Protecting the Integrity of Psychology in Ontario: Why Lowering Standards is Not the Answer

by | Sep 27, 2025 | Advocacy | 0 comments

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Reflection from a Day With Peers

Yesterday I was fortunate to attend the SSTAR Clinical Case Conference, where I found myself surrounded by a table of peers; clinical and health psychologists registered in both Ontario and British Columbia. Some trained in Ontario, while others (myself included) began their careers elsewhere and later transferred their registration.

I was first registered in British Columbia before returning home to Ontario. That transfer was not simple, and it gave me direct insight into the barriers our College has historically put up for clinicians trying to move their registration across provinces. I have supervised colleagues with excellent training who were fully registered in the U.S., only to be told by the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO) that they could not practice here without completing yet another year of supervised practice. These are highly qualified psychologists who had already passed rigorous exams and worked independently elsewhere. It was demoralizing for them, and, frankly, a loss for Ontarians who could have benefited from their expertise.

I have also seen the College reject highly skilled Master’s-level clinicians from becoming registered as psychological associates, despite their proven competence and years of supervised work. One of those clinicians is among the strongest I have ever worked with—thankfully she remains on my team—but the message from the College was clear: access blocked.

So when the Office of the Fairness Commissioner (OFC) criticized the CPBAO three separate times for its restrictive registration processes, I wasn’t entirely surprised. The OFC’s concern was straightforward: psychologists moving between provinces should be able to transfer their licenses more smoothly. After the third poor rating, the OFC stepped in to force change.

Up to that point, the story made sense. Ontario does need more mobility between provinces. If I couldn’t transfer my registration home from BC, I would have been furious too.

But what happened next is where things went badly wrong.

The CPBAO’s Radical Proposal

In response to the OFC’s demands, the CPBAO introduced sweeping reforms, far beyond what was necessary to address mobility concerns. Instead of targeted solutions, they proposed a wholesale lowering of standards for becoming a psychologist in Ontario.

Recent and proposed changes include:

  • Eliminating the doctoral requirement for psychologists.
  • Removing the four-year supervised work requirement for psychological associates after a Master’s degree.
  • Broadening accreditation beyond CPA-approved programs to include U.S. and international accrediting bodies.
  • Reducing supervised clinical training from approximately 6,000 hours (multiple practica, a year-long residency/internship, plus a year of supervised practice) to potentially a single practicum placement.
  • Replacing the ethics exam with a no-fail online module.
  • Allowing unlimited attempts at licensing exams.
  • Eliminating the oral examination entirely.

To put this in perspective: under the current system, Ontario psychologists spend about six years in closely supervised training beyond their graduate coursework. Under the new rules, that could shrink to just two years. That is less supervised training than many non-diagnosing mental health professions require, despite psychologists holding the unique authority to perform the controlled act of diagnosis.

Why Standards Matter

Ontario has long held rigorous standards that distinguish psychologists from other mental health providers. This is not about hierarchy or competition; it is about scope of practice and public protection.

  • Controlled Act of Diagnosis: Psychologists are one of the few professions authorized by law to diagnose mental health conditions. This requires advanced training in psychometrics, assessment, and clinical decision-making. Master’s-level clinicians can and do provide excellent therapy, but they are not trained or authorized to independently perform complex diagnostic assessments.
  • Supervision and Training: Psychologists are heavily involved in supervising Master’s-level clinicians, helping them work with clients facing trauma, severe mental illness, and complex presentations. Diluting the training pipeline risks creating a generation of underprepared practitioners without the foundation needed to do this work safely.
  • Complexity of Presentations Post-COVID: The pandemic intensified the mental health crisis, increasing both demand and complexity. Diagnoses of ADHD, autism, PTSD, and comorbid conditions are rising. These require nuanced assessment and integrated care planning. Weakening training at this moment is a recipe for mistakes that could harm vulnerable people.
  • Neuropsychology and Specialized Assessments: Some of the most complex cases—such as neuropsychological assessments—demand years of additional training. Collapsing competencies into a generalist model risks opening the door to misdiagnosis and poor recommendations. In this work, “you don’t know what you don’t know” can be dangerous.

