CRPO Town Hall November 14, 2025: What Ontario Registered Psychotherapists Need to Know
The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) held a hybrid town‑hall on November 14, 2025 to share regulatory updates and answer questions from registrants. If you are a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) or an RP (Qualifying), this summary distils the key points that matter to your practice. Below you’ll find an overview of application trends, exam logistics, quality assurance, CRPO clinical supervision requirements, business standards and diversity initiatives—plus practical tips on how to navigate them.
Registration surge: longer processing times
The town hall shared a candid update about the surge in applications. Between April and September 2025, CRPO received 45 % more applications compared with the same period in 2024 crpo.ca. To cope with the influx, the College is hiring and training additional staff, but processing times may still be longer crpo.ca. If you are applying for registration or moving from the Qualifying category to full RP, be sure to submit all required documents promptly, keep your contact information current, and check your application status through your CRPO account rather than emailing staff crpo.ca. Patience is essential while the College works through the increased volume.
Registration exam: deadlines, remote proctoring and what to expect
Deadlines and scheduling
Qualifying registrants must make their first exam attempt within 24 months of receiving their certificate and must complete their third attempt within five years crpo.ca. The fall 2025 exam is scheduled for 22–24 October, and the spring 2026 sitting is tentatively set for 28–30 April crpo.ca. CRPO will email program completion and accommodation deadlines to eligible candidates; plan ahead and monitor your messages.
Remote proctoring and accessibility
The exam uses remote proctoring through MonitorEDU, meaning you write it from your home or office while a live proctor monitors via your computer webcam and mobile phone camera crpo.ca. You must set up in a private, quiet and well‑lit room with reliable internet crpo.ca and pre‑check your technology at least five days before the exam crpo.ca. Limited in‑person seating is available only if remote proctoring is not feasible due to accessibility needs crpo.ca. Tablets and phones cannot be used as the primary device crpo.ca.
Fees, format and preparation tips
The exam, developed by the COMPASS Centre for Examination Development, is offered twice annually and assesses entry‑to‑practice competencies using multiple‑choice and scenario questions crpo.ca. You have three hours to complete it crpo.ca. The fee is $545 + HST, payable directly to COMPASS crpo.ca. CRPO typically opens the booking window about three months before each sitting crpo.ca and sends sign‑up details via email. Review the practice standards and sample questions, check your equipment, and submit accommodation requests when confirming your intent to write
Quality assurance: the case‑based assessment and PD requirements
CRPO’s enhanced Quality Assurance (QA) program affects every registrant. Instead of random peer reviews, you will complete an online, open‑book case‑based assessment (CBA) roughly every five years crpo.ca. The CBA presents 30 situational‑judgment cases and asks you to rank responses from most to least aligned with standards crpo.ca. Registrants have four hours to complete it during a designated assessment window crpo.ca. In the 2022 pilot, 80.4 % of participants passed, 15.7 % completed a self‑directed review and 3.9 % undertook a peer‑assisted review crpo.ca. The CBA is designed to identify areas where you may need additional support and to direct resources accordingly crpo.ca.
The QA program has three components crpo.ca:
Self‑assessment and professional development (PD) – You must complete at least 40 hours of relevant learning activities during each two‑year PD cycle crpo.ca. Activities may include workshops, courses, reading and CRPO clinical supervision. Failure to report PD activities may result in a peer‑assisted review crpo.ca.
Peer and practice review – When selected, you will participate in the CBA. If your results reveal competence gaps, you may be assigned to a peer‑assisted review with a coach crpo.ca.
Remediation – The Quality Assurance Committee can require additional education or impose terms and conditions if significant gaps are identified crpo.ca.
Tip: Make self‑reflection routine. Use CRPO’s practice questions to familiarise yourself with case‑based scenarios crpo.ca, track your PD activities, and discuss ethical dilemmas with your supervisor.
Clinical supervision: finding the right CRPO supervisor and meeting hour requirements
Understanding CRPO clinical supervision is crucial for both RP (Qualifying) therapists and those working toward independent practice. CRPO emphasises that supervision must be contractual, structured and provided by a supervisor who meets the College’s criteria crpo.ca. Informal peer discussions or case consultations with colleagues do not count crpo.ca.
Supervision hours and frequency
RP (Qualifying) registrants – You must receive ongoing supervision for all clinical positions and complete 100 supervision hours and 450 direct client contact (DCC) hours to transfer to the Registered Psychotherapist category crpo.ca. CRPO recommends about one hour of supervision per week crpo.ca.
