If you were educated as a psychologist outside of Canada and the United States and want to apply to practice as a psychologist in a participating Canadian jurisdiction:
Step 1: Create your online account
Step 2: Submit your proof of identity documents
Step 3: Submit your Psychologist Education form
Step 4: Submit your Psychologist Registration form
Step 5: Submit your Psychologist Practice/Employment form
Step 6: Submit your language testing results
Step 1: Create your online account
The first step towards working as a psychologist in Canada is to set up an online account with ICD, a division of CGFNS, and complete your application.
Start your application
First click the Apply/Login link at the top of the ACPRO website to create your online Applicant Account. Be sure to read the Terms and Conditions before creating your online account.
To create your online account, you will need to:
- Provide your email address and create three security questions.
- Agree to the online consent form.
- Enter the security code sent to your email address.
- Create a password.
To complete your application:
- Complete all of the application fields on each screen.
- Enter either a Visa or MasterCard credit card number to confirm your account. Debit cards are not accepted.
Once ICD receives and confirms your application and payment, you will receive a welcome email with your permanent ICD ID number. You will need this number to keep track of your application status and print all forms needed for your application. ICD will inform you about the information and documents needed from you in order to complete your Advisory Report.
To cancel your application:
- Ensure that the application is incomplete and not paid for.
- Select the “Cancel Order” link next to any incomplete order shown in your applicant account dashboard screen.
Step 2: Submit your proof of identity documents
You must submit two forms of identification directly to ICD. They must be notarized copies of original documents that are dated, stamped, and signed with your signature.
You must be with the notary at the time your original documents are copied and notarized as certified true copies. ICD does not accept original identity documents.
In Canada, notarized copies must be prepared by a notary public or lawyer.
Outside of Canada, notarized copies must be prepared by a government-approved official. They must apply their official signature and seal to each reviewed document, including their address and phone number, and declare in a written statement that they have seen the original documents, made the copies, can certify that they are true copies, and confirm that they are not in any way related to the applicant.
You are responsible for all fees related to preparing your notarized documents. Copies of expired identification documents will not be accepted. At least one form of identification must contain your photo and it must be current and not expired.
Acceptable forms of photo identification include:
- Passport
- Driver’s licence
- Other government-issued identification
Other acceptable forms of identification include:
- Birth certificate
- Legal name change affidavit
- Marriage certificate
- Divorce decree (Decree Absolute)
If any of these original documents are written in a language other than English or French, they must be translated by a certified translator into either English or French. The translated documents must be sent to ICD directly from the translator. You are responsible for any costs involved in the translation process.
Translations can be done in three ways:
- By an approved source agency (for example, a school or licensing authority).
- By a certified translator.
- By ICD at a cost of USD$85 per page.
All translated documents must include:
- The translator’s official stamp and/or identification number, address, phone number, and the date of translation.
- A statement by the translator that it is a true representation of original document(s).
- The printed name and original signature of the translator.
ICD will not accept documents translated by either the applicant or anyone related to the applicant. All certified translations must be mailed to ICD directly from the translator.
ICD will confirm that all names on your identification documents match. If they do not, you will need to send additional documents to explain why.
Step 3: Submit your Psychology Education Form
Download and print this form from your online account. Sign, date, and send the form to each psychology or psychology-related post-secondary school you have attended outside of Canada.
The form must be completed by an official at each school and sent directly from the school to ICD by mail or courier, along with copies of your academic records/transcript documents, psychology program curriculum/course descriptions and/or course syllabi.
ICD will not accept your Psychologist Education Form if it is not sent directly from your school. You may not submit it yourself. The documents must be sent in an envelope with the organization’s name, return address, and seal/stamp.
If ICD receives documents written in any language other than English or French, they will need to be translated. ICD can translate them, at your request, for a fee.
ICD will review all of your documents and compare them with information in the ICD global database for verification. It is important to note that the quality and level of detail found in the documents your schools provide will affect your assessment. You are strongly encouraged to communicate to your schools that you require as much detail about your psychology education as possible.
You are responsible for any costs involved in this process.
Step 4: Submit your Psychologist Registration Form
Download and print this form from your online account. Sign, date and send the form to all psychology licensing authorities where you were ever licensed or registered outside of Canada. (Each authority must complete the form and send it directly to ICD by mail or courier.)
ICD will not accept your Psychologist Registration Form if it is not sent directly from your licensing authority. You may not submit it yourself.
If you have a diploma that allowed you to work as a psychologist in a country other than Canada and the US, ask the school that issued the diploma to send an official copy (not the original) of the diploma in its original language to ICD.
If ICD receives documents written in any language other than English or French, they will need to be translated. ICD can translate them, at your request, for a fee.
ICD will review these documents and notify you if further information is required.
You are responsible for any costs involved in this process.
Step 5: Submit your Psychologist Practice/Employment form
Download and print this form from your online account. Print, sign, date and send this form to all employers you have worked for in the past five years. The current year represents year one.
They each must be completed by each employer and sent directly to ICD directly from your employer by mail or courier. You may not submit it yourself.
ICD will not accept your Psychologist Practica/Supervised Training /Employment Form if it is not sent directly from your employer.
If ICD receives documents written in any language other than English or French, they will need to be translated. ICD can translate them, at your request, for a fee.
ICD will review these documents and notify you if further information is required.
You are responsible for any costs involved in this process.
Step 6: Submit your language testing results
If your first language is not English or French, and you have taken a language proficiency test recently (within two years), you will be asked to submit test results as part of the application process. ICD will not make a judgment about your test results. The ACPRO participating jurisdiction you’re applying to will determine if the results meet requirements and if further testing is required.