Ontario Regulation 195/23, established under the Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act, 2021, outlines the standards and expectations for professionals in psychology and applied behaviour analysis. This regulation, made on June 14, 2023, and approved on July 20, 2023, aims to safeguard client welfare, ensure professional integrity, and maintain high standards of practice.

The regulation specifies various acts of professional misconduct that may lead to disciplinary action. These include violations of registration terms, where practitioners must adhere to any associated conditions; failure to maintain professional standards; and performing services requiring client consent without obtaining it. Additionally, improper delegation of controlled acts, inadequate supervision of those providing psychological services, and any form of client abuse are serious offenses. Practicing while impaired by substances or illness, discontinuing services under inappropriate circumstances, providing misleading services, and engaging in conflicts of interest are also prohibited. Moreover, sharing client information without consent, breaching client agreements regarding fees or services, and failing to adequately explain services upon request are considered misconduct.

The regulation also addresses the representation of professional qualifications. Practitioners must not use misleading titles or designations and are required to identify themselves accurately when providing services. They must promptly inform the College of any name changes and may not assist non-members in misrepresenting themselves as members of the College.

Record-keeping and reporting are critical components of the regulation. Practitioners must maintain proper records, avoid issuing false documentation, and provide timely reports to clients upon request. Ethical business practices are emphasized, requiring transparency in fees, prohibiting misleading billing, and preventing excessive fees relative to services provided. Practitioners must disclose any additional charges above published fee schedules and are forbidden from receiving referral fees or charging organizational clients for on-call services. Offering discounts for prompt payment and failing to provide itemized bills upon request are also prohibited, along with the selling of debts for professional services.

The regulation encompasses additional areas of misconduct, including violations of relevant health profession laws and any actions that could jeopardize public health. Professionals must not improperly influence clients regarding wills or other testamentary instruments, and engaging in disgraceful or unprofessional conduct during practice may lead to disciplinary measures.

Ontario Regulation 195/23 establishes a comprehensive framework for ethical practice, emphasizing accountability, client welfare, and clear standards of conduct in psychology and applied behaviour analysis.

Ontario (195/23) August 5, 2023