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Updated June 2010

What is a Health Regulatory College?

Although health regulatory colleges are referred to as colleges, they are not schools. Health colleges were established by a law called the Regulated Health Professions Act  to protect a consumer’s right to safe, competent and ethical health care.

Each college is able to protect the consumer’s right to safe, competent and ethical health care by holding its registered health care professionals accountable for their conduct and practice. In Ontario, for example, there are a total of 22 colleges that govern more than 256,000 health professionals across the province.

Colleges are directed by councils or boards of directors, consisting of professionals (elected by their peers), as well as members of the public (appointed by the Lieutenant Governor) who represent the publics’ interests as a health care consumer.

Why Regulation?

Health regulatory colleges help to ensure excellence in care delivery. The colleges have the responsibility and legal authority to protect the public by:

• Setting and enforcing standards and guidelines for the practice and conduct of their members
• Making sure that regulated health professionals meet their training and educational standards before they can practice or use a professional title
• Developing programs to help members continually improve their skills and knowledge, upholding the quality of care
• Acting when you have a concern about your health care

The public has the confidence of knowing that only members of the colleges – regulated, highly trained health professionals – can use protected titles such as pharmacist, nurse, physician, massage therapist and dietitian.

Only these and other regulated health care professionals are accountable to a regulatory body for the quality of care they provide.

What is a Professional Health Association?

A professional health association, also called a professional  health body, professional health organization, or professional health society,  is a non-profit organization seeking to further a particular health profession and the interests of the individuals engaged in that profession, also acting from within the profession to safeguard the public interest.

In representing the interests of its professional practitioners, a professional health association is often involved in the development and monitoring of professional educational programs, and the updating of skills.

When does the new Psychotherapy Act come into effect?

Bill 171, of which the Psychotherapy Act, 2007 was a part, received Royal Assent on June 4, 2007. Only Sections I, 2 and 12 of the Act came into force at that time. They provide for the name of the new College; for incorporating the Health Professions Procedural Code into the Act; and for the transition period to set up the new College before the rest of the provisions come into force.

When will the new College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario be up and running?

It is impossible to predict how long the transition period will last, however, the time required to set up a new regulatory body can often take two years or more.

Who sets up the new College?

An entity known as the Transitional Council is responsible for setting standards for registration, processing applications, issuing certificates of registration, and setting application fees.  The Transitional is appointed by the provincial government. The Transitional Council for this new College began its work in November 2009 and anticipates having draft regulations ready for public comment in early 2011.

How was the Transitional Council chosen?

The members of the Transitional Council were appointed by the provincial government. There was a public selection process conducted by the Public Appointments Secretariat. The Transitional Council appointments were made public on October 23, 2009. Click here for more information.

What is the structure of the Transitional Council?

The Transitional Council has 13 members. Seven professional members and six members from the public.

The Council has three committees.

Executive Committee
Julius Nathoo (President)
Carol Cowan-Levine (Vice-President)
Philip McKenna
Kevin VanDerZwet Stafford
Thomas Wall

Professional Practice Committee
Development of the Professional Misconduct Regulation (and any related Practice Standards or Guidelines) for approval by Council and by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC), is the key responsibility of the Professional Practice Committee. The Professional Misconduct Regulation, must be in place in order for the Psychotherapy Act, 2007 to be proclaimed and the College to be viable.

Developing the Professional Misconduct Regulation is a statutory component of the public protection mandate of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.

Carol Cowan-Levine
Bikram DasGupta
Jack Ferrari
Irene Keroglidis
Julius Nathoo
Thomas O’Connor
Kevin VanderZwet Stafford (Chair)

Registration Committee
The key responsibility of the Registration Committee is to develop the Registration Regulation, including the qualifications, competency standards and other requirements for registration of psychotherapists and mental health therapists. Like the Professional Misconduct Regulation, the Registration Regulation must be approved by Council and the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (MOHLTC). It must be in place in order for the Psychotherapy Act, 2007 to be proclaimed and the College to be viable.

Heidi Ahonen
Carol Cowan-Levine
Linda Ann Daly
Annette Dekker
Pat DeYoung (Chair)
Philip McKenna
Julius Nathoo
Tom Wall

What process will be used to approve the new competency standards and requirements for registration?

