First: Obtain An Undergraduate Degree in Psychology
In order to register as a Psychologist in Nova Scotia you must have participated in a program where a Psychology Degree was granted. The Psychology Degree and program used as part of your application must have required an undergraduate Psychology Degree as a requirement for entrance. This means that the applicant most likely hold either a Masters degree in Psychology, or a Doctoral Degree in Psychology. Below is a list of schools that provide Undergraduate Psychology Degrees.
Undergraduate Schools With Psychology Degrees in Nova Scotia:
| Acadia University |
| Dalhousie University |
| Mount St. Vincent University |
| St. Francis Xavier University |
| St. Mary’s University |
Second: Obtain a Masters Degree In Psychology
The Nova Scotia Board of Examiners has approximately 7 criteria that a Psychology Degree in order to qualify. Generally this includes: The Degree required a Psychology Undergraduate Degree, the program must have been an integrated organized sequence of study and be identified as a psychology program, the faculty must have clear authority and primary responsibility for the core and specialty areas, and the program should have a body of resident students enrolled in the program (if the program is primarily online this is not acceptable). Below are a list of Programs suitable:
Graduate School Programs in Nova Scotia:
| Acadia University |
| Dalhousie University |
| Mount St. Vincent University |
| St. Francis Xavier University |
| St. Mary’s University |
Third: Where and How do I Register?
Where to register as a Psychologist in Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia Board of Examiners
The Nova Scotia Board of Examiners webpage is very detailed in what they require from applicants wanting to become Psychologists. If you want to take a look at exactly what you need in order to register, then you may want to check out in detail, the Registration Requirements for NSBEP.
*Some notes:
The main requirements is having a Graduate Degree in Psychology (the NSBEP currently does not accept registrants with an online Psychology Graduate Degree). Please read carefully the heading Course/University Information on the Registration Requirements page. There are very specific guidelines for what educational institutions are accepted. For example: The MASP (School Psychology) program at Mount meets the schooling requirements, but the Educational Psychology (M. Ed) does not. Or at Acadia the counselling M. Ed is also not accepted, but the clinical / counselling psychology (M. Sc) is acceptable to register as a Psychologist under the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners.
Further Information On Becoming A Psychologist in Nova Scotia:
Nova Scotia Board of Examiners
Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia
Canadian Psychological Association – @ CPA
Graduate Guide 2009-2010.PDF – @ Canadian Psychological Association
I am a graduate of high school. I am very interested in being a child psychologist. What should my first step be, and what high school requirements did I need? I may have to go back to high school. Thank you!
Hello Carlina,
The requirements for University program will vary, so you will have to check directly with the school you would be interested in attending. Your first steps should be to check what the requirements for an Undergraduate degree are at your local University for a Bachelor of Arts or Science. Once you are accepted you can then decide on what you would like to major in and this is where you could choose to major in Psychology.
Hi There,
I am wondering if Cape Breton University is recognized as a school with a degree in Psychology?
Can you start off as a school psychologist and then change streams to clinical psychology after registration?