What legislation and government bodies govern the College?

The College is governed by the Health Professions Act, the Psychologists Regulation, and the College Bylaws (which include the Code of Conduct). The responsibilities and obligations of each Committee, the Board, and the Registrar are detailed in the legislation. The Office of Professional Regulation under the Ministry of Health has some oversight over the professional regulatory Colleges, and the Office of the Ombudsman has the authority to investigate complaints about regulatory bodies.


How do activities of the College relate to protection of the public?

A primary objective of professional regulation is to instill confidence in the public that the professionals providing them with services are accountable to a body that has the authority to regulate in the public interest. The College is responsible for investigating complaints brought against its registrants, and for resolving those complaints in a manner that addresses public protection concerns. In addition, the College’s role in evaluating new applicants for registration and evaluating credentials in psychology as well as in monitoring and enforcing the College’s continuing competency requirements are other ways in which the College functions to meet its public protection mandate.


How many individuals are on the College register?

As of January 1, 2007, there were 1075 psychologists and psychological associates registered with the College.


What is the difference in training and scope of practice between registered psychologists and registered psychological associates?

Individuals who have completed training in psychology at the doctorate level are eligible to become “registered psychologists.” Individuals who have completed training at the master’s level in psychology are eligible to become “registered psychological associates.” The registration criteria for psychological associates include three years of post-degree supervised experience in psychology. There is no difference in scope of practice between a registered psychological associate and a registered psychologist.


What does it mean if someone is on the Limited Register?

The Bylaws differentiate between registrants on the Full Register and registrants on the Limited Register of the College. Registrants on the Full Register are working in psychology without any restrictions or limitations on their practice. Registrants on the Limited Register have limitations or conditions placed on their practice. Registrants on the Limited Register may be on the Register for a number of reasons including temporary absences from their practice, incomplete coursework, disciplinary sanctions or agreements, or competency concerns. For example, an individual may have a restriction on their practice based on a decision of either the Registration or the Inquiry Committee, a registrants may be limited in their practice areas by voluntary agreement due to a competency complaint, and new registrants may have conditions placed on their practice because they require additional supervision prior to being placed on the Full Register. Other examples include that registrants may be on the Limited Register because they are on sabbatical, maternity leave, or are temporarily out of the province.

Registrants are placed on the Limited Register for a variety of reasons. One reason is that an individual has a restriction on their practice based on a decision of either the Registration or the Inquiry Committee. Examples include registrants who have voluntarily agreed not to practice in a certain area subsequent to a complaint, or new registrants who require additional supervision prior to being placed on the Full Register. Another main reason is that currently, registrants may place themselves on the Limited Register because they are on sabbatical, maternity leave, or are temporarily out of the province.


If someone was identified to the College as identifying him or herself as a psychologist inappropriately, how would the College proceed?

The College investigates all matters relating to violations of the Psychologists Regulation, which prohibits the use of the titles “psychologist” and “psychological associate,” abbreviations of these terms, and descriptions which imply training, experience, or expertise as a psychologist. In situations where someone is deemed to be in violation of the Psychologists Regulation, the College will take action to try to bring the individual into compliance with the law.


I want to make a complaint against a registrant of the College. How do I proceed?

To make a complaint, you can call the College for a complaint package, or simply send in a letter specifying that you wish to make a complaint. If you have any documents relating to your complaint, please send a copy of these as well. The College address is 404-1755 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6J 4S5; Phone number: (604)736-6164; (800) 665-0979; Fax Line (604) 736-6133.


Is there a statute of limitations on complaints?

There is no legislative time limit to when a complaint must be made. However, complaints are evaluated on the basis of the laws and standards that were in place at the time of the alleged misconduct. Changes in laws and standards over time may affect the materiality of a complaint. Most importantly, the influx of time may prejudice investigations into a complaint. Evidence and documents concerning a complaint may become unavailable or less reliable with the passage of time.


What is the College's complaint process?

Once a written complaint is received, it is brought forward to the Inquiry Committee of the College. The Inquiry Committee is responsible under the law to investigate all written complaints received by the College. An investigation may include requesting additional information from the complainant, obtaining the respondent’s practice records, and asking the respondent questions about their conduct. At the end of the investigation both the complainant and the respondent receive a report on the decision and the conclusions of the Committee.


Do respondents have access to who made the complaint about them?

The respondent (person complained about) is informed almost immediately when a complaint is received. Registrants are provided with preliminary information about the nature of the complaint and the name of the person who made the complaint, except in extreme circumstances where a complainant expresses great fear or safety concerns. In this latter case, the Committee may be able to withhold the name on a temporary basis. Principles of administrative law include the right to know who is lodging a complaint and the basis of the complaint.


