British Columbia Psychology Licensure Requirements

500

CHCPBC states a passing EPPP score of 500 or higher. This is the College's own stated number (not assumed from the US convention). The EPPP must be passed BEFORE the applicant may sit the College's Oral Examination. BC has not adopted an EPPP Part 2 requirement; Bylaw Schedule 6 names only the EPPP and the Oral Examination.

BC requires NO postdoctoral supervised hours. Bylaw 6.14 sets the standard route as (a) a CPA- or APA-accredited doctorate in psychology, (b) a CPA/APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship, and (c) the EPPP plus Oral Examination — no post-doctoral practice period is listed. The numeric hour figures come from Schedule 8 (Equivalency Determination criteria), which the Licence Committee applies to applicants from non-CPA/APA-accredited programs: a minimum of 600 hours of pre-degree practical experience (practicum) and a pre-doctoral internship of at least 1600 hours of supervised experience (full-time over one calendar year, or half-time over two consecutive years at the same program). preDoc = the 1600-hour internship; total = 600 practicum + 1600 internship = 2200. Applicants graduating from CPA/APA-accredited programs satisfy the requirement through accreditation rather than by counting hours, so the College does not state an hour figure for them.

Not required

No standalone jurisprudence or ethics examination. Bylaw Schedule 6 specifies exactly two licensure examinations for psychology, in order: the EPPP, then a College-administered Oral Examination. The Oral Examination (case-vignette based, up to 90 minutes, by videoconference, offered about three times a year) covers eight skill areas, two of which are 'Professional Ethics and Standards' and 'Legal and Regulatory Mandates' (BC laws and regulations, confidentiality, record keeping, abuse reporting). The Oral Examination is required for all psychologist applicants EXCEPT CFTA and US Mobility applicants. School Psychologist applicants instead take the Praxis School Psychologist Examination followed by the College's written Readiness for Practice Examination (RPE).

Fee: CAD $930.00 (Oral Examination - Psychology); CAD $350.00 (Readiness for Practice Examination, school psychology)

Set required:false on affirmative evidence: Schedule 6 of the CHCPBC Bylaws exhaustively lists the licensure examinations for psychology and names only the EPPP and the Oral Examination. The Oral Examination may be taken up to two times; a rating of 'Effective' or 'Highly Effective' is the minimum pass in each of the eight skill areas.

1. Earn a doctorate in psychology from a program accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) or the American Psychological Association (APA); graduates of non-accredited or international programs instead apply for an Equivalency Determination by the CHCPBC Licence Committee.
2. Complete a CPA/APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship; under the Equivalency Determination criteria this means at least 600 hours of pre-degree supervised practicum plus an internship of at least 1600 supervised hours. No postdoctoral supervised practice is required in BC.
3. Apply to the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC) for a Full Licence: Psychology, paying the CAD $380 application fee and submitting transcripts, verification of licensure, a criminal record check authorization, and proof of English language proficiency.
4. Once the College confirms your documentation and education are in order, register for and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) with a scaled score of 500 or higher; the College charges a CAD $150 EPPP administrative fee and must receive it before verifying your eligibility with Pearson VUE.
5. Pass the College-administered Oral Examination (CAD $930), a case-vignette examination of up to 90 minutes by videoconference, scored across eight skill areas including professional ethics and standards and BC legal and regulatory mandates.
6. If you need to practise while completing exams or an equivalency review, apply for a Provisional Licence and practise under the supervision of a College-approved Full licensee (maximum one-year term plus a one-time six-month extension; no more than two supervisors).
7. Receive your Full Licence on payment of the annual licence fee (CAD $1,630) and proof of professional liability insurance, then renew annually by March 31.

Not eligible — U.S. compact

PSYPACT does not apply in Canada. BC's route is Canadian labour mobility. Bylaw 6.5 lets an applicant be issued a Full Licence if they hold a registration or licensure in another Canadian jurisdiction that is the equivalent of a CHCPBC Full Licence in Good Standing and is not subject to any practice restrictions, limits or conditions — the applicant then submits a reduced application (identity, criminal record check, fees) rather than re-doing education and examinations. CHCPBC describes this as 'a streamlined registration process in accordance with the CFTA, BC Labour Mobility Act, and CHCPBC's Bylaws.' CFTA applicants are exempt from the Oral Examination. Bylaw 6.5 also covers out-of-Canada licensees whose registration the Licence Committee considers to have been granted under substantially equivalent eligibility standards; CHCPBC operates a US Mobility pathway for applicants holding an active US psychologist licence plus either an ASPPB Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) or National Register (NRHSP) credentialing, and US Mobility applicants are likewise exempt from the Oral Examination. Indicative CHCPBC timelines: about 1 month for applicants currently licensed in another Canadian jurisdiction, about 3 months for US CPQ/NRHSP applicants, about 8 months for CPA/APA-accredited graduates, and 12+ months for non-accredited or internationally educated applicants.

College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia

(604) 736-6164

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