Registered Psychotherapists (without independent practice) – You must accumulate 1,000 DCC hours and 150 supervision hours before you can practise independently crpo.ca. The recommended supervision frequency is one hour every two weeks crpo.ca, and at least half of your supervision hours must be individual or dyadic crpo.ca.
Independent practice – Once both thresholds are met, you may stop reporting supervision hours crpo.ca. Many therapists continue with Ontario clinical supervision to support their professional growth and meet QA requirements.
Formats and group sizes
Supervision can be individual, dyadic or group. Group supervision is acceptable when it is formal, structured and includes at least one member who meets the CRPO supervisor criteria crpo.ca. For hours recorded after 1 April 2022, groups must be limited to eight supervisees crpo.ca. At least half of your required supervision hours must come from individual or dyadic sessions crpo.ca.
Direct client contact explained
Only activities where you are actively engaged in psychotherapy count toward DCC hours. This includes intake interviews, assessments and co‑facilitating group sessions crpo.ca. Record‑keeping, administration or observing therapy without follow‑up do not count crpo.ca. A standard 45‑minute session counts as one DCC hour crpo.ca.
Becoming a CRPO supervisor
If you are interested in becoming a CRPO supervisor, the College sets specific criteria: you must be a member in good standing of a psychotherapy‑practising regulatory college, have at least five years of clinical experience, meet the 1,000 DCC and 150 supervision hours requirement, complete 30 hours of directed learning in providing clinical supervision, and sign a declaration acknowledging CRPO’s definitions crpo.ca. Beginning April 2026, you must also complete CRPO’s free online supervision module crpo.ca, which takes less than 30 minutes crpo.ca. CRPO strongly recommends a 30‑hour course on providing supervision crpo.ca to ensure you can offer high‑quality Ontario clinical supervision.
Record keeping and attestation
You are responsible for maintaining detailed supervision records and confirming your DCC and supervision hours using CRPO’s attestation forms crpo.ca. Track dates, duration, formats and topics discussed crpo.ca. Only attest to hours completed under the supervision of your CRPO supervisor, and if you change supervisors, ensure the previous supervisor only confirms hours they directly supervised crpo.ca.
Business practices & advertising: building a compliant private practice
As you build your psychotherapy practice, you must adhere to CRPO’s business standards. Standard 6.1 (Fees) requires you to set a clear and reasonable fee schedule, provide it to clients before services begin and offer itemised accounts upon request crpo.ca. Avoid offering discounts for prompt payment or pre‑payment crpo.ca and refrain from bartering services crpo.ca. Do not restrict payment methods or incentivise preferred methods crpo.ca.
Standard 6.2 (Advertising) dictates that your marketing must be truthful and verifiable crpo.ca. You cannot solicit or use client testimonials crpo.ca and should avoid wording that implies superiority or exclusivity crpo.ca. Make sure any listings or ads created by third‑party directories comply with CRPO standards and accurately reflect your training crpo.ca. When promoting your services, highlight your training, your adherence to CRPO standards and the fact that you provide CRPO clinical supervision if applicable, but avoid exaggerated claims.
Diversity, equity & inclusion: integrating DEI into your practice
CRPO is embedding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across its policies and operations. The College aims to create an environment where all communities feel engaged, heard and treated with dignity crpo.ca and acknowledges the impacts of colonisation and systemic inequities crpo.ca. As a therapist, integrate trauma‑informed, culturally responsive approaches into your work. Reflect on power dynamics, cultural context and accessibility, seek training in anti‑oppressive practice, and support access for clients from diverse backgrounds.
FAQs & therapists’ common concerns
Based on questions raised during the town hall and in professional forums, here are some clarifications:
Can I call myself a “CRPO‑approved supervisor”? No. CRPO does not approve individual supervisors. If you meet the criteria, you may describe yourself as a clinical supervisor, but avoid suggesting CRPO endorsement crpo.ca.
Can I work with a supervisor outside Ontario? Yes, provided the supervisor meets CRPO’s criteria and is qualified to supervise in their jurisdiction crpo.ca. For the controlled act of psychotherapy in Ontario, the supervisor must belong to a profession authorised to practise psychotherapy crpo.ca.
How are DCC hours confirmed? Your CRPO supervisor attests to your hours based on their records crpo.ca. When changing supervisors, the previous supervisor should only confirm hours they directly supervised crpo.ca.
What supervision criteria apply if requirements change mid‑process? CRPO assesses supervision based on the criteria in effect at the time the hours were completed crpo.ca. Keep documentation of your supervisor’s credentials and training.
