The Registration Examination is a competency-based, simulation-style examination. Anyone planning to write the exam may choose to download and work through the Competency-Based Case Study Workbook from the COMPASS website. This workbook contains case studies focused on linking therapeutic processes to the core competencies for entry-to-practice psychotherapists. The reader is invited to consider the broad questions that follow each study in the context of the Entry-to-Practice Competency Profile for Registered Psychotherapists, the CRPO Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. It is estimated that each case study will take approximately 60 minutes to complete. At the conclusion of the workbook is a key to major competency areas typically used by practitioners to address the circumstances described in each case study. The key highlights the contexts in each case and is not intended to be exhaustive.
The online self-assessment tool available on the COMPASS website is designed to give candidates a preview of the style and format of the actual exam. The fee for the self-assessment is $42.50 plus applicable taxes (payable to COMPASS). For further inquiries and details regarding the online self-assessment tool, please visit the Contact Us page of COMPASS’ website.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to review the Entry-to-Practice Competency Profile for Registered Psychotherapists and to reflect on each competency area. Gauging your preparedness to apply these competencies to a variety of therapist-client settings will assist you in determining whether you need to revisit some of the practice-based texts you used during your education and training program or elsewhere, that focused on a particular competency area. Candidates may also review the Entry-to-Practice Registration Examination Resource Manual for detailed information about the development, structure and format of the exam. Though not exhaustive, the Manual also contains an informal list of the most commonly used entry-to-practice textbooks for the psychotherapy and counselling profession.
Note: Candidates will also receive an additional electronic information guide directly from COMPASS once they have successfully registered to write at the next sitting. In addition to a review of the structure and format of the exam, the information guide outlines the administrative procedures associated with writing it.