Application Timelines

Most applicants have their applications reviewed and are moved to the examination phase within three months from date of receipt of application. This includes AIT, Mobility and those applicants from APA/CPA accredited programs who’ve also completed APA/CPA accredited internships.

For first-time registrants with applications not needing additional information or clarification, the average length of time from receipt of the application to placement on the Register was approximately 12 months, in 2022.

Length of time is significantly impacted by any leave or extension on the part of the applicant, timeliness in studying for and taking examinations, success on examinations, and the accreditation status of the applicant’s graduate program. Applicants from APA and CPA programs and internships typically experience a significantly shorter time through to registration. For applicants coming from accredited programs, who pass all exams in a timely fashion, the process can be completed in 12 months or less.

For applicants without accredited doctoral training and who have not completed an accredited internship the process of determining whether an applicant’s knowledge, skills and abilities are substantially equivalent to the standards of academic or technical achievement and the competencies or other qualifications required of an applicant for registration as a registered psychologist under section 44(1) of the bylaws may add significant additional time to the processing and review of an application.

Applicants applying under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (AIT) labour mobility provisions or the National Register/ASPPB CPQ labour mobility (USA) provisions obtained placement on the Register within an average of 6.5 months, in 2022.  The process can be completed in less time if an applicant is motivated to do so and is timely about gathering / requesting required documentation and taking the required exam.

The College continues to actively track these time periods and will report on timeframe for applications on an ongoing basis. Most significant time delays for any category of registration are due to identified deficiencies in the applicant’s training, character or fitness to practice issues, as well as deferrals, parental leaves and other applicant-generated delays.