CRPO often asks the public, members and stakeholders for their feedback on proposed policies, processes, standards and by-laws. This process of gathering input is called a consultation and helps to support CRPO’s work to protect the public interest.

Open Consultations

Supervision Tool

CRPO is seeking feedback on a draft Supervision Tool. The tool was approved by the Examination Committee to support RP (Qualifying) registrants in preparing for the Registration Exam and to assist with determining upgrading activities after two failed exam attempts prior to making a third attempt. The draft tool and feedback surveys for the tool can be found here.

Feedback on the content and format of the tool is due by October 16, 2023. Feedback on the use of the tool and feedback after receiving exam result is due by January 31, 2024. Feedback received from individuals will be anonymized prior to consideration by the Examination Committee.

Closed Consultations 2023

Emergency Class Registration Fee

CRPO is circulating a proposed by-law amendment setting an annual fee for registration in the Emergency Class category of registration. System Partners are welcome to complete the feedback survey by December 5, 2023.

In August 2023, the Ontario government enacted regulations for health regulatory colleges, including CRPO. These regulations create a new Emergency Class of registration. In appropriate circumstances, the Minister of Health, or CRPO Council, may determine there is an emergency requiring the expedited registration of RPs to serve Ontarians.

To be registered in the Emergency Class, an applicant must have been registered to practise psychotherapy in any regulated jurisdiction in which the requirements are similar to CRPO’s education, clinical experience, and registration examination requirements. Emergency Class registrants must practise with clinical supervision. An Emergency Class registrant may transfer to the Qualifying class of registration and follow the same requirements as all other applicants to transfer from Qualifying to the full RP category of registration.

CRPO is required to set an annual fee for the registration of Emergency Class registrants. CRPO is proposing the same fee as currently exists for Qualifying registrants. Both Emergency Class and Qualifying registrants have the opportunity to work toward full RP registration. Having the same fee promotes equity between the two registration categories.

The proposed fee would not affect current applicants or registrants. It would only apply in the future to individuals who register in the Emergency Class.

Proposed By-law Article 19.03 (vi.5):

The registration fee and the annual renewal fee for an Emergency Class certificate of registration is $321

Feedback on the consultation is posted here. Personally identifying information is removed except for individuals writing on behalf of organizations, e.g., psychotherapy professional associations or education programs.

Amendments to Registration Regulation (O. Reg 508/22)

This consultation was regarding proposed amendments to the Registration Regulation under the Psychotherapy Act, 2007 that would introduce an Emergency Class of registration, revise registration examination writing deadlines to coincide with the date of registration rather than application and clarify that at least one successfully completed program is required to meet the education requirement. This consultation closed on March 31, 2023. Click here for the survey results.

Modifications du Règlement de l’Inscription (Règl. de l’Ont. 508/22)

Cette enquête de consulation portait sur les modifications proposées au Règlement de l’inscription en vertu de la loi de 2007 des psychothérapeutes qui introduiraient une catégorie d’inscription d’urgence. Ainsi réviseraient aussi les délais de composition de l’examen d’inscription afin qu’ils coïncident avec la date à laquelle le certificat d’inscription a été issu au lieu de la date de récéption de la demande d’inscription à l’Ordre. Ces amendements au Règlement de l’inscription définissent la réussite d’au moins un programme pour satisfaire à l’exigence en matière de formation. Ce sondage a clôturé le 31 Mars 2023, pour le consulter cliquer ici.

Clinical Supervisor Definition

As part of carrying out its mandate of public protection, CRPO is seeking feedback from the public, Registered Psychotherapists and other interested parties on proposed amendments to the clinical supervisor definition. Feedback received through this survey will be considered by Council. Your feedback is appreciated. The deadline to submit feedback is April 30, 2023.
The draft revised definition is available here.

Définition du superviseur clinique

Dans la cadre de son mandat de protection du public, l’OPAO sollicite les commentaires du public, des psychothérapeutes autorisés et des autres parties intéressées sur les modifications proposées à la définition du superviseur clinique. Les commentaires reçus dans le cadre de ce sondage seront examinés par le Conseil. Vos commentaires sont appréciés. La date limite pour soumettre vos commentaires est le 30 avril 2023.
Le projet de définition révisée est disponible ici.

Professional Practice Standards

CRPO is seeking feedback on draft revised Professional Practice Standards.

The original standards were approved in 2014. Work on updating the standards has been ongoing since 2021 with the goal of ensuring they adequately protect the public, reflect evolving evidence, are fair to registrants and applicable across practice areas.

The document containing a summary of changes as well as the full draft revised standards can be accessed here. A shorter, abridged version is also available here.

This consultation closed on September 17, 2023. Feedback has been posted publicly.

Closed Consultations 2022

By-law Consultation: election and nomination timelines

This consultation closed on July 15, 2022. Click here for the survey results.

Closed Consultations 2021

College Performance Measurement Framework: By-law Changes

This consultation closed on July 15, 2021. Click here for the survey results.

Supervision Review Stakeholder Survey

This consultation closed on July 15, 2021. Click here for the survey results.

Closed Consultations 2020

Return to In-Person Practice Guidance

On June 8, 2020, CRPO circulated a survey to registrants and stakeholders via Special Coronavirus Bulletin #9. The consultation invited feedback on the CRPO’s return to in-person practice guidance. The consultation closed on July 31, 2020. Feedback can be reviewed here.

Clinical Experience for Registration Policy

On May 19, 2020, CRPO Council approved the draft Clinical Experience for Registration policy for public consultation. The consultation closed on July 31, 2020. Feedback can be reviewed here.

Review and Recognition Policy

On May 19, 2020, CRPO Council approved the draft Review and Recognition policy for public consultation. The consultation closed on July 31, 2020. Feedback can be reviewed here.

