Telepsychology

In the context of telepsychology, NSRP interprets “practice” as occurring in the jurisdiction where the psychologist is registered. Accordingly, psychologists registered and licensed by a regulatory authority elsewhere in Canada may provide telepsychology services directly to clients in Nova Scotia without additional NSRP registration. This provision is limited to direct telepsychology services and does not permit supervision of individuals (e.g., students, psychometrists, etc.) providing in-person services to clients in Nova Scotia. Psychologists registered in other jurisdictions must obtain registration with NSRP to provide in-person psychology services in Nova Scotia. For temporary in-person services, NSRP offers a Courtesy Register.

Individuals provisionally registered with a psychology regulatory body in another Canadian jurisdiction (for example, as candidates or provisional psychologists) may provide telepsychology to clients in Nova Scotia without NSRP registration, if they work under the supervisor approved by their home regulatory body for that provisional registration. This reflects the accountable supervision model used in many jurisdictions and aligns with the ACPRO Model Standards for Telepsychology Service Delivery (see the Practice Advisory on Telepsychology below).

The supervisor accepts professional responsibility for these services. The provisionally registered individual remains responsible for meeting their home regulator’s requirements, including any limits on seeing clients outside that jurisdiction, and for ensuring their insurance covers cross-jurisdictional practice.

This applies to virtual services only. 

The NSRP has temporarily suspended some conditions for the provision of its courtesy register for the provision of telehealth services into Nova Scotia for existing clients by psychologists registered by a regulatory authority outside of Canada.  For the provision of services via telepsychology to an existing client located in Nova Scotia, send an email to notify NSRP E-mail
In this email, provide your Registration Number, Jurisdiction of Registration, website URL of the regulatory body where your Registration status can be verified, and Contact Information, as soon as possible.

No application fee is required. After sending your information, you may begin services with clients as soon as is necessary; there is no need to wait to receive confirmation from NSRP before providing service. Please note that the above applies only to provision of telepsychology services to existing clients. For the provision of telepsychology services with new clients or to apply to provide in-person services in Nova Scotia, please continue to use our existing courtesy register.
Click here for the link for the Courtesy Register

If an NSRP registrant intends to provide telepsychology services to a client outside of Nova Scotia, the registrant should first contact the regulatory authority of the jurisdiction to determine what applicable requirements may be in place. The NSRP expects that registrants will investigate and respect the requirements of other jurisdictions when providing telepsychology or in-person services in other jurisdictions.

Requirements vary. Some jurisdictions publish that psychologists registered elsewhere in Canada may provide telepsychology without registering. Others require a form of registration or limited authorization. You are required to check with the jurisdiction to see what is required to see a client(s) who may be located in their jurisdiction (or if you will be located in their jurisdiction when providing telepsychology services).

For the position from the College of Psychologists of New Brunswick, please visit their website: https://cpnb.ca/en/

For the listing and contact information of Regulatory Bodies in Canada, please click here on the URL below:
https://acpro-aocrp.ca/about-acpro/canadian-psychology-regulatory-organizations/ 

For the listing of Regulatory Bodies in the United States, please visit the site of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards or the visit the following link: https://www.asppb.net/page/BdContactNewPG

An NSRP conditional licence does not authorize practice in another jurisdiction. The regulator in the client’s jurisdiction decides whether registration, authorization or another approval is required, and public profiles must not suggest that an NSRP licence authorizes practice elsewhere. Whether another regulator’s exemption extends to candidates is for that regulator to say, so please confirm with it directly.

Candidates are expected to be supervised in all telepsychology practice. Supervised telepsychology provided by an NSRP candidate may be treated as Nova Scotia practice. Hours with clients outside Nova Scotia may count toward supervised practice requirements if telepsychology is permitted in the client’s jurisdiction, the services are within the candidate’s scope, and the NSRP supervisor is aware of and supervising the work.