REGULATING PSYCHOLOGISTS IN NOVA SCOTIA SINCE 1980

Those not Registered to Practice Independently as a Psychologist

This section is intended for applicants who wish to become registered as a psychologist in Nova Scotia but who are not authorized to practice independently as a psychologist in another jurisdiction.

For greater clarity, this section is intended for applicants who have obtained their academic credentials from an institution in Canada or the US, and who:

  • are not authorized to practice independently by a psychology regulatory body
  • 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 them to practice 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 “Those not Registered as Psychologist,” here.

The Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology Registry Criteria

Under The Nova Scotia Psychologists Act, Regulations & Board Policy, applicants who want to register with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology must meet the following criteria:

The Board’s academic requirements include completion of a minimum period of supervised work in the form of a practicum or internship as part of the academic training program. Applicants must have psychological work experience in the particular area(s) for which they are declaring. For more information, see the Work Experience section of the following document.
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Registration_Requirements_Regular.pdf

As part of their 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.

This requirement is initially assessed throughout the completed application, particularly under the Core Competency section for Ethics and Standards.
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

The Board requires candidates to pass the EPPP and Oral Exam. For more information about the examination and candidacy requirements, please see the following URL:
https://www.nsbep.org/information-for-registrants/for-candidate-registrants/faq/

Existing Certificates

If an applicant holds a certificate of registration as a psychologist in another jurisdiction, the standards of which the Board determines to be equivalent to the requirements of Subsections 15 (1) or (2) of the Act. the Board may waive any or all requirements in Subsection 15(1) or (2) of the Act. For reference, the relevant excerpts are available from the URL below:

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.

A pathway document has also been created to help guide applicants through the registration process. Here is a link to the document: 
https://nsbep.org/downloads/New_Applicant_Flowchart.pdf

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 Regular Applicants

Given the commitment of time and resources associated with the application process, it is strongly recommended that graduates of programs that are not accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association, refer to the criteria for acceptable degrees in psychology, prior to submitting an application: https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Registration_Requirements_Regular.pdf

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_Regular_Application_Guide.pdf

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

2.2 Provide Supporting Documentation to accompany your Application

2.2.1 Curriculum Vitae (resume)
2.2.2 Photo ID
2.2.3 Criminal check
2.2.4 Child Abuse Check / Declaration
2.2.5 Transcripts
2.2.6 Information about your program of study including coursework

Please refer to following Guide which outlines in detail what we expect for Supporting Documentation:
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Supporting_Documentation.pdf

2.3 Arrange for Supplemental Forms to be completed and provided to the Board

2.3.1 Psychological Practice Profile
2.3.2 Reference Form
2.3.3 Confirmation of Standing Form
2.3.4 Supervisor’s Consent

Those who wish to complete any of the above forms in advance of the online application, may download the forms via the below link.  However, the following supplemental forms are included within the sequence of the Online Application Process, so the below link is optional.
https://www.nsbep.org/supplemental-forms/

Once all requirements of your application are completed and the application is submitted, the Registration Subcommittee of 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_Regular.pdf

When complete, the application is submitted to the Board of Examiners for the next meeting of the the Registration Subcommittee.  The Registration Subcommittee typically meets every calendar month except 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 application will simply be reviewed at the next meeting.

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

Once the the Registration Subcommittee has completed its assessment of your application materials, you will be contacted in writing, typically within 2 weeks.  To facilitate this communication, the registration decision will typically be sent to you via email.

There are three possible outcomes following this assessment by the Registration Subcommittee of the Board:

  1. If your academic credentials are approved and you meet the other requirements outlined above, the Registration Subcommittee may approve your name for placement on the Register of Candidates. Placement on the Register of candidates would include completing the legislated period of Candidate Register supervision and examinations. Supervision is completed while one is registered as a Psychologist (Candidate Register) and working in Nova Scotia. For information on the examinations and candidacy requirements, please visit the FAQ page for Candidate Registrants, available via the following URL:
    https://www.nsbep.org/information-for-registrants/for-candidate-registrants/faq/
  2. If the Registration Subcommittee determines that you hold a certificate of registration as a psychologist from another jurisdiction the standards of which are deemed by the Board to be at least equivalent to the standards required by Subsection (1) or (2). 2000, c. 32, s. 15, the Registration Subcommittee may, in its discretion, waive all or part of the requirements of these Subsections.
  3. If it is determined that you do not possess a master’s or doctoral degree in psychology that meets the criteria of acceptable degrees in psychology and/or you do not meet other requirements noted in the criteria at the top of this page including equivalent registration with a psychology regulatory body, the Registration Subcommittee must decline the application. In the event that your application is declined, you will be informed in writing of the criteria not met and you will be provided with the opportunity to appeal this decision.  Please review the process here: https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Registration_Appeal_Process.pdf

If an application for registration is approved with NSBEP, the Board requires the applicant to complete the Attestation Process prior to being granted registration.

Once the Attestation Process 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:

  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/

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/