I am writing to get some information from the Nova Scotia Regulator of Psychology (NSRP) on the difference between Candidate Registrants and Registered Psychologists to help us with some changes we are making under the Vital Statistics Act. The changes are around changing sex indicators on birth registrations and certificates. I called the NSRP’s telephone number, but it said the mailbox is full. As a result, this is to follow-up on that attempt to contact you.
As you might be aware, there were some amendments to the Vital Statistics Act recently passed by the legislature. Among these changes was to remove the requirement for someone 16 years of age and older who is wishing to change the sex indicator on their birth registration and certificate to obtain a written statement from a person who is a member of a prescribed profession that, in the prescribed professional’s opinion, the sex shown on the person’s birth registration does not correspond with the person’s gender identity.
For persons 15 years of age and younger wishing to change the sex indicator on their birth registration and certificate, the requirement to obtain a written statement from a prescribed professional that the sex shown on the person’s birth registration does not correspond with the person’s gender identity, and the that the person has the capacity to make an informed decision about whether to make an application to change their sex indicator remains in place. For this, the prescribed professionals are physicians and psychologists.
In the past, Nova Scotia Vital Statistics has received representations from psychologists that “candidates” or “candidate registrants” should be added to the prescribed professions that can provide the written statement for persons 16 years of age and older seeking to change their sex indicator. Since the requirement for the written statement for those 16 years of age and older is being removed, this is no longer an issue.
However, we would like to know whether the NSRP would support “candidates” or “candidate registrants” being allowed to provide the written statement for persons 15 years of age and under seeking to change their sex indicator?Yes we would support this activity being carried out by candidates.
Also, in terms of the functions that they perform in their work, could you please describe for us the difference between a “candidate registrant” and a registered psychologist? What do they do that is the same? What are “candidate registrants” prohibited from doing that a registered psychologist can do?After completing all of their masters or doctoral level training acceptable to the NSRP, the new psychologist is first placed on the Register of Candidates while they complete a period of NSRP approved supervision. The only prohibition/material difference is that Candidates cannot operate their own independent psychological practice (i.e. Operate their own private practice but they can work in another psychologist’s private practice). They are essentially autonomous practitioners except that they must receive supervision for 2 hours per month until their candidacy requirements are completed. The candidacy requirements involve the periods of supervision you have noted below along with passing a written and oral exam before the individual’s name is transferred to the Register of Psychologists.
Finally, are their any labour mobility issues regarding “candidate registrants” in Nova Scotia? For example, does Nova scotia’s current regulatory framework for psychologists create problems when a candidate registrant or a psychologist from another province moves to Nova Scotia and applies for registration?No there are not: when they have a “provisional” or “supervised practice” psychology registration in another provinces they are able to become registered on the Register of Candidates in Nova Scotia.
I note that on your website it says the following about candidate registrants:”For registrants with a doctoral degree, typically a minimum of 2 hours per month of supervision for a period of 1 year (for a minimum of 1500 hours of practice) is requirednFor registrants with a master’s degree, typically a minimum of 2 hours per month for a period of 4 years (for a minimum of 6000 hours of practice) is required.”The above supervision requirements are correct.
The website also states that the NSRP does not require candidate registrants to have their psychological reports co-signed by their supervisor.
This is correct.
Any assistance that you can provide in answering our questions, would be very helpful.
We are certainly happy to provide any clarifications that might be helpful. Again please accept our apologies on the difficulty you encountered trying to reach us.