How large can group supervision be? For hours recorded after 1 April 2022, groups must have eight supervisees or fewer crpo.ca. Structured peer group supervision counts if it includes at least one CRPO supervisor crpo.ca.
Do I need separate agreements for each supervision format? A single contract can cover individual, dyadic and group supervision, but it should clearly outline frequency, expectations and responsibilities crpo.ca.
Will supervision completed before 1 April 2026 count if my supervisor hasn’t taken the new module? Yes. The module requirement applies to supervision provided after 1 April 2026 crpo.ca.
Is Yorkville University’s MACP program fuelling the surge in new therapists? There has been a significant rise in applications to CRPO—applications between April and September 2025 were up 45 % compared with the same period in 2024 crpo.ca. Some therapists on social media have suggested that Yorkville’s online program is responsible for the influx. The town hall emphasised that the increase reflects multiple factors, including heightened demand for mental health services, broader recognition of the profession and growth across several graduate programs. Yorkville’s MACP is accredited and provides a 400‑hour practicum; some students have reported difficulty securing placements and say they have contacted over 150 clinicians toronto.citynews.ca. However, Yorkville told CityNews that it offers 2,840 active placement sites across Canada—more than the 1,500 students currently in practicum—and that no student has ever failed to graduate due to lack of a placement toronto.citynews.ca. Instruction quality is not in question; concerns centre on the placement process toronto.citynews.ca. Rather than blaming a single school, be aware that CRPO is responding to a system‑wide surge and is hiring more staff crpo.ca.
Looking ahead: training and resources for 2026
From April 2026 onward, supervisors must complete CRPO’s free online supervision module crpo.ca. The module takes less than 30 minutes and is available through CRPO’s learning portal crpo.ca. CRPO also strongly recommends a 30‑hour course on providing supervision crpo.ca. If you plan to supervise students or new registrants, schedule time for these training requirements. Even if you don’t intend to become a supervisor, staying informed about supervision standards will help you choose an appropriate CRPO supervisor and understand the support you receive.
Stay connected and access Ontario clinical supervision
Join CRPO’s mailing list to receive the latest communications and updates crpo.ca. Bookmark the Clinical Supervision and Quality Assurance sections of the CRPO website so you can quickly reference standards and guidelines. For more context on recent regulatory changes, see our earlier article on staying up to date with CRPO communications.
If you’re looking for Ontario clinical supervision that meets CRPO’s standards, we provide group, dyadic and individual sessions with experienced Registered Psychotherapists. Our services make it easy to find a CRPO supervisor who understands the registration process and supports your growth. Sessions run on weekdays and are booked through the Jane App ontariosupervision.ca. Learn more on our main supervision page or book directly via our online portal.
References
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (2025a). Application overview. Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from CRPO website: crpo.ca.
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (2025b). Fall 2025 exam: Important dates, eligibility & accessibility. Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from CRPO website: crpo.ca.
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (2025c). Registration exam instructions, resources & requirements. Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from CRPO website: crpo.cacrpo.ca.
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (2023–2025). Quality assurance enhancement project: Case‑based assessment. Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from CRPO website: crpo.cacrpo.cacrpo.ca.
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (2025d). Clinical supervision requirements. Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from CRPO website: crpo.cacrpo.cacrpo.cacrpo.cacrpo.ca.
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (2025e). Supervision guide and module. Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from CRPO website: crpo.cacrpo.ca.
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (2025f). Standard 6.1: Fees. Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from CRPO website: crpo.ca.
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (2025g). Standard 6.2: Advertising. Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from CRPO website: crpo.ca.
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (2025h). Diversity, equity & inclusion. Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from CRPO website: crpo.ca.
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (2025i). Town hall meeting – clinical supervision FAQ. Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from CRPO website: crpo.cacrpo.ca.
OntarioSupervision.ca. (2025). Clinical supervision you can count on. Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from OntarioSupervision.ca: ontariosupervision.ca.
Taney, P. (2022). Toronto students fear they won’t graduate on time after spending thousands on tuition. Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from CityNews website: toronto.citynews.catoronto.citynews.catoronto.citynews.ca.
Yorkville University. (2025a). Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (Online). Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from Yorkville University website: yorkvilleu.cayorkvilleu.ca.
Yorkville University. (2025b). What is a Counselling Practicum and Why It Matters? Retrieved 16 Nov 2025, from Yorkville University website: yorkvilleu.cayorkvilleu.ca.
