Ontario has two psychology titles: psychologist needs a doctoral degree, psychological associate needs a master's plus at least 6,000 hours over at least four years. Both routes run through supervised practice, the EPPP, the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination, and an oral examination.
Applies in: Ontario
Written November 13, 2026
Choose your title first. In Ontario, a psychologist needs a doctoral degree in psychology; a psychological associate needs a master's degree plus at least four years of supervised work experience. Both routes then run through a certificate authorizing supervised practice (at least 1,500 hours), the EPPP, the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination, and an oral examination, all with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario. The requirements sit in Ontario Regulation 193/23 under the Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act, 2021.
This guide walks the Ontario routes only. The degree that earns the psychologist title in Ontario is not the degree every province requires, and Ontario's psychological associate title has no exact equivalent in most other provinces.
The College now styles itself the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario, because it also regulates behaviour analysts under the 2021 Act. Older pages and documents still show the College of Psychologists of Ontario, or CPO. Both names point at the same regulator, and its current registration documents, including the July 2025 interim autonomous practice guidelines, use the longer name and define College as the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario.
Education. A doctoral degree from a psychology program accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association, or by another accrediting body that has been approved by Council for that purpose. The regulation frames this as a non-exemptible requirement: it cannot be waived.
Supervised practice. A minimum of 1,500 hours of postdoctoral supervised practice, approved by the Registrar or a panel of the Registration Committee, performed while holding a certificate of registration for a psychologist authorizing supervised practice and while under the supervision of a member who meets the regulation's requirements. The College's registration materials put the same period at a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 24 months, under two College members authorized for autonomous practice.
Examinations. Three, all non-exemptible: the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards; the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination; and the oral examination, each set or approved by Council where the regulation says so. The College's flowchart adds one more possible step before the oral examination: any further professional training or experience the Registration Committee directs, where it judges that training is needed to ensure competence for autonomous practice in your intended area of practice. The College's Training Plan Manual explains that this training plan must be documented and its completion verified before approval to attend an oral examination is given.
Getting started. The College's steps chart for applicants whose doctoral degree was obtained in Canada or the United States starts with the Supervised Practice Application Form, including a Declaration of Good Character, and the fee. The Registrar reviews the complete application, including academic transcripts sent directly from the university and proof of acceptable Ontario supervisors and an Ontario work setting. Applicants who have not yet secured an Ontario work setting and supervisors may still request a Statement of Eligibility, which confirms that their academic credentials are acceptable for registration as a psychologist.
Education. A master's degree in psychology. Ontario does not force master's-level applicants onto the doctoral track; it registers them under a different title with the same examinations at the end.
Experience before supervised practice. Following the awarding of the master's degree, at least 6,000 hours of practice of the profession over at least four years, while under the supervision of a member holding a certificate authorizing autonomous practice as a psychologist or as a psychological associate.
Supervised practice year. At least 1,500 hours of practice performed while holding a certificate of registration for a psychological associate authorizing supervised practice, under a member who meets the regulation's supervision requirements.
Examinations. The same three: EPPP, Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination, and oral examination. The Canadian Psychological Association's licensing summary puts the shared shape plainly for Ontario: EPPP at a scaled score of 500, the jurisprudence and ethics examination, and an oral examination for both the doctoral and master's levels.
Section 3 of the registration regulation sets requirements for all certificates of registration. An applicant must provide details of matters such as a conviction for a criminal offence or an offence related to the regulation of the profession; must be able, with reasonable fluency, to speak and write either English or French; and must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) to engage in the practice of the profession. The application itself is made by submitting an application to the Registrar together with the application fee required under the College's by-laws.
If you are fully registered or licensed for autonomous or independent practice as a psychologist in another jurisdiction, with no restrictions and in good standing, and you practised the profession at any time during the two years immediately before applying in Ontario, you may qualify for a certificate authorizing interim autonomous practice. The College's guidelines describe it as a time-limited, temporary period during which the member completes the requirements for a certificate authorizing autonomous practice in Ontario. There are parallel sections of the regulation for psychologists (section 8) and psychological associates (section 19). The route is not intended for holders of temporary, limited, provisional, or supervised licences in their home jurisdiction.
The College's fee by-law is mid-amendment on the pages opened for this guide, with current and replacement amounts shown side by side for the application, oral examination, and annual fees, so this guide carries no fee figures at all rather than guess which column applies on the day you apply. The opened pages also do not state a processing time for a supervised practice application. Check the by-law in force on the College site when you budget for the application.
The College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario, under the Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act, 2021 and Ontario Regulation 193/23. The College registers two psychology titles: psychologist and psychological associate.
A doctoral degree from a psychology program accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association or by another accrediting body approved by Council for that purpose. There is no master's-level route to the psychologist title in Ontario; the master's route leads to the psychological associate title instead.
A master's degree in psychology, at least 6,000 hours of practice of the profession over at least four years under supervision following the degree, then at least 1,500 hours of practice while holding a certificate of registration for a psychological associate authorizing supervised practice, and the same three examinations as the psychologist route: the EPPP, the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination, and the oral examination.
At least 1,500 hours of supervised practice, over at least 12 months and no more than 24 months. For the psychologist route, the hours are postdoctoral supervised practice performed while holding a certificate of registration authorizing supervised practice, under members of the College who meet the regulation's supervision requirements.
Three: the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards; the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination (JEE) set or approved by Council; and the oral examination set or approved by Council. The College's flowchart also lists any additional training the Registration Committee directs before the oral examination.
Ontario has a certificate of registration authorizing interim autonomous practice for that situation. It is intended for applicants fully registered or licensed for autonomous practice in another jurisdiction, in good standing, who practised the profession at any time during the two years before applying. It is a time-limited certificate held while the member completes the requirements for a certificate authorizing autonomous practice in Ontario.