Immigrate to Canada as a Psychologist – Full Guide
Suppose you intend to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist. In that case, this article has vital information you need to know about how to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist from your country.
Moreover, psychologists in Canada are needed in various workplaces like private clinics, correctional facilities, hospitals, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centers, community service organizations, businesses, schools and universities, and government and private research agencies.
Therefore, you can use any Canadian pathway program to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist. They include Canadian express entry, provincial nominee programs, and job offers. This is because psychology is an In-demand occupation in Canada.
However, the benefits of being a psychologist in Canada are attractive. Not only that, this occupation can earn you a permanent residency in Canada.
Work of a psychologist in Canada
What you are going to do when you immigrate to Canada as a psychologist is: to assess and diagnose behavioral, emotional, and cognitive disorders, counsel clients, provide therapy, conduct research, and apply theory relating to the behavior and mental processes.
Moreover, psychologists help clients work toward the maintenance and enhancement of psychological, physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and interpersonal functioning.
Therefore, they work in private practice or clinics, correctional facilities, hospitals, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centers, community service organizations, businesses, schools and universities, and government and private research agencies.
Examples of psychologists under NOC 4151
Psychologists can be employed in different job positions and titles according to the Canadian NOC 4151.
Therefore, if you are qualified to work in Canada as a Psychologist, you can hold any of the following positions or job titles:
- behavioral modification psychologist
- biopsychologist
- behavioral psychologist
- chartered psychologist
- behavioral psychologist
- child psychologist
- behaviorist
- clinical psychologist
- cognitive psychologist
- community psychologist
- counseling psychologist
- developmental psychologist
- educational psychologist
- experimental psychologist
- forensic psychologist
- human development psychologist
- psychologist
- industrial psychologist
- psychological associate
- intern psychologist
- neuropsychologist
- organizational psychologist
- physiological psychologist
- sports psychologist
- vocational psychologist
- psychologist – counseling
- research psychologist
- school psychologist
- social psychologist
- psycho-psychologist
- registered psychologist
Job Exclusions from a psychologist
The jobs below are similar to a psychologist in Canada but are excluded from their jobs. Therefore, don’t go for them if you want to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist. The excluded jobs are:
- Family, marriage and other related counselors (See 4153 Family, marriage and other related counselors)
- Psychiatrists (See 3111 Specialist physicians)
- Psychology assistants (except university) (See 4164 Social policy researchers, consultants, and program officers)
- Psychologists who teach at universities (See 4011 University professors and lecturers)
- Psychology research assistants (except university) (See 1254 Statistical officers and related research support occupations)
- Psychometrists (See 4169 Other professional occupations in social science, n.e.c.)
Primary duties of a psychologist in Canada
Immigrants to Canada as psychologists can do one or more of the following duties as their primary duties.
- Examine and assess behavior, diagnose behavioral, 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 evaluations.
- Apply psychological theory and principles regarding behavior 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 the government and other organizations.
- Specialize in applied psychology or experimental research. Sub-specialties include behavioral psychology, child psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology, industrial psychology, neuropsychology, social psychology, and sports psychology.
Employment requirements to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist
You will only work in Canada as a foreigner when you meet the Canadian employment requirements. Moreover, these requirements are in two categories. They are General requirements and specific requirements.
General requirements to work in Canada
Anybody who intends to work in Canada, no matter the kind of work, must meet these requirements to qualify to work in Canada. Those requirements are:
- Language requirements
- Age requirements
- Education requirements
- Arranged employment
- Adaptability
- Work experience
- Your partner’s ability
Language
This requirement is essential as you need it to communicate in Canada. Therefore, Canadian workers, especially foreign workers, must meet the minimum language requirements for reading, speaking, writing, and listening.
You must present your language test results from fully accredited international testing institutions such as Duolingo, TOEFL, and IELTS to prove this.
Moreover, you can take any of the language proficiency tests below to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist.
- International English language Testing System (IELTS)
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Canadian English language proficiency index program
- Pearson Test of English (PTE)
- The Canadian test of English for scholars and trainees
- Test de connaissance du Français Canada (TCF).
