Telepractice — psychology (Quebec)
Quebec sets no telepractice-specific REGULATION for psychologists. The OPQ publishes guidance — lignes directrices, points de repère, and a scenario FAQ — and is explicit that it does not impose particular tools or forms. The binding obligations are the ordinary ones: the Code de déontologie, the record-keeping regulation, and competence, which apply whatever the medium. ON INTERJURISDICTIONAL PRACTICE the OPQ’s guidance takes the form of ANSWERS TO SPECIFIC POSED SCENARIOS, and must be read as such rather than as a general jurisdictional doctrine. Three of those scenarios matter: (1) A Quebec psychologist practising from outside Quebec (e.g. six months in the United States, or travelling with a sports team) must remain entered on the OPQ roll as a regular member, must check whether the regulator in the jurisdiction WHERE THEY THEMSELVES ