Psychologists Registered in Alberta & Northwest Territories

This section is intended for applicants who are applying using their registration as a psychologist in Alberta and the Northwest Territories that enables them to practice psychology.

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

possess registration as a psychologist in a jurisdiction other than Alberta or the Northwest Territories
hold registration 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 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:

Possess full registration as a Psychologist or Psychological Associate, in good standing, in another Canadian province or territory, which is a signatory of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) or meet the regular requirements for full registration in NS

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.

Possess sufficient acceptable psychology work experience in the area(s) for which they are declaring

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_CanadianPsychologistsLOE.pdf

Speak and write English or French with reasonable fluency, depending on the language of services to be provided

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.

Possess the Competence, Capacity, and Character to practice safely

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.
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.

Legitimate Objective

NSBEP will conduct an individual assessment of the education, training and experience of applicants from Alberta and the Northwest Territories to determine whether they have the skills, knowledge, and ability to perform required competencies in assessment and diagnosis.
Applicants determined not to have sufficient skills, knowledge and ability will be required to complete a period of supervised practice of up to 400 hours following certification
Click here for the text version of the Legitimate Objective

Broad Steps

1. Applicants apply using the Online Transfer Application Form (information and link provided below)

2. Applicants who are graduates of CPA and APA accredited doctoral programs are deemed to meet the requirements of all Core Competencies, including the requirements for Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis. An original copy of the graduate transcript verifying completion of such a program needs to be provided. Other than completing the Online Application Form and its associated process, no other steps in relation to the Legitimate Objective are required of such individuals.

3. Applicants who are identified by their regulatory body as meeting the requirements to declare “formal assessment” as a professional activity may be exempt from additional steps in relation to the Legitimate Objective. These requirements may have been fulfilled in the applicant’s home jurisdiction as part of the supervised practice required of provisional registrants who chose to declare “formal assessment” as a professional activity, as documented in the provisional registrant’s supervision plan, and reported as completed in the supervisor’s final evaluation. If available, such applicants must request that copies of their supervision plan and supervisor’s final evaluation be sent directly to NSBEP from the regulatory body to verify their fulfillment of these requirements.

4. All other applicants (where steps 2 & 3 do not apply) are required to complete the supplemental form and material required for the Assessment, Evaluation and Diagnosis Competency, in addition to the Online Application Form and its associated processes.

5. Once the application is complete, the Board will review the application..

6. In the event that supervision is required, here is a link to the process.

Specific Application Process

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.

Please view the pathway document below. This has been created to help guide applicants through the registration process.
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

Step 1. Complete the Application Process with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology

1.1 Complete the Online Application Form

1.1.1 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

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

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/

2.4 Complete the Supplemental Form: Assessment, Evaluation and Diagnosis Competency (available in both .doc and fillable PDF format)

Click here for the version that can be completed in a word processing application (right click and save to your computer)
Check here for the PDF fillable version (right click and save to your computer)

Please note: Step 2.4 (Supplemental Form: Assessment, Evaluation and Diagnosis Competency) is not applicable to graduates of CPA & APA accredited programs or to applicants who are identified by their regulatory body as meeting the requirements to declare “formal assessment” as a professional activity, who can provide such evidence to NSBEP (as described earlier).

2.5 Arrange to have a copy of any relevant graduate level transcripts sent to NSBEP

Step 2. Assessment by the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology

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_CanadianPsychologistsLOE.pdf

Step 4. Response from the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology / Application Deadline

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, any documentation that has been submitted will be retained. When the application is complete, it will 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:

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 (see Step 5).
Temporary registration is available, if required while waiting for your application to be reviewed.
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

Step 5. Attestation Process and Registration

Once an application for registration is approved for placement on the Register of Psychologists, the Board requires the applicant to complete the Attestation Process The Attestation Process is required in order for applicants to familiarize themselves with local jurisprudence.

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/

In cases where supervision is required, registrants should put forward the name and CV of the proposed supervisor. The Board Office can be contacted for a list of supervisors.

For More Information:

As a checklist, to ensure you have reviewed all documentation involving the application process, here is a listing of all PDF documents and pages referenced in the above procedures.

1. Online Application Guide
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Online_Transfer_Application_Guide.pdf
2. Supporting Documentation Explanatory PDF
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Supporting_Documentation.pdf
3. Information concerning the Attestation Process:
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Information_Attestation.pdf
4. Registration Requirements and Criteria
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Registration_Requirements_CanadianPsychologistsLOE.pdf
5. Supplemental Form: Assessment, Evaluation and Diagnosis (in both .doc and fillable PDF format)
Click here for the version that can be completed in a word processing application
Check here for the PDF fillable version
6. Guide for Supervision (if/when required)
Click here for the Guide
7. Legitimate Objective
Click here to view the LOE

Contacting NSBEP

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/

Links to other resources available to assist Psychologists

Association of Canadian Psychology Regulatory Organizations (ACPRO)
http://www.acpro-aocrp.ca/
Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia (APNS)
http://apns.ca/
Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)
http://www.cpa.ca/
Fair Registration Practices Act (FRPA) Office
https://novascotia.ca/lae/RplLabourMobility/FRP.asp
Careers Nova Scotia
https://careers.novascotia.ca/

REGULATING PSYCHOLOGISTS IN NOVA SCOTIA SINCE 1980