Therapist Credentials

What do all the credentials mean?

• CCC: Canadian Certified Counsellor  through CCPA Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
• CACC: Canadian Addictions Counselling Certification through the CACCF – Canadian Addictions Counselling Certification Federation
• LCT:  Licenced Counselling Therapist – New Brunswick – CCTNB The College of Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick
• LCT-C -LCT: Licenced Counselling Therapist Candidate – New Brunswick – CCTNB The College of Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick
• RCC: Registered Clinical Counselor – British Columbia through BCACC British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors
• RCT: Registered Counselling Therapist – Nova Scotia – Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists
• RCT-C: Registered Counselling Therapist Candidate – Nova Scotia – Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists
• RCT: Registered Counselling Therapist – CCTPEI College of Counselling Therapy Prince Edward Island
• RP: Registered Psychotherapist – Ontario through CRPO College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
• RPQ: Registered Psychotherapist Qualifying – Ontario through CRPO College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
• RPC: Registered Professional Counsellor through the CPCA Canadian Professional Counsellors Association
• RP: Registered Psychotherapist through OPQ – Order of Psychologists of Québec
• RPQ: Registered Psychotherapist Qualifying thought OPQ – Order of Psychologists of Québec
• RSW: Registered Social Worker – varying provinces and regulatory bodies, same designation (see below)

Social Worker Regulatory Bodies

• RSW – Registered Social Worker – varying provinces and regulatory bodies, same designation
• AB – Alberta College of Social Workers
• BC – British Columbia College of Social Workers
• MB – Manitoba College of Social Workers
• NB – New Brunswick Association of Social Workers
• NL – Newfoundland and Labrador College of Social Workers
• NT – Professional Licensing with the Department of Health and Social Services
• NS – Nova Scotia College of Social Workers
• NU – Not required*
• ON – Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
• PE – Prince Edward Island Social Work Registration Board
• QC – Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec
• SK – Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers
• YT- Not required*

*Some Social Workers belong to the Association of Social Workers in Northern Canada however this is not a regulatory body.

Regulated Province Credentials

Nova Scotia

• RCT – Registered Counselling Therapist
• RCT-C Registered Counselling Therapist Candidate
• Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists 

New Brunswick

• LCT –  Licensed Counselling Therapist
• LCT-C -LCT –  Licensed Counselling Therapist Candidate
• CCTNB The College of Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick 

Ontario & Quebec

• RP – Registered Psychotherapist
• RPQ – Registered Psychotherapist Qualifying
• Ontario through CRPO College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario or OPQ Order of Psychologists of Québec 

Prince Edward Island

• RCT – Registered Counselling Therapist
• CCTPEI College of Counselling Therapy Prince Edward Island

Credentials for Therapists in Canada

All therapists must have a Masters degree in a relevant field before joining a regulatory college or association. 

Here are some examples:

• MA – Master of Arts;  Counselling Psychology, Counselling, Psychology
• MEd. – Master of Education 
• MSc. – Master of Science
• MSW – Master of Social Work