Update on the OAPA History of Psychological Associates
AS PREPARED BY OAPA, AUGUST 2011
Recent events and challenges for Psychological Associates in regards to CPO's move to eliminate Masters registration requires an update to the Timeline History first compiled in 2008. It will provide a review of all of the work that has been carried out on your behalf over the decades and a reminder as to how VERY IMPORTANT IT IS FOR MEMBERS TO ONCE AGAIN LET THEIR CONCERNS BE KNOWN TO CPO AND THE GOVERNMENT.
This condensed history of Psychological Associates in Ontario has been prepared as an educational document. The two key turning points in the evolution of autonomous practice of psychology at the Masters level were the legislation which included Masters level practitioners in the College of Psychologists and the resolution of access to the controlled act of diagnosis. This extension of regulation has meant more access to psychological services for the public and has also ensured public protection for the quality of those services. Many individuals contributed to these developments by their hard work and commitment.
1960
Psychology legislation comes into force which restricts registration as a psychologist to those with Doctoral degrees; grand parenting for providers with Masters degrees is permitted for the next six years; the regulatory body is the Ontario Board of Examiners in Psychology (OBEP).1978
Dissatisfaction with the subservient/supervised role of unregulated providers in psychology results in the formation of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists, and Psychotherapists (OACCPP).1982 - 1991
The Ministry of Health carries out the Health Professions Legislation Review (HPLR) as preparation for a wide scale revamping of the health professions; OACCPP is the representative voice for unregulated providers in psychology, working exhaustively to advocate for changes to the psychology legislation that will extend regulation to those with Masters degrees.1991
Under pressure from the Ministry of Health, Representatives of OACCPP, OBEP, and OPA hold a series of negotiations to resolve their differences so that psychology legislation can be included in the new Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA); an Interim Progress Report and Memorandum of Agreement is hammered out among the parties and the extension of regulation to Masters level providers becomes part of the RHPA; the title Psychological Associate to denote autonomous Masters level members of the College is made part of the new Psychology Act; unresolved issues re access to diagnosis and title will continue to cause conflict for many years.1992 - 1994
The Transitional Council of the College of Psychologists prepares for the implementation of the new health professions legislation, including the integration of Psychological Associates into the College; potential Psychological Associates are represented on the Transitional Council by one voting seat.1994
RHPA comes into force and the first 32 Psychological Associates, having fulfilled the demanding requirements for registration in the College, are placed on the register for autonomous practice; one non-voting seat on Council is mandated for a Psychological Associate.1998
After strenuous and continuing complaints are raised by Psychological Associates regarding the requirement of delegation agreements with Psychologists for Psychological Associates to communicate diagnoses, the College seeks approval for a regulation that will place a blanket limitation on Psychological Associates’ licences; the limitation against communicating diagnoses will only be removed by undergoing additional and onerous and expensive application and examination procedures post registration.1998
A group of Psychological Associates in Ottawa steadfastly refuses to acquiesce to additional procedures to remove the proposed retroactive limitation on their licences; the College backs down to the extent of proposing to limit the licenses of only those Psychological Associates registered after December 1998; following consultation with two independent lawyers, the Ottawa group concludes that the only means of fair representation is to form a separate professional association; the Ontario Association of Psychological Associates (OAPA) is born following consultation and approval by Psychological Associates across the province.1999
Fifteen newly registered Psychological Associates appeal the College’s move to place limitations on their licenses re diagnosis to the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB); HPARB finds in favour of the fifteen Psychological Associates; the College appeals HPARB’s decision to the Ontario Divisional Court; previously registered Psychological Associates are notified by the College Registrar that a limitation re diagnosis cannot be retroactively placed on their licenses; new registrants will still have to go through additional examination procedures in order to communicate diagnoses autonomously.December 1999
The College Council unanimously supports a change of title to “Associate Psychologist”; (NB – any changes in the Psychology Act can only be made by a vote in the provincial parliament); two weeks later in an emergency meeting the Council rescinds the motion to change the title.2000
OAPA and individual Psychological Associates take part in the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council’s (HPRAC) review of the RHPA, describing in detail the many difficulties with their title; HPRAC does not recommend changes re title in the Psychology Act.March 2000
The College launches a Task Force to examine issues related to title; the College membership’s responses are split sharply along title lines.2001
The Divisional Court of Ontario refuses to consider the College’s appeal of the HPARB decision of 1999; the College does not place a limitation re diagnosis on the fifteen members’ licences but continues to try to place an automatic limitation on new Psychological Associates; more Psychological Associates appeal their limitations re diagnosis to HPARB.2002
HPARB rules in favour of the Psychological Associates stating that a blanket limitation cannot be automatically placed on a class of members; each candidate must be examined individually; this is a landmark ruling that affirms that the scope of practice for all members of the College, regardless of title, is the same; the College finally abandons its goal of creating different scopes of practice for the two titles.2002
A voting seat for a Psychological Associate on the College Council is added to the one non-voting seat.2004
A Psychological Associate becomes President of the College Council.August 2004
OAPA continues to grow as an organization and in membership; the volunteer Board of Directors tackles a variety of issues concerning Psychological Associates around third party payers, governmental programs, and difficulties arising from a confusing and unrecognized title.July 2005
OAPA advocates for Psychological Associates in HPRAC’s second review of the RHPA, once again arguing for a change in title to Psychologist.2006
OAPA holds its inaugural annual professional development conference.2007
HPRAC does not support a change in title but recommends to the College, OAPA, and OPA that they “…enhance their communications initiatives to ensure that patients, clients, third parties and members of the public are informed about the scope of practice of psychological associates as full members of the College of Psychologists of Ontario.”; the College Council strikes a Task Force to examine Psychological Associates’ difficulties arising from their title.January 2008
There are 519 Psychological Associates in the Province, representing nearly 20% of the College membership; Psychological Associates work throughout the Province providing service to clients in schools, hospitals, agencies, and private practices; they teach, supervise other providers, carry out research, and work in all areas of psychological practice; OAPA continues to raise the visibility and status of Psychological Associates through education and advocacy.2010 - 2011
The passage of the federal Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT), which was designed to lower barriers to the movement of workers across Canada, has once again opened up the title debate in the College of Psychologists in that Masters level Psychologists from other provinces will be allowed to keep their title rather than having to accept the title Psychological Associate when moving to Ontario. Having no choice but to follow the law in this matter, the College has reacted by proposing that those members registered as Psychological Associates be granted the title of Psychologist but that in 2020 only those with doctoral degrees will be accepted into the College. The OAPA membership is pleased that access to the title of Psychologist could become a reality but the closing down of Masters level registration is a very unacceptable trade off in terms of serving the public interest when there are already dire personnel shortages in psychological services. This proposal also reveals the College’s lack of commitment to the Memorandum of Agreement that was signed in 1991 (see above) and to all of the rationale that legislators supported.By December of 2011 the College Council must submit its registration regulations amendments to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care for approval. OAPA will be working very hard – once again – to convince the government that one title and the continuation of Masters registration in the College serves the public interest well. The credentialism behind the College’s proposals does not.