Does all correspondence become part of the complaint file? When are documents submitted by complainants released to the respondent?

All documents and materials relating to a complaint form part of the complaint file. The question of when documents are released touches on the balance between timely (i.e., immediate) notification that a complaint has been received and the process of reviewing the complaint to determine or clarify the specific allegations and concerns. This review includes a thorough reading of relevant clinical records or other documentation, and identification of standards of the Code of Conduct that pertain to the allegations, a process which can take the Inquiry Committee some months depending on the volume and complexity of complaints. When asked to respond to any questions or concerns, the respondent is provided with a complete copy of all the materials that will be before the Committee in making a decision about the matter.


What is the length of time of an investigation?

The average time from complaint receipt to closure is presented in the Annual Reports. Typically, time to closure is between 6 and 18 months, depending on the complexity of the complaint and the volume of complaints before the Inquiry Committee.


What information will I get at the end of a complaint investigation? Is this information public?

A decision report is drafted by the Inquiry Committee for every complaint investigation and sent to both the complainant and the respondent. The report contains a summary of the complaint allegations, the complaint investigation process, and the decision and conclusions of the Committee based on its investigation of the allegations. The report is confidential in nature under section 53 of the Health Professions Act and is not compellable in court or in any proceedings of a judicial nature, subject to the conditions outlined in section 53(3)(a) or (b) of the Act.


What is the typical outcome of a complaint investigation?

Many complaints are dismissed because there is insufficient evidence of an ethical violation, or because the College lacks jurisdiction. While it is understandable that a complainant might wish for a different outcome, or feel that disciplinary action is appropriate, the Inquiry Committee must have an evidentiary basis for referring the complaint to the Discipline Committee. Among the complaints in which the Inquiry Committee identifies concerns, most are resolved through the voluntary participation of the registrant in addressing those concerns.


What are the typical terms of a consent agreement or letter of undertaking to resolve a complaint matter?

Information on the nature of consensual resolutions obtained each year is available in the College’s Annual Reports. The terms of each agreement are negotiated with the respondent. Many agreements involve the incorporation of procedural changes to the individual’s practice, such as improving the informed consent procedure at intake, being clearer about reporting relationships, identifying “who is the client,” etc. In other cases, the respondent may agree to apologize to a complainant or other party, write a paper or take a course to remediate knowledge deficits, exclude some professional activities from their practice until additional competence in those activities has been achieved, or practice under supervision for a period of time. In the small number of very serious cases resolved by way of an Undertaking, respondents have agreed to a suspension of their registration for a specified time, an assessment of their fitness to practice or their competency, or the cancellation of their registration. 


Can I ask for a review if the Inquiry Committee decides to dismiss my complaint?

If you have a general concern, you may wish to review the Health Professions Act, the Psychologists Regulation, the College Bylaws, and the Code of Conduct, which contains the standards that govern registrants’ behavior. All of these documents are available on the College website. You may also direct any questions to the College for a response. If you are still unsatisfied, you may bring your concerns to the Ombudsman.


What can I do if I have concerns about what the College is doing?

If you have a general concern, you may wish to review the Health Professions Act, the Psychologists Regulation, the College Bylaws, and the Code of Conduct, which contains the standards that govern registrants’ behavior. All of these documents are available on the College website. You may also direct any questions to the College for a response. If you are still unsatisfied, you may bring your concerns to the Ombudsman.


How does the College handle requests under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act?

All requests are reviewed to ensure compliance with privacy rights under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.


I need a referral to a psychologist. How do I find one?

The College of Psychologists of British Columbia does not have a referral service. This list is provided as a public service and includes the names and contact information for several organizations that might be useful in your search. The list is not intended to confer an opinion or rating of the psychologists or psychological associates found through any of the organizations below. 

• Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. (www.crhspp.ca) (613) 562-0900
• British Columbia Psychological Association (www.psychologists.bc.ca) (604) 730-0522 or 1-800-730-0522
• Information Services Vancouver (www2.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/DBs/Redbook/htmlPgs/home.html) (604) 875-6381

If a practitioner is a Registered Psychologist or a Registered Psychological Associate, they will be listed with the College of Psychologists. You can verify a practitioner’s credentials yourself by calling the College. Ask if the practitioner is registered and if there are any limitations on his or her practice. You can also find information about a psychologist’s status on our website under Verify Registration Status (www.collegeofpsychologists.bc.ca/verify.php).

People also access psychologists through local clinics and hospitals, on referral from their family physicians, or through the recommendation of friends, family members, religious leaders or teachers.