which is done through coordination with the Association of Psychologists of the Northwest Territories https://www.apnwt.org/.
https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/psychologist-licence

Quebec

Bill 21 was passed in Quebec on June 21, 2012. Only those who qualify, and are accepted by the Ordre des Psychologues, may use the title “Psychotherapist” and state that they practice psychotherapy in Quebec. Drama therapists do not qualify, unless grandfathered in.

There are several professional Orders in the province of Quebec which include ones for Counsellors, Nurses, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists, but none for Creative Arts Therapists. Quebec has put a moratorium on creating new orders. Drama Therapists in Quebec are working with Art, Dance, and Music therapists to petition the government to create an Order of Creative Arts Therapists. Though one can practice Drama Therapy in Quebec, most large mental health employers are only employing people who are in Orders.

The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association has helpful information about the regulation in Quebec: https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/quebec-regulation/

More information can be found here.