Qualifying Membership Requirements

In this membership category, which is intended to provide a time-limited intermediate step for those working to complete the requirements for full Clinical membership, there are two tracks: academic and equivalency.

1) Requirements

Qualifying Membership - Academic Track

Academic Track Qualifying Members shall:

1. Education: be enrolled in an appropriate graduate program or hold an appropriate Graduate Degree from a recognized university (psychology, counselling, social work, medicine, divinity, humanities, or a program substantially similar), a copy or verification of which should accompany the application;
   
   
2. Psychotherapy Training: be enrolled in or have completed psychotherapy training or be enrolled in or have completed an academic graduate degree counselling practicum;
   
   
3. Clinical Psychotherapy Practice: have a minimum of two hundred (200) hours of professional clinical experience;
   
   
4. Supervision: have completed a minimum of fifty (50) hours of one to one supervision;
   
   
5. Individual Psychotherapy: have completed a minimum of fifty (50) hours of individual psychotherapy;
   
   
6. References: provide two current references, neither of whom is the applicant’s current psychotherapist—one from a supervisor or trainer and the other from a colleague familiar with the applicant’s work, both of whom are Clinical Members or are qualified to be Clinical Members of OSP;
   
   
7. Liability Insurance: have or apply and be approved for professional liability insurance;
   
   
8. Code of Ethics: sign an agreement to abide by the Society’s Code of Ethics;
   
   
9. Fees: pay the current membership fee;
   
   
10. CEUs: report a set number of continuing education units yearly.

 

Qualifying Membership – Equivalency Track

Equivalency Track Qualifying Members shall:

1. Education:
   1. Hold undergraduate degree or diploma
   2. Demonstrate graduate level learning in at least four (4) of the following six (6) areas as they relate to psychotherapy:
   
   • theory
   • methodology/clinical skills
   • research/literature review
   • assessment/testing
   • intellectual enquiry
   • writing skills
   
   Knowledge in these areas may be drawn from the following sources: courses, seminars, training workshops, professional conferences and work experience. These sources shall be in addition to personal psychotherapy or psychotherapy training.
   
   
2. Psychotherapy Training: be enrolled in or have completed psychotherapy training;
   
   
3. Clinical Psychotherapy Practice: have a minimum of six hundred (600) hours of professional clinical experience;
   
   
4. Supervision: have completed a minimum of fifty (50) hours of one to one supervision;
   
   
5. Individual Psychotherapy: have completed a minimum of fifty (50) hours of individual psychotherapy;
   
   
6. References: provide two current references, neither of whom is the applicant’s current psychotherapist—one from a supervisor or trainer and the other from a colleague familiar with the applicant’s work, both of whom are Clinical Members or are qualified to be Clinical Members of OSP;
   
   
7. Liability Insurance: have or apply and be approved for professional liability insurance;
   
   
8. Sign an agreement to abide by the Society’s Code of Ethics;
   
   
9. Fees: pay the current membership fee;
   
   
10. CEUs: report a set number of continuing education units yearly.

2) Privileges and Limitations

1. Qualifying Members hold some of the rights and privileges of full membership within OSP, including the right to serve on Regional or Provincial Committees, eligibility for insurance coverage, the right to receive mailings and attend conferences of the Society, and the right to vote at the OSP Annual General Meeting;
   
   
2. Qualifying Members have the right to use the designation “Qualifying Member, OSP” and no other designation;
   
   
3. Qualifying Members have a limit of five (5) years in which to complete the full requirements of Clinical Membership.