Closed Consultations 2019

Registration History on the Public Register

This was a modified version of a previous by-law consultation. Instead of posting a registrant’s past administrative suspensions on the public register indefinitely, this consultation proposed that a registrant’s past administrative suspensions would be posted on the public register for a minimum of one year. A registrant who has been in good standing for one year may request the notation of past administrative suspension to be removed from the public register. It was also proposed that a registrant’s past categories of registration (e.g. Inactive, Qualifying) be posted on the public register. This aspect of the proposed by-law has not changed. This consultation closed on December 9, 2019. Feedback can be reviewed here.

By-Law Redundancies

This consultation was regarding amending CRPO by-laws in order to remove certain by-law articles that duplicate recently created regulations concerning the posting of criminal charges and findings of guilt on the public register. Repealing the by-laws, which have inconsistent wording compared with the regulations, can help avoid confusion and misinterpretation. In June 2019, CRPO Council approved these proposed by-law changes to be publicly circulated. This consultation closed on October 3, 2019. Results of the consultation are posted here.

Police Record Checks

This public consultation was regarding making a criminal and judicial matters check a mandatory requirement of an initial application for registration. Currently, mandatory self-disclosures at initial registration and annual renewal are required; a police check is only requested by staff when an individual self-discloses a legal finding. A police check is requested in these cases to verify what the individual has reported. This public consultation closed October 3, 2019. Results of the consultation are posted here.

Registration History on the Public Register

At the March 1, 2019 Council meeting, College staff and Executive Committee recommended amendments to CRPO’s By-laws pertaining to posting registration history on the public register. Council discussed the proposed amendments and approved their circulation for 60-day public consultation. This consultation closed May 7, 2019. Feedback received can be reviewed here.

Draft Regulation Defining "Client" for Sexual Abuse Provisions

CRPO Council authorized a 60-day circulation of a draft regulation on Defining “Client” for Sexual Abuse Provisions. The draft regulation is available here.  This consultation closed on February 8, 2019. Feedback on the consultation is posted here.

Electronic Practice Guideline

CRPO Council authorized a 60-day circulation of a draft Electronic Practice Guideline and draft security practices checklist. The public consultation closed on February 8, 2019. Feedback is posted here.

Closed Consultations 2018

Draft Guideline: Sexual Contact with Former Clients beyond 5-Years Post Termination of Care

A draft guideline, Sexual Contact with Former Clients Beyond Five Years Post-Termination of Care, was posted for public consultation for 60 days, closing on September 13, 2018. Feedback received can be viewed here. The guideline is here.

Draft Regulation Categories of Prescribed Therapies Involving the Practice of Psychotherapy

On December 30, 2017, the government of Ontario proclaimed into force the controlled act of psychotherapy with a two-year transition period to allow the mental health sector a period of time in which individuals may become registered with one of the appropriate colleges or restrict their services so that they do not perform the controlled act.

In conjunction with the proclamation, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care directed the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) to provide more clarity on the meaning of the controlled act of psychotherapy.

CRPO engaged in a broad stakeholder consultation process to get input on the regulation. Feedback on the regulation was closed on June 15, 2018. Survey responses can be reviewed here.

Projet de règlement : catégories de thérapies prescrites comprisesdans la pratique de la psychothérapie

Documents de consultation de la Groupe de travail sur l’acte autorisé (Français)

Draft Policy for "Cooling Off" Period

CRPO received feedback for a 60-day period, closing June 9, on the draft Sexual Contact with Former Clients Within a Five-year “Cooling Off” Period Policy. CRPO Council recommended it for implementation in anticipation of the relevant section of Bill 87, Protecting Patients Act, 2017, being proclaimed into force. This is the section that will allow the CRPO to set out in regulation the time period for defining a “cooling off” period during which an individual would continue to fall under the definition of “client” for the purpose of the sexual abuse provisions of the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). This is an interim measure that is being proposed while we wait to be able to pass a regulation, since it is unknown how long the regulation making process will take.

Feedback received can be reviewed here.

By-law Review

CRPO asked for stakeholder input for 60 days on proposed changes to CRPO’s by-laws. Submissions received may be viewed here. More information about the changes, which were approved by Council, can be found here.

Controlled Act Task Group Draft Consultation Documents (English)

On December 30, 2017, the government of Ontario proclaimed into force the controlled act of psychotherapy. In conjunction with the proclamation, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care directed the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) to provide more clarity on the meaning of the controlled act of psychotherapy and what practices would not be considered to be part of the controlled act as provided by Registered Psychotherapists.

Specifically, CRPO was compelled to develop:

  • a regulation prescribing therapies involving the practice of psychotherapy, governing the use of prescribed therapies and prohibiting the use of therapies other than the prescribed therapies in the course of the practice of psychotherapy; and
  • policies and other supporting resources that clearly articulate the activities that Council does not consider to be part of the controlled act of psychotherapy. 
The deadline set by the Minister for the completion of this work was July 1, 2018.
In response to the Minister’s direction, CRPO has developed draft documents that were shared for review and comment. View the draft regulation and supporting documents here.

Draft Guideline: Disclosing Information to Prevent Harm

CRPO invited stakeholder comment on a Draft Guideline: Disclosing Information to Prevent Harm.

Received Submissions

Closed Consultations 2016

Transparency By-laws (Phase II)

CRPO invited stakeholder comment on this second phase of proposed by-law provisions designed to enhance transparency of College processes.

Criminal Record Checks

CRPO invited stakeholder comment regarding a possible implementation of a requirement that a completed criminal record check be submitted to the College by applicants and/or Members.

Professional Practice Standards

CRPO invited stakeholder comment on a new Professional Practice Standard: Affirming Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and a proposed change to Standard 3.1: Confidentiality.