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Important message from the CCPCP Board of Directors…

Change is in the wind.

As you may know, several provinces are proposing changes to legislation that will impact providers of mental health services throughout Canada.  This makes the role of the Canadian College of Professional Counselling Practitioners (CCPCP) more important than ever before in providing a self-regulatory college for practitioners who are not governed by a provincial college. 

Provinces like Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec have already passed legislation that restricts the practice of psychotherapy, and other mental health therapies.  Other provinces are considering passage of similar legislation.  Although regulations in your province may still be in the planning stage, many practitioners who incorporate mental health into their practice (such as nurses, vocational counsellors, life coaches, theologians, and holistic healers) are concerned that if excluded from membership in a Provincial college, their right to provide mental health services may be restricted. 

National or Provincial… which Regulatory College is the best choice for you?  There are several variables to consider and details can be confusing.   Here’s a snapshot of the basic differences:

Canadian College of Professional Counselling Practitioners; national, voluntary and self-regulated:  The primary mandate of the CCPCP is to protect the public from harm.  Members, who voluntarily submit to outside oversight, maintain consistently high ethical standards and best practices.  In the unlikely event a complaint is lodged against a CCPCP member, the Board of Directors and Ethics Committee will investigate the matter using fair and thorough protocol. This layer of consumer protection raises the level of public confidence in its members.

CCPCP’s ‘inclusive model’ welcomes members from a variety of educational backgrounds and professional associations.  Practitioners who provide mental-health related services and meet core competency requirements are invited to apply.  The CCPCPR and CCPCPR.cand. designations give members the professional recognition associated with the pursuit of excellence.   The CCPCP website maintains a directory of active members.   An increasing number of insurance companies and EAPs are adding CCPCP Registered members to their list of preferred providers.   Liability insurance at reduced rates is available for full and candidate members.  Students also invited to apply. 

Provincial regulatory colleges regulate and restrict the practice of certain professions that fall within the governance of the provincial college.  Like the CCPCP, the mandate of provincial regulatory colleges is to protect the public from harm.   Complaints against provincial college members go to ethics committees, and/or the crown prosecutor with the legislative authority to investigate, discipline, and/or rescind a member’s right to practice.    Provincial colleges vary in their criteria for membership.  Some provinces recognize competency-based standards, while others require a masters’ degree along with years of supervised clinical experience.  Liability insurance coverage is not offered through provincial colleges.

Cost: CCPCP Annual fees: Full Members-$200, Candidate members – $150, Student members – No charge – Typical fees for professional associations and provincial college can average $300 – $800 per year.