Evaluating Academic Credentials - Introduction & Overview

As per the Psychologists Profession Regulation, applicants must meet the academic requirements of CAP. The first step is to apply to have CAP evaluate your academic credentials (i.e., courses and degrees) based on CAP's Criteria for Evaluating Academic Credentials (the Criteria) and, when applicable, the Criteria for Evaluating Doctoral Credentials (outlined in a section below). 

CAP does not assist applicants in choosing a psychology training program or provide course recommendations. Please see the Criteria for an explanation of the evaluation pathways and for academic credential requirements.

What kinds of academic credentials does CAP require for registration as a psychologist?

Note: All credits listed refer to semester credits. Please note that the Criteria contains more information that you should review to ensure a fulsome understanding of academic requirements. You must be exceedingly familiar with the Criteria to ensure you have met CAP's requirements, but a general overview follows:

• You must have completed a graduate degree in professional psychology (see section 1.1 in the Criteria), or a graduate degree that is substantially equivalent (see sections 1.2, 2.2, and 7 for substantial equivalency at the credentials stage).
• You must have completed at least 60 semester credits (thesis route) or 72 semester credits (non-thesis route) in psychology, with at least half at the graduate level (see sections 4.1 and 4.2). Courses are considered “in psychology” based on criteria outlined in section 6 (and 7 when applicable).
• You must complete at least 3 semester credits in each of the four Core Areas:
  • Ethics and Standards
  • Research Design and Methods
  • Psychological Assessment and Evaluation
  • Psychological Intervention and Consultation
    (See section 8.1 and subsections 8.1.1–8.1.4.)
• You must complete at least 3 semester credits in each of the four Substantive Content Areas:
  • Biological Bases of Behaviour
  • Cognitive/Affective Bases of Behaviour
  • Social Bases of Behaviour
  • Psychology of the Individual
    (See section 8.2 and subsections 8.2.1–8.2.4.)
• Courses must also meet additional requirements related to:
  • Institution (section 2)
  • Instructor qualifications and instructional hours (section 3)
  • Course type (sections 3 and 5)

For an alternative visual representation of the above overview, see this document.

To understand how to apply to have your academic credentials evaluated and for instructor requirements information, please visit the Application Steps & Requirements webpage.

For frequently asked questions, visit our FAQ webpage.

NOTE: Evaluation of academic credentials by CAP is the first step in the registration process for applicants who will be applying for registration as a registered provisional psychologist through either the regular stream or Internationally Trained Psychologist stream. Only courses and degrees are considered in the evaluation of academic credentials. There are alternative (but rarer) pathways to registration that can consider things such as psychologist registration outside Alberta, other mental health professional registration, and experience in the field in conjunction with prior/alternative registration. Use the Registration Self-Evaluation Tool on the main registration page to help you determine the appropriate pathway for you.

What kinds of courses count in the Core and Substantive Content Areas?

In CAP’s Application for Evaluation of Academic Credentials form (the “Application”), applicants are required to indicate courses they have completed that satisfy the Core and Substantive Content areas listed in section 8 of the Criteria for Evaluating Academic Credentials (the “Criteria”). To assist applicants with this process, this list provides examples of names of courses that likely fit in each area. This list is intended to provide examples only and is not an exhaustive list. Furthermore, based on CAP's review, information may be presented that changes where a course best fits. Applicants must carefully consider where they put courses in the Application and should do so after a close reading of the Criteria, especially section 8. CAP does not assist applicants in choosing courses or confirming if their courses meet the requirements.

Only a regulated member who has earned a doctoral degree in a program of psychology approved through a credentialing process by CAP are authorized to use the title “Doctor” or the abbreviations “Dr.”, ”Ph.D.”, “Ed.D.” or “Psy.D.” in connection with the practice of psychology. This ensures that the title protection requirements of the Health Professions Act (Schedule 22, Section 5) are met. 

Individuals with a doctoral degree who are initially applying to have their academic credentials evaluated are not required to complete a separate application for evaluation of doctoral credentials. These applicants will have their general academic and doctoral credentials evaluated together. This is also true for substantial equivalency applicants. If applicable, an Application for Evaluation of Doctoral Credentials must be submitted with the Application for Registration Based on the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.

Current CAP registrants (i.e., psychologists) who complete a doctorate after they have become registered with CAP must have their doctoral degree evaluated in order to use the title in connection with their practice. This involves submitting an Application for Evaluation of Doctoral Credentials (not currently available through the MyCAP Login). Instructions are within the application.

Established Criteria for Evaluating Doctoral Credentials

CAP uses the following criteria to evaluate the doctoral credentials of new applicants or current members of CAP:

1. The applicant must have obtained a doctoral degree in a program of psychology from an accredited institution (as set out here).
2. The applicant’s doctoral degree is specifically identified in its title as a degree in psychology, or it is stated in the transcript, or other documentation acceptable to CAP, that the doctorate is from a psychology program.