This is not a debate of PhD versus Master’s-level clinicians. I work closely with many Master’s-level colleagues who are brilliant and effective. But they excel because they have received extensive supervised training. Stripping away those requirements will not create more excellent clinicians; it will create more risk.

The Real Issue: Access and Funding

At the recent CPBAO council meeting (which you can watch in full here), several members of the public voiced frustration that Ontarians cannot access psychologists. They are right. Waitlists are long, and many people cannot afford private care. But the proposed solution—lowering training standards—is misguided.

Here is the real problem:

  • Funding: Many psychologists leave the public sector because salaries in hospitals, schools, and community agencies do not reflect their training, expertise, or the cost of living. As a result, they move into private practice, where fees are out of reach for many individuals and families.
  • Coverage: Social workers, psychotherapists, and counsellors already provide excellent therapy across Ontario. The real bottleneck is diagnostic assessments, which only psychologists can do. Diluting training will not fix this bottleneck, it will only reduce quality.
  • Public Perception: Some argue “worse care is better than no care.” This is both ludicrous and plain false. Misdiagnosis can have serious consequences: the wrong medications, lost access to school or workplace accommodations, and years of delayed treatment.

If Ontario wants more accessible psychologists, the solution is to increase funding for publicly funded positions and expand OHIP coverage, not to lower the bar for entry.

Imagine This in Medicine

Consider the analogy: Ontario faces a shortage of family doctors. Imagine if the government told the College of Physicians and Surgeons that the solution was to graduate doctors after only two years of training instead of seven. The public would be outraged, and rightly so!

Why should it be different in psychology, where the stakes are also people’s health and safety?

What Comes Next

The government is moving quickly. The Ministry of Health has made it clear that there will be no pause in rolling out the new legislation. The CPBAO council has already voted, and we are now in a 60-day consultation period. This means we have a short window to make our voices heard.

Here’s what you can do:

  1. Sign and Share the Petition Our petition has already gathered over 2,600 signatures, and it is growing quickly. Yes, it was drafted before the final vote, so the language is a little broad—but it captures the core concern: lowering standards risks public safety. Instead of splintering efforts, we need to double down. Please sign and share widely. 👉 Sign the petition here
  2. Contact Your MPP Every Ontarian has a Member of Provincial Parliament who needs to hear from you. Use this tool to find your representative and send a message: 👉 Find your MPP Key points to include:
    • You support labour mobility and fairness in licensing.
    • You oppose lowering standards for psychologists, especially around supervised training and examinations.
    • The real solution is funding more positions in the public system and expanding OHIP coverage.
  3. Stay Engaged in Advocacy The Ontario Psychological Association and grassroots groups of psychologists are mobilizing. We are organizing meetings, media campaigns, and advocacy with government. Stay tuned for updates and coordinated actions.

Final Thoughts

As psychologists, we care deeply about access to mental health services. We want fairness for colleagues moving across provinces. We want diversity and equity in the profession. But none of that requires lowering training standards to the point of risking public safety.

Ontario has long been a leader in psychological training and regulation. The public deserves to know that when they see a psychologist, that person has undergone years of rigorous, supervised, evidence-based preparation. Diluting that standard would harm not only our profession, but the vulnerable Ontarians who rely on us.

Now is the time to act. Let’s rally together—colleagues, clients, and citizens—to ensure Ontario expands access to care without sacrificing excellence, integrity, and safety.

jennbossio Avatar

Dr. Jenn Bossio is a Clinical and Health Psychologist, the founder and director of the Tri Health Clinic—Ontario’s largest sex and couples therapy practice—and a passionate advocate for system-level change in mental health care. Based in Kingston, she was named Business Person of the Year (2025) and recognized as one of the Top 40 Under 40 (2024). Jenn is committed to redefining the role of psychologists in a rapidly evolving health care landscape.