REGULATING PSYCHOLOGISTS IN NOVA SCOTIA SINCE 1980
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This section is intended for applicants who wish to become registered as a psychologist in Nova Scotia but who are not authorized to practice independently as a psychologist in another jurisdiction.
For greater clarity, this section is intended for applicants who have obtained their academic credentials from an institution in Canada or the US, and who:
The Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology works hard to make the registration process as easy to understand as possible. Application information is available under the Section of the website “Those not Registered as Psychologist,” here.
Under The Nova Scotia Psychologists Act, Regulations & Board Policy, applicants who want to register with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology must meet the following criteria:
The Board’s academic requirements include completion of a minimum period of supervised work in the form of a practicum or internship as part of the academic training program. Applicants must have psychological work experience in the particular area(s) for which they are declaring. For more information, see the Work Experience section of the following document.
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Registration_Requirements_Regular.pdf
All applicants to the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology are required to complete a Declaration of Competence, Capacity and Character as part of their application. The Declaration requires applicants to provide details about their current and past conduct.
Appropriate Competence, Capacity and Character are on-going expectations of registrants of the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology to safely and ethically practise. Registrants, as members of a self-regulating health profession, are required to provide declarations to the Board as part of their initial application and at the time of their annual registration renewal process.
This requirement is initially assessed throughout the completed application, particularly under the Core Competency section for Ethics and Standards.
Prior to registration with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology, applicants are required to attest that they have reviewed the relevant local jurisprudence, standards, and resources. For information purposes, a document on the Attestation Process is accessible directly below.
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Information_Attestation.pdf
The Board requires candidates to pass the EPPP and Oral Exam. For more information about the examination and candidacy requirements, please see the following URL:
https://www.nsbep.org/information-for-registrants/for-candidate-registrants/faq/
If an applicant holds a certificate of registration as a psychologist in another jurisdiction, the standards of which the Board determines to be equivalent to the requirements of Subsections 15 (1) or (2) of the Act. the Board may waive any or all requirements in Subsection 15(1) or (2) of the Act. For reference, the relevant excerpts are available from the URL below:
You may begin compiling documents and complete your application to the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology prior to arriving in Nova Scotia, if applicable.
A pathway document has also been created to help guide applicants through the registration process. Here is a link to the document:
https://nsbep.org/downloads/New_Applicant_Flowchart.pdf
A link is also provided directly below which provides an outline of costs related to the registration process with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology:
https://www.nsbep.org/applicants/listing-of-fees-for-all-applicants/
2.1 Complete the Online Application Form
2.1 a) Here is a link to the Online Application Guide which should be reviewed before starting with the Online Application:
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Online_Regular_Application_Guide.pdf
2.1 b) Here is a link to the actual Online Application System:
https://secure.nsbep.org/regular_applicant_login.php
2.2 Provide Supporting Documentation to accompany your Application
2.2.1 Curriculum Vitae (resume)
2.2.2 Photo ID
2.2.3 Criminal check
2.2.4 Child Abuse Check / Declaration
2.2.5 Transcripts
2.2.6 Information about your program of study including coursework
Please refer to following Guide which outlines in detail what we expect for Supporting Documentation:
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Supporting_Documentation.pdf
2.3 Arrange for Supplemental Forms to be completed and provided to the Board
2.3.1 Psychological Practice Profile
2.3.2 Reference Form
2.3.3 Confirmation of Standing Form
2.3.4 Supervisor’s Consent
Those who wish to complete any of the above forms in advance of the online application, may download the forms via the below link. However, the following supplemental forms are included within the sequence of the Online Application Process, so the below link is optional.
https://www.nsbep.org/supplemental-forms/
Once all requirements of your application are completed and the application is submitted, the Registration Subcommittee of the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology will review your application. The assessment process and criteria is outlined in the following PDF:
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Registration_Requirements_Regular.pdf
When complete, the application is submitted to the Board of Examiners for the next meeting of the the Registration Subcommittee. The Registration Subcommittee typically meets every calendar month except August. Due to the workload volume and required processes for the Registration / Review Subcommittees and the Board, it is necessary for the the Board to impose a two week cutoff for any agenda items. This means that all agenda items must be complete and submitted two weeks in advance of monthly meetings. This includes but is not limited to the following: applications for registration, requests for oral exams, or any other registration items. In the event that an applicant misses the monthly deadline, no documentation has to be re-completed or resubmitted, the application will simply be reviewed at the next meeting.
A listing of all Registration Subcommittee meeting dates, is available via the following link:
https://www.nsbep.org/about-nsbep/information-for-registrantsfor-all-registrantsnewsmeeting_dates/
Once the the Registration Subcommittee has completed its assessment of your application materials, you will be contacted in writing, typically within 2 weeks. To facilitate this communication, the registration decision will typically be sent to you via email.
There are three possible outcomes following this assessment by the Registration Subcommittee of the Board:
If an application for registration is approved with NSBEP, the Board requires the applicant to complete the Attestation Process prior to being granted registration.
Once the Attestation Process is completed, and the registration fee is paid, the applicant is registered with the NSBEP.
Information concerning the registration fees and professional liability requirements is outlined via this link:
https://www.nsbep.org/about-nsbep/all-fees/
1. Online Application Guide
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Online_Regular_Application_Guide.pdf
2. Supporting Documentation Explanatory PDF
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Supporting_Documentation.pdf
3. Supplemental Forms page
https://www.nsbep.org/supplemental-forms/
4. Core Competencies in Psychology
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Core_Competencies.pdf
5. Requirements and Criteria for Assessing Regular Applicants
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Registration_Requirements_Regular.pdf
6. Attestation Process
https://www.nsbep.org/downloads/Information_Attestation.pdf
We welcome enquiries by either phone or email. However, email may offer the opportunity for you to receive a considered response and often makes communication more efficient as the applicant and the Board Office may be in different time zones. If you have asked for a reply, a staff member will answer your email as soon as possible. We aim to respond within 24-48 hours on working days but may respond more quickly if we are able to do so.
The Board staff and contact information is available via the contact us page:
Please note this section is for visitors to submit comments. Submissions through this form are not responded to. Please see the “Contact Us” section if you are making an enquiry and wish to receive a response.
Copyright © 2021 Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology.