Regulation Across Canada

Ontario

CURRENTLY REGULATED

College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) — Registered Psychotherapist (RP)

Recognized/accepted psychotherapy education and training meeting CRPO competencies. Applicants commonly enter RP (Qualifying) while completing clinical requirements. Full RP: minimum 450 direct client contact (DCC) hours + 100 hours clinical supervision and successful completion of the registration examination. Independent practice: 1,000 DCC + 150 supervision hours. Jurisprudence, language/good-character requirements and professional liability insurance also apply.

Quebec

CURRENTLY REGULATED

Ordre des psychologues du Québec — Psychotherapist permit

Except for physicians and psychologists, applicants must ordinarily belong to an eligible regulated professional order, hold an eligible master's degree in mental health/human relations, and meet prescribed psychotherapy training requirements. Framework includes 765 hours of theoretical psychotherapy education plus supervised practical training, including at least 300 hours of direct psychotherapy, 100 hours of individual supervision and 200 hours of other psychotherapy-related training/activity.

Nova Scotia

CURRENTLY REGULATED

Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT) — RCT-C → RCT

Qualifying master's degree in counselling therapy or equivalent education. Practicum/internship includes at least 120 DCC hours. Graduates generally enter as Registered Counselling Therapist–Candidate (RCT-C), then complete supervised post-graduate candidacy before independent RCT status; the pathway includes approximately 2,000 hours of supervised professional experience. Suitability, currency, language, record-check and liability-insurance requirements also apply.

New Brunswick

CURRENTLY REGULATED

College of Licensed Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick (CCTNB) — LCT-C → LCT

Master's-level counselling degree or equivalent approved preparation; required counselling coursework and practicum. Practicum normally includes 150 direct + 150 indirect client-related hours. Entry is generally LCT-C with approved supervision. Full LCT requires 2,000 counselling-work hours, including at least 800 DCC hours, plus 50 hours clinical supervision over 2–5 years. Liability insurance, criminal-record check and professional references also apply.

Prince Edward Island

CURRENTLY REGULATED

College of Counselling Therapy of PEI (CCTPEI) — Counselling Therapist (CT)

Approved master's degree in counselling therapy or substantially equivalent education/training; minimum 450 DCC hours obtained during education or supervised practice; successful COMPASS/CCTPEI entry-to-practice competency examination; professional currency requirements, liability insurance and criminal-record check. PEI jurisprudence examination is required by first renewal. Provisional registration may be available where specified requirements remain outstanding.

British Columbia

REGULATION ENACTED — EFFECTIVE NOV. 29, 2027

College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC) — future Psychotherapist licence

Psychotherapy becomes regulated November 29, 2027. As of August 31, 2026, detailed psychotherapy registration bylaws and final entry-to-practice standards have not yet been finalized/published. Existing voluntary counselling credentials do not automatically become statutory licences; practitioners will need to meet the future CHCPBC registration framework and apply when able for licensure.

Ministry of Health BC- in process of finalizing reg framework while also considering a net-new restricted activity of psychotherapy. Public consultation on the regulation framework commenced summer 2026.  ACCT provided input through FACT-BC. Once reg framework is finalized, the CHCPBC develops bylaws and considers input provided by different associations, including ACCT. Once developed, they will open public consultations around them. Will establish entry to practice and standards of practice around psychotherapy. Another survey will be sent to practitioners in Sept 2026 to learn about the needs of the practitioners of different associations. ACCT submitted the legacy pathway proposal early 2026, and in Aug 2026 submitted entry to practice proposal for future practitioners. Received well by stakeholders. Timeline of Nov 2027 and open the college to psychotherapist registrants. Considering is being made by government to extend the grandparenting window.

Alberta

ACTIVELY PURSUING REGULATION

No statutory counselling college yet; ACTA operates a voluntary registration framework while regulation work continues

No statutory counselling/psychotherapy registration requirement currently exists. ACTA's voluntary Counselling Therapist pathway currently requires structured counselling/psychotherapy education with theory/skills, ethics, supervised practicum and competency evaluation; at least 150 DCC hours, 40 hours clinical supervision and 750 currency hours in the preceding 3 years, plus references, record checks and liability insurance where practising. These are ACTA standards, not Alberta statutory licensure requirements. ACTA is working closely with government towards eventual regulation given the governments commitment to regulate counselling therapists in AB. Workforce meetings with the government have been in place monthly since Fall 2025, with anticipated conclusion Fall 2026 where ACTA is a contributing member with the goal of eventual regulation. CT Practitioner survey was developed in 2026 resulting in over 1300 submissions which ACTA utilizes to inform in the Government workforce meetings to speak on behalf of the profession and advocate for regulation. 

Link: https://www.acta-alberta.ca/

Saskatchewan

ACTIVELY PURSUING REGULATION

FACT-SK / CCPA-supported regulatory application

No statutory registration requirements yet. FACT-SK has submitted an application for regulation, but future education, examination, DCC and supervision requirements have not been enacted. Practitioners may voluntarily hold association credentials; this is professional certification rather than provincial licensure.

Looking at competency based versus masters. Focusing heavily on educating the public and other practitioners on the regulation of counsellors.

Manitoba

ACTIVELY PURSUING REGULATION

FACT-MB / CCPA-supported regulation initiative

No statutory counselling/psychotherapy registration requirements currently exist. FACT-MB is working toward regulation and regulatory documentation, but no legally binding counselling-therapy college entry standards have yet been established. Voluntary credentials with counselling associations continue to be used in the meantime. Survey committee FACT-MB continues. Hope for Fall distribution to understand membership better and use for lobbying government.  Committee will develop Government lobbying strategies to promote regulation of counselling. No sign from government side except it is on ministers desk. Opposition party meetings have met- FOIP request to government for all documents related to regulating counselling therapists.

Newfoundland & Labrador

ACTIVELY PURSUING REGULATION

FACT-NL / provincial regulatory review

No statutory counselling/psychotherapy registration requirement currently exists. FACT-NL's regulation application has progressed through proposal/government review, but final college registration standards have not been enacted. There is therefore no legally required counselling-specific DCC, supervision or examination standard at present. Voluntary counselling certification is available.

Yukon

UNREGULATED — NO CURRENT INITIATIVE IDENTIFIED

No counselling/psychotherapy regulator

No statutory counselling/psychotherapy registration requirements. Practitioners may voluntarily obtain professional certification through a counselling association.

Northwest Territories

UNREGULATED — NO CURRENT INITIATIVE IDENTIFIED

No counselling/psychotherapy regulator

No statutory counselling/psychotherapy registration requirements. Practitioners may voluntarily obtain professional certification through a counselling association.

Nunavut

UNREGULATED — NO CURRENT INITIATIVE IDENTIFIED

No counselling/psychotherapy regulator

No statutory counselling/psychotherapy registration requirements. Practitioners may voluntarily obtain professional certification through a counselling association.