Ontario needs more psychologists. These changes finally address the long-standing obstacles to care

Posted on February 12, 2026 in Health Delivery System

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TheStar.com – Opinion/Contributors
Feb. 12, 2026.   By Tony DeBono, Contributor

Ontario’s mental health system is under strain.

More people are reaching out for psychological help, and far too many Ontarians are waiting too long to get it.

The number of psychology professionals per resident in Ontario is amongst the lowest in Canada. These delays affect children trying to succeed in school, adults coping with stress, and families looking for support during some of life’s hardest moments.

Demand for psychological care has risen steadily over the past several years, but access has not kept pace.

One thing is clear: Ontario needs more psychologists.

Recent data points have become pain points. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) says more and more adults in Ontario report that they are in fair or poor mental health. A growing number say they are experiencing acute mental distress.

Reports from the Ontario auditor-general and the Canadian Institute for Health Information show that many people continue to face long waits for community and mental health services. Patient surveys echo the same concern.

Improving access means ensuring qualified psychologists can enter practice without unnecessary delays. It leads to shorter wait times, a more diverse profession, and ultimately, better access to the care Ontarians need.

This is where the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontariocomes in. As  the independent regulator, the college oversees practitioner registration, sets standards for the practice of psychology in Ontario, and addresses issues related to  professional conduct. It protects the public by ensuring only qualified and competent professionals are registered and that they are held accountable to the standards of the profession.

That responsibility sits at the centre of recent debate. The college’s Board of Directors has approved proposed changes to modernize how psychologists qualify for registration with the goal of reducing long waits for care while keeping strong safeguards in place.

Some already-registered psychologists oppose the proposals, arguing that expanding acceptable training pathways and shortening certain supervision requirements could lower standards and put patients at risk. These concerns deserve careful attention, especially in a profession that works with people at their most vulnerable.

So, it is worth being clear about what the college’s proposal would do, and what it would not.

The proposed changes respond to long-standing access challenges, feedback from Ontario’s Fairness Commissioner, evolving training models, and lessons learned from other provinces and countries. They were developed after a detailed review of research, education pathways, and regulatory practices used globally.

The purpose is to modernize how professional competence is demonstrated and assessed. The proposals would allow graduate degrees from college-approved psychology programs to qualify for registration, including some master’s and doctoral programs that meet the college’s standards, even if they are not formally accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). Similar approaches already exist in  Nova Scotia, Alberta, and Quebec.

The changes would also expand how the college evaluates established international accrediting bodies. Recognizing international bodies makes it easier for internationally trained psychologists to become registered in Ontario, improving consistency and efficiency.

In addition, the proposals would replace the four-year work experience requirement for master’s applicants with a one-year period. This change would reduce delays that do not improve patient safety while preserving strong oversight already in place.

There is a common assumption that more work experience equals better care. Research suggests that the equation is not that simple. Competence depends far more on the quality of supervision, the structure of training, and how skills are assessed.

Across Canada, other provincial and territorial regulators have safely relied on shorter, well-designed supervision periods for many years. Ontario already recognizes psychologists trained under these models through Canadian labour mobility rules that require provinces and territories to register professionals who are already registered elsewhere in Canada, even if their training followed different, shorter, timelines.

In practice, that can make it easier for an out-of-province psychologist to practice in Ontario than for someone trained here.

Critics have suggested that these changes would result in psychologists having less training than hairdressers, which is simply untrue. Psychologists will continue to complete a four-year undergraduate degree, followed by a graduate degree, extensive examinations, and required supervised practice.

What matters here is what remains unchanged: psychologists will still be required to meet rigorous academic standards, complete supervised practice, and pass professional examinations, which together assess readiness for independent practice. No one would be registered without meeting these requirements, and the high standards of care Ontarians expect would remain firmly in place.

The reason for these changes is straightforward: parts of the current registration process reflect older models that now act as obstacles for otherwise qualified professionals.

Protecting the public means ensuring both competence and access. A system that delays qualified professionals does not raise standards; it leaves people waiting when they need help.

Ontarians deserve high standards and timely care, and good regulation must deliver both.

Tony DeBono is CEO of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario.

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/ontario-needs-more-psychologists-these-changes-finally-address-the-long-standing-obstacles-to-care/article_1007147f-2084-4519-ae92-04c60736d409.html?source=newsletter&utm_content=a09&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=0C810E7AE4E7C3CEB3816076F6F9881B&utm_campaign=top_30489

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