The Transitional Council will develop a draft of the competency standards and requirements for registration. The Council will then put in place a process for a public review of their proposed requirements. Once they have received feedback they will revise the regulations.  The final Registration Regulations must be approved by Council and the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (MOHLTC).

Who will be regulated?

There will be two protected titles granted to registrants of the new College, Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Mental Health Therapist. The Transitional Council will develop standards and criteria for determining which registrants are certified under each of these professional titles. The Coalition has lobbied for an expansive approach to regulation that would include a broad range of mental health professionals.

Can I keep practicing legally using my current professional title?

Yes. Nothing will change during the period in which the Transitional Council is setting up the new College. You can continue to legally offer services under whatever professional title you are currently using. After you are registered with the new College, the College will provide further direction regarding titles.

Will members of Coalition partner groups automatically qualify for registration in the new College?

No. Registration will be conducted on an individual basis and each mental health professional will be required to apply independently and meet the standards and criteria established by the Transitional Council.

Should I be taking additional training now?

It is impossible to know at this time as the requirements for joining the new College have not yet been announced.

If I don’t qualify for registration, how long will I have to upgrade my qualifications?

The Transitional Council will develop the criteria for assessing the right combination of academic training and professional experience that will be required to register. Each applicant that does not qualify initially will be provided with precise information about the upgrading required and the relevant timelines.

What about grandparenting?

Grandparenting is a mechanism that allows new regulatory bodies to register members who do not meet the academic/clinical requirements but who can show that they have relevant experience in the field. The Transitional Council will decide the timelines and qualifications necessary for the grandparenting of experienced practitioners of psychotherapy.

How much will it cost to join the new College?

The fees will depend largely on the number of registrants. The fees vary in Colleges governed by the Regulated Health Professions Act depending on the size of the membership. The approximate annual fee for psychologists is $795.00; occupational therapists, $500.00; social workers, $340.00; and nurses, $124.00.

Is there any advantage to belonging to a professional association at this time i.e. will belonging to an association grant me easier entry into the College when it begins registration?

When new regulatory colleges begin registration one of the options they may choose is one called “Porting”. “Porting” assumes that existing entry to designated professional associations has required practitioners to demonstrate sufficient competency to meet the requirements of the new regulatory body. It is possible that the new College in Ontario may allow porting but this has not yet been determined. Neither has it been determined which associations will be eligible for porting their members.

Professional associations offer services and benefits to members. Each association is different and you must decide which one best suits your needs. However, you should note that the professional associations especially those that belong to the Ontario Coalition are carefully watching the activities of the Transitional Council and are keeping abreast of new developments. At least one member of the Ontario Coalition Steering Committee has attended the open meetings of the Transitional Council since its inception in November 2009.

Belonging to a professional association will keep you connected and aware of information as it is released from the new College. Your professional association also advocate on behalf of its members to government.

If I’m already in a regulated profession such as psychology or social work, will I have to also register in the new College?

No. You can continue to practice in the regulated profession of which you are already a member. However, if you wish to practice under the protected title of Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Mental Health Therapist you must register in the new College or risk legal sanctions.

Will all registrants of the new College be able to perform the Controlled Act of Psychotherapy?

The Transitional College will develop criteria for granting the Controlled Act to registrants of the new College. The Act does not specify who among the registrants will be granted the Controlled Act, it only defines the Controlled Act. The Coalition has already conducted an initial review of relevant case law in Ontario and Alberta in order toaddress this important policy issue.

Is the same true for the other regulated professions granted the Controlled Act of Psychotherapy?

Yes. The Psychotherapy Act,2007 grants the Controlled Act to physicians, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists and social workers. Their respective regulatory bodies will establish standards and criteria for granting the Controlled Act to members who meet the qualifications..

Should I join a professional association or will I still need to be a member of my professional association after joining the new College?

Colleges and professional associations have two distinct and totally separate functions. Colleges exist to serve and protect the interests of the public, the consumers of services, while professional associations exist to serve the interests of its members and the profession, the providers of services. There are clear benefits to retaining membership in your professional association after joining the new College. Your association will advocate on behalf of your profession, potentially provide liability insurance and will be an excellent source of information for you if the laws and regulations regarding the profession change.  Your association will help you interpret these changes and will be lobbying the government if the changes adversely affect your practice or public protection.