Update June 2024

 
 

It is exciting to have the Alberta government's political will to move forward to regulate counselling therapists! ACTA supports the path forward to regulate counselling therapists within the expanded College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). There are synergies between counselling therapists and psychologists and opportunities within a combined regulatory college to improve efficiencies and augment public safety.

We value the collaborative, supportive nature of the relationships between ACTA, CAP and the Alberta Government. 

“Alberta’s Government expresses gratitude to the Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta for its commitment to support the regulation of counsellors in the province and its cooperation with College of Alberta Psychologists to complete this work. We appreciate the work ACTA completed and has generously offered as work continues towards the regulation of counsellors under CAP. 

Alberta’s government understands that going forward, CAP will lead and manage the required steps under the Health Professions Act related to this work. ACTA’s support in this process will help mobilize and expedite efforts to regulate counsellors.”

                 Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction 

 
 

ACTA and CAP have had initial meetings to begin laying the groundwork for collaborative relationships and processes to regulate counselling therapists in Alberta. ACTA compiled a Readiness Document of the work completed to regulate counselling therapists for CAP and Alberta Health to support the assessment phase.

The regulatory work completed includes:

  • regulations

  • required legislated functions

  • professional conduct

  • standards of practice

  • code of ethics

  • registration requirements and implementation

  • regulatory registration system and active register

  • development and professional guidance policy

  • college organization

  • governance

  • stakeholder relationships

  • First Nations and Metis Nations relationships

  • financial budgets

See Executive Summary HERE.

ACTA supported CAP’s proposal for government funding to support its internal processes to expand its regulatory framework. Registered counsellors of ACTA have already funded the preparatory work to open the CCTA. This work is offered to CAP, along with ACTA’s ongoing personnel support and member support, to finalize a path to regulating counselling therapists and protecting the public. 

 
 

Registering with ACTA is a valuable step for all counselling therapists. CAP and ACTA have mutually agreed that ACTA’s registration system should accurately represent Alberta's current counselling therapy workforce. This will help CAP and ACTA complete assessment, planning, and transition phases to regulate counselling therapists.

CAP has stated they are reviewing the legal and regulatory obligations related to grandparenting existing ACTA counselling therapist members. ACTA will put forward ACTA’s registered counselling therapists as the current competent counselling therapy workforce to be regulated. Although there are no guarantees of being ported to CAP, it is important to be included in the process with current counselling therapists.

It has been customary that when a new profession is regulated, the education standards set for those newly entering the field are not to be applied retroactively to the current workforce. There are monthly registration webinars with a demonstration of the application process if you need further support with your application.

 
 
Sonia Patlan