Education Requirements for Registration

CRPO requires a master’s-level program central to the practice of psychotherapy for registration. This can be a master’s degree or an equivalent graduate diploma that requires completion of a bachelor’s-level program for admission. The program must provide training in the Entry-to-Practice Competencies.

When you apply for registration with CRPO, you will need to indicate whether you have completed a recognized training program/accepted bridging program or a non-recognized program. You can use the information below to determine whether you completed a recognized/accepted program.

Recognized Programs

Recognized programs have submitted applications to demonstrate that they meet the minimum education requirements for registration. Recognition does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of a program by the College. If you have completed a recognized program, you don’t need to provide detailed information about your education and training. Except where otherwise noted, recognition is retroactive for a period of five years before the recognition date. If you graduated in the five years prior to the date of recognition, you are considered to have graduated from a recognized program.

Examples:

  • Your program was recognized on April 1, 2020. You graduated in 2018. Because you graduated within the five years prior to recognition, you can use the application for recognized programs.
  • Your program was recognized on April 1, 2020. You graduated in 2010. Because you graduated more than five years prior to recognition, you are not considered to have completed a recognized program. You must select the Non-recognized program application type and fill out the Mapping Tool.

Programs are recognized by the Registration Committee for a period of five years. At the end of each five-year period, the program must submit an application for renewal to demonstrate that the program still meets the minimum education requirements for registration. If a program’s recognition is not renewed, this will be noted below. Applicants who graduated prior to the end of recognition will still be considered to have completed a recognized program.

Program

Degree

Recognition Date

Adler Graduate Professional School Inc. (Toronto)
Master of Psychology
April 23, 2020
Athabasca University
Master of Counselling (Counselling Psychology)
June 17, 2022
Canadian Institute for Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Diploma for Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist
February 4, 2015
Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy
Art Psychotherapy Diploma
August 19, 2022
Centre for Training in Psychotherapy
Diploma of The Centre for Training in Psychotherapy
February 2, 2018
City University of Seattle (City University in Canada)
Master of Counselling
July 27, 2023
CREATE Institute
Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy
March 8, 2022*
Gestalt Institute of Toronto
Diploma, Five-Year Training Program in Gestalt Psychotherapy
June 11, 2014
Martin Luther University College (formerly Waterloo Lutheran Seminary), Wilfrid Laurier University
Master of Arts in Theology – Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy
July 31, 2018
Ontario Association of Jungian Analysts
Analyst Training Program
July 18, 2019
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Master of Education in Counselling Psychology – Counselling and Psychotherapy
September 24, 2014
Ontario Psychotherapy and Counseling Program
Diploma in Psychotherapy with focus on Psychodynamic Therapy
October 21, 2016
Saint Paul University
Master of Arts in Counselling and Spirituality
October 15, 2018
Toronto Art Therapy Institute
Graduate Level Diploma in Art Therapy
August 14, 2018
Toronto Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling Education
Certificate in Psychotherapy
April 23, 2020
Toronto Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis
Diploma in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
January 31, 2019
Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy
Diploma, Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy
June 17, 2015
Toronto Institute of Psychoanalysis
Certificate of Graduation as Psychoanalyst
December 9, 2016
Toronto School of Theology (Knox/Emmanuel College), University of Toronto
Master of Pastoral Studies, Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy Certificate
April 13, 2018
Transformational Arts College
Spiritual Psychotherapy Program
October 28, 2022
Tyndale University
Master of Divinity – Counselling Major – Clinical Stream
November 28, 2016
Tyndale University
Master of Arts in Clinical Counselling
May 6, 2022
University of Guelph
Master in Psychotherapy
February 9, 2024
University of Guelph
Master in Relational and Family Therapy (formerly M.Sc. Couple and Family Therapy Program)
November 12, 2015
Université de Hearst
Diplôme d'études supérieures en psychothérapie
July 22, 2021
University of Ottawa
Master of Education (M.Ed.)/Master of Arts in Education (M.A.) in Counselling Psychology
April 29, 2021
Vancouver Art Therapy Institute
Graduate Level Diploma in Art Therapy
November 10, 2020
Western University
Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology
June 6, 2016
Yorkville University
Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology
March 27, 2015

Accepted Bridging Program

Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto
Bridge to Registration and Employment in Mental Health (BREM) Registration Stream
April 25, 2019

For more information on the bridging program, please click here.

If a program is not listed above, it is not a recognized/accepted program. For information about applying from a non-recognized program, see here.

*Applicants who entered the program in or after September 2019 and who graduated on or after March 7, 2022 (the date of recognition) may apply through the recognized program application route. Applicants enrolled in the program prior to September 2019 must select the non-recognized program application type and fill out the Mapping Tool.

VERSION FRANÇAISE

See Also

Some recognized programs have also been granted clinical experience recognition. Click here for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

I see that a program on the list was recognized over five years ago. Is the program still recognized?

Programs are required to renew their recognition every five years. If they do not successfully renew their recognition, this will be noted next to the program name. If there is no note and the program is listed on this page, it is still recognized.

Can you recommend a program for my specific situation/interests?

CRPO can’t make recommendations. Please contact the programs directly for more information.

Are any of these programs offered online/part-time/in French?

Please contact the programs directly for more information.

Can I get transfer credits/advanced standing for previous training?

Please contact the programs directly for more information.

I don’t have a bachelor’s degree. Will I be accepted to a recognized program?

CRPO does not make decisions on whether someone is admitted to a recognized program. When you apply to CRPO, only your master’s-level training in psychotherapy is evaluated. If you have been admitted to and successfully completed a recognized program, you will be considered to have satisfied the education requirement for registration.

All students in recognized programs are expected to have completed bachelor’s-level education prior to beginning the master’s-level program. It is up to the education programs to set their own admissions criteria and assess whether potential students have suitable bachelor’s-level education. Please contact the program(s) you are interested in directly to see if they require a bachelor’s degree specifically or if they have a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) process in place to determine bachelor’s-level equivalence. Programs employing a PLAR process must ensure it meets CRPO’s PLAR Guidelines.

My school isn’t on this list. Can I apply for recognition on their behalf?

No, the recognition application must be submitted by the school. More information about the process of applying for recognition is available here.

Even if your school isn’t recognized, you can apply as an individual from a non-recognized program. See here.