Age
You should be up to 18 years before you can immigrate to Canada as a psychologist. So if you have not reached the Canadian working age, you cannot work in Canada. Therefore, the working age in Canada is 18 years.
Education
The education requirement to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist is a secondary school certificate. However, specific jobs require more than secondary school. Therefore, you must get a report from ECA to prove your academic qualifications.
Arranged employment
As soon as you arrange employment with a Canadian employer, it becomes easy for you to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist. First, your employer must get a certification from the Labour Market Impact Assessment. In addition to that, you must also be the best candidate for the job.
Adaptability
Your adaptability to the Canadian weather can also help you while immigrating to work in Canada as a psychologist. Apart from that, you must be able to adapt to the demands of the job. Therefore, before you can move to Canada as a psychologist, you must have a medical checkup to determine your fitness.
Work experience
To increase your score in the comprehensive ranking system, you can include your work experience. Work experience means you have the skills and experience to work in Canada. Therefore, while filling out your application, make sure that you include all the previous work experience you have.
Your partner’s skills
Your partner’s skills are also necessary to boost your comprehensive ranking system CRS core. Moreover, your partner’s skills also matter to your immigration. Therefore, your partner’s age, education, and other qualifications are needed to qualify you.
Specific requirements to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist
Despite the general requirements, there are specific requirements you must meet to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist. Therefore, you must meet these requirements below:
- A doctoral degree in psychology is required to use the designation “Psychologist” in Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
- A master’s degree in psychology is required for the designation “Psychologist” in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
- A master’s degree in psychology is required 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.
- Membership in the provincial professional association for psychologists is mandatory in all provinces, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
- Psychologists can become specialized in a particular area through training and experience.
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Pathways to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist
It is easy to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist using any of the following pathways below:
- Express entry program
- Provincial Nominee Programs
- In-Demand occupations
- Job offer
Express entry
This pathway to Canada remains the most accessible pathway to immigrate to Canada. Therefore, considering the ease and the multiple programs through which you can immigrate to Canada as a psychologist using express entry, you can use any of the listed programs below:
- Federal skilled trades program
- Canada experience class
- Federal skilled worker program
Provincial Nominee Program
If you do not want to use the express entry, you can use the PNP. This is equivalent to the express entry. However, this program is managed by the provincial governments. Therefore, if you meet their requirements for this program, you can apply for it.
However, you must be ready to live and work in the province that nominates you. In addition, you must be prepared to adapt to the weather and work conditions of the province.
Job offer
A valid job offer makes it easier to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist. However, before you can use this pathway, there are certain conditions your employer must fulfill.
First, the Canadian employer must get a clearance from the LMIA. Secondly, the employer must prove that you are the best candidate for the job. In addition, you must meet all the requirements for the job.
In-demand jobs
Sometimes, due to a scarcity of employees in a particular job, the job will be classified among the in-demand jobs in Canada. Therefore, if your job is in this category, you can use an in-demand job as a pathway to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist.
Steps to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist
These are necessary steps to follow if you want to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist.
- First, you are expected to check your eligibility for Canada’s express entry.
- Secondly, you must create an express entry profile account and submit an express entry required documents in your profile online.
- Thirdly, you must apply for Canada’s working visa permit as soon as you get an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
- Then you must send your application within sixty days.
- After that, you wait until your application is approved or declined. This often takes about six months.
- If your application gets approved, you can start preparing to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must I use only a job offer to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist?
No. You can use other entry options outside job offers to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist.
How much does the application fee cost?
Your application fee cost is $150
What is the average salary of a psychologist in Canada?
The average psychologist’s salary in Canada is $93,673 per year or $48.04 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $79,425 per year.
What is the processing time for a work visa to enter Canada as a psychologist?
The processing time for a Canadian work visa is six months.
Conclusion
It will be a dream come true if you quickly follow the guidelines above to immigrate to Canada as a psychologist.
