The College has received many inquiries related to practising in another province or jurisdiction (also called “cross-jurisdictional practice”). The most frequently asked questions are addressed below in order to offer some guidance on this topic.
I’m registered with the College. Am I allowed to practise in other provinces/ jurisdictions?
College registrants who are wondering whether they can provide services to clients who live outside Ontario, even temporarily, are advised to contact the regulatory body of the province or jurisdiction where the client is located to determine the requirements of the regulatory body in that province or jurisdiction. Registrants in this situation are also advised to seek legal advice and contact their professional liability insurance provider before providing services.
I’m registered with the College, but not currently living in Ontario. Am I permitted to provide care and services to clients who live in Ontario?
Registrants of the College are permitted to practise in Ontario, whether or not they reside here or are temporarily out of province. Practice may include direct or indirect, clinical or non-clinical care or services.
I’m registered with the College and working with a client who lives in Ontario. I would like to contact their family members and other individuals in their support network so that they can provide relevant collateral information to assist in the client’s care. These individuals live in another province. Do I need to register with the regulatory body in that province as well?
Registrants of the College may decide, as part of their assessment and/or treatment plan, that it would be helpful to contact family members or other individuals who live in another province and have obtained consent from their client to do so. Whether they need to register with the regulatory body in that province as well depends on the nature and purpose of the contact with such family members or other individuals and whether the family members or individuals would be considered to be collateral contacts or part of the client system. Registrants are encouraged to contact the College’s Professional Practice Department and the regulatory body in the province in which these family members or individuals reside to discuss this question.
I’m registered with the College and providing couples counselling. One of the individuals lives in another province. Do I need to register with the regulatory body in that province in order to provide services?
In these circumstances, both individuals are part of the client system. Registrants of the College are permitted to provide care and services to clients who live in Ontario. However, since one of the clients lives outside Ontario, registrants are advised in these circumstances to contact the regulatory body where the other individual resides in order to determine the requirements of the regulatory body in that province or jurisdiction. Registrants in this situation are also advised to seek legal advice and to contact their professional liability insurance provider before providing services.
I’m registered with the College and have been asked to provide services to a client whose permanent residence is outside Ontario, and who is living in Ontario temporarily to attend school. Am I permitted to provide services to a client who is living temporarily in Ontario?
Registrants of the College are permitted to practise with clients who live in Ontario, regardless of whether the client is in Ontario on a temporary or permanent basis. If the client continues to require services after returning to their home province or jurisdiction, registrants would need to consider the requirements in the College’s Standards of Practice for appropriate termination of services and/or referral. In some instances, registrants may determine that it is in the best interests of the client for them to continue to provide services; in these instances, registrants are advised to contact the regulatory body in the province or jurisdiction in question to determine the requirements of the regulatory body in that province or jurisdiction, and to seek legal advice and contact their professional liability insurance provider, before continuing to provide services