REGULATING PSYCHOLOGISTS IN NOVA SCOTIA SINCE 1980

Psychologists Currently Registered to Practice in Canada but outside AB & NWT

This section is intended for applicants who possess registration as a psychologist in Canada, but outside Alberta and the Northwest Territories, that enables them to practice psychology.

Note: Psychologists registered in Alberta and the Northwest Territories are required to use the following section.  Psychologists registered in AB and the NWT please click here to complete the process.

For greater clarity, this section is not intended for those who:

  • possess registration in a country outside of Canada
  • possess registration with a psychology regulatory body that constitutes a provisional type of registration
  • possess registration as a psychologist but in a category that does not authorize the practice of psychology, e.g., retired registration, non-practising registration, etc.
  • possess registration in another jurisdiction but not with a psychology regulatory body, e.g., counselling, marriage and family therapy, etc.

The Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology works hard to make the registration process as easy to understand as possible. Application information is available under the Section of the website “Psychologists Registered to Practice in Canada” here.

The Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology Registry Criteria

Under The Nova Scotia Psychologists Act, Regulations & Board Policy, applicants registered in another Canadian jurisdiction, who want to qualify for a transfer of registration with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology, must meet the following criteria:

For clarity registration must be with a regulator specifically recognized in the province.  Pursuant to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (“CFTA”), “regulatory authority” means a department, ministry, or similar agency of government of a Party or a non-governmental body that exercises authority delegated by law.
For a link to acceptable regulatory bodies, please click here.

Nova Scotia registers entry level applicants with reference to specific areas of practice (clinical, counselling, school, forensic, clinical neuropsychological, industrial/organizational) which typically relates to the formal training that they have received and/or authorized by the home jurisdiction. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), the Board will authorize you for the practice area(s) you possess in your home jurisdiction. The Board will not authorize additional areas to those authorized in the home jurisdiction without evidence that one is competent in the additional area of practice. For more information, please see the section on Work Experience in the following document:
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Registration_Requirements_CanadianPsychologists.pdf

As part of their Psychological Practice Profile in the application, applicants complete an attestation indicating the language(s) in which they are comfortable providing services.

All applicants to the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology are required to complete a Declaration of Competence, Capacity and Character as part of their application. The Declaration requires applicants to provide details about their current and past conduct.
Appropriate Competence, Capacity and Character are on-going expectations of registrants of the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology to safely and ethically practise. Registrants, as members of a self-regulating health profession, are required to provide declarations to the Board as part of their initial application and at the time of their annual registration renewal process.

Prior to registration with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology, applicants are required to attest that they have reviewed the relevant local jurisprudence, standards, and resources. For information purposes, a document on the Attestation Process is accessible directly below.
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Information_Attestation.pdf

You may begin compiling documents and complete your application to the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology prior to arriving in Nova Scotia, if applicable.

For a visual flowchart of the registration process please visit the following URL: Psychologists registered in Canada, click here for a chart providing an overview of the Registration Process

A link is also provided directly below which provides an outline of costs related to the registration process with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology: https://www.nsbep.org/applicants/listing-of-fees-for-all-applicants/

Registration Steps with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology for Psychologists Fully Registered in Canada.

2.1 Complete the Online Application Form

2.1 a) Here is a link to the Online Application Guide which should be reviewed before starting with the Online Application:
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Online_Transfer_Application_Guide.pdf

2.1 b) Here is a link to the actual Online Application System:
https://secure.nsbep.org/applicant_login.php

2.2 Provide Supporting Documentation to accompany your Application (included as part of the online application but listed below)

2.2.1 Curriculum Vitae
2.2.2 Photo ID
2.2.3 Criminal check
2.2.4 Child Abuse Check / Declaration

For more information about the supporting documentation mentioned above,  consult the explanatory PDF below:
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Supporting_Documentation.pdf

2.3 Arrange for Confirmation of Standing Form to be completed and provided to the Board by all jurisdictions where registration as a psychologist is held
This form is part of the online application form, but it can also be accessed below:
https://www.nsbep.org/confirmation-of-standing-form/ 

Once all requirements of your application are completed and the application is submitted, the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology will review your application.  The assessment process and criteria is outlined in the following PDF:
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Registration_Requirements_CanadianPsychologists.pdf

When complete, the application is submitted to the Board of Examiners for the next Board meeting.  The Board typically meets every calendar month except for August.  Due to the workload volume and required processes for the Registration / Review Subcommittees and the Board, it is necessary for the the Board to impose a two week cutoff for any agenda items.  This means that all agenda items must be complete and submitted two weeks in advance of monthly meetings.  This includes but is not limited to the following: applications for registration, requests for oral exams, or any other registration items.  In the event that an applicant misses the monthly deadline, no documentation has to be re-completed or resubmitted, the completed application will simply be reviewed at the next meeting.

A listing of all Board meeting dates is available via the following link:
https://www.nsbep.org/about-nsbep/information-for-registrantsfor-all-registrantsnewsmeeting_dates/

Once the Board of Examiners has completed its assessment of your application materials, you will be contacted in writing, typically within two weeks.  To facilitate this communication, the registration decision will typically be sent to you via email.

There are two possible outcomes following this assessment by the Board:

  1. If it is determined that you meet the requirements of a transfer, the Board may approve your name for placement on the Register of Psychologists, pending your completion of the Attestation Process. The Attestation Process is required in order for applicants to review and familiarize themselves with local jurisprudence.
    Temporary registration is available, if required while one is waiting for their application to be reviewed.
  2. If you do not meet the criteria for transfer, the Board must decline the Transfer application.In the event that your application is declined, you will be informed in writing of the criteria not met and provided with the opportunity to appeal this decision.  Please review the process here: https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Registration_Appeal_Process.pdf

Once an application for registration is approved for placement on the Register of Psychologists, the Board requires the applicant to complete the Attestation Process

Once the Attestation is completed, and the registration fee is paid, the applicant is registered with the NSBEP. Information concerning the registration fees and professional liability requirements is outlined via this link:
https://www.nsbep.org/about-nsbep/all-fees/

For More Information:

We welcome enquiries by either phone or email.  However, email may offer the opportunity for you to receive a considered response and often makes communication more efficient as the applicant and the Board Office may be in different time zones.  If you have asked for a reply, a staff member will answer your email as soon as possible. We aim to respond within 24-48 hours on working days but may respond more quickly if we are able to do so. The Board staff and contact information is available via the contact us page: https://www.nsbep.org/contact-us/
  1. Association of Canadian Psychology Regulatory Organizations (ACPRO)
    http://www.acpro-aocrp.ca/
  2. Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia (APNS)
    http://apns.ca/ 
  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)
    http://www.cpa.ca/
  4. Fair Registration Practices Act (FRPA) Office
    https://novascotia.ca/lae/RplLabourMobility/FRP.asp
  5. Careers Nova Scotia
    https://careers.novascotia.ca/