31200 Psychologists

What this occupation covers

Psychologists assess and diagnose behavioural, emotional and cognitive disorders, counsel clients, provide therapy, conduct research and apply theory relating to behaviour and mental processes. Psychologists help clients work toward the maintenance and enhancement of psychological, physical, intellectual, emotional, social and interpersonal functioning. They work in private practice or in clinics, correctional facilities, hospitals, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centres, community service organizations, businesses, schools and universities, and in government and private research agencies.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 10 main duties for this code.

• Examine and assess behaviour, diagnose behavioural, emotional and cognitive disorders, counsel clients and provide therapy
• Help clients manage physical illness and disorders
• Counsel individuals and groups to achieve more effective personal, social and vocational development and adjustment, and offer mediation services
• Use standard psychological tests for assessment
• Plan intervention programs and conduct program evaluation
• Apply psychological theory and principles regarding behaviour and mental processes such as learning, language development, memory and perception to develop treatment programs
• Formulate hypotheses and experimental designs, review literature, conduct studies and publish research papers, educational texts and articles
• Deliver presentations at conferences, workshops or symposia
• Provide consultation services to government and other organizations.
• Sub-specialties include behavioural psychology, child psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology, industrial psychology, neuropsychology, social psychology or sports psychology.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 10 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
• 41403 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers
• 41200 University professors and lecturers
• 12113 Statistical officers and related research support occupations
• 41409 Other professional occupations in social science
• 41301 Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies

Excluded from this code

• Psychiatrist (See 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine)
• Psychology assistant (except university) (See 41403 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers)
• Psychology professor - university (See 41200 University professors and lecturers)
• Psychology research assistant (except university) (See 12113 Statistical officers and related research support occupations)
• Psychometrist (See 41409 Other professional occupations in social science)
• Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies (See 41301 Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

chartered psychologist · child psychologist · clinical psychologist · educational psychologist · neuropsychologist · provisional psychologist · psychological associate · psychologist · registered psychologist · research psychologist · school psychologist · sports psychologist

Employment requirements

• A doctoral degree in psychology is required in order to use the designation "Psychologist" in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
• A master's degree in psychology is required for the designation "Psychologist" in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
• A master's degree in psychology is required in order to use the designation "Psychological Associate" in Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
• A period of supervised practical experience is required in most jurisdictions.
• Successful completion of the written Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is required in most provinces.
• Oral examinations and board interviews are required in some provinces.
• Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
• Written ethics and jurisprudence exams may be required in some jurisdictions.
• Psychologists can become specialized in a particular area through training and experience.