Applicants Residing in Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec

Important INFORMATION FOR Applicants Residing in Ontario, New Brunswick OR Quebec

Because counselling and psychotherapy include protected activities in Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec, ACCT can only offer the ACc, AC, MAC or RCS designation to applicants residing in these provinces who meet one of the following conditions:

1. Currently registered with a provincial regulatory college

You are registered with a provincial college whose members are authorized to practise counselling or psychotherapy.

You must include a copy of your current college registration documents with your ACCT application.

2. Application currently in progress with a provincial regulatory college

You have:

• Submitted an application to a provincial college whose members are authorized to practise counselling or psychotherapy; and

• Received a waiver from that college allowing you to continue providing counselling while your application is being processed.

You must include proof of your college application and a copy of the waiver with your ACCT application.

If ACCT approves your application while your provincial college application is still in progress, you will have up to one year to provide ACCT with proof of your college registration. This documentation is required to maintain your ACCT designation.

Special pathway for Ontario residents providing spiritual or pastoral counselling

Ontario residents who are not registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), or another Ontario regulatory college whose members are authorized to practise psychotherapy, must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Meet all standard ACCT education, experience and registration requirements.

2. Identify and practise as one of the following:

• A spiritual or pastoral counsellor;

• A chaplain;

• A religious minister; or

• A priest.

3. Have relevant education or training in spiritual or pastoral counselling.

4. Only provide counselling to, or accept referrals from, clients who have specifically requested spiritual or pastoral counselling.

5. Meet at least one of the following conditions:

• Be employed or volunteer as a spiritual, pastoral or ministry counsellor; or

• Hold current membership with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care or a comparable professional organization.

6. Submit the following documentation to ACCT:

• A letter from your employer or volunteer organization confirming your role as a spiritual, pastoral or ministry counsellor. Self-employment does not satisfy this requirement.

• Proof of current membership and registration with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care or a comparable organization, if applicable.

• A signed affidavit confirming that you meet requirements 1 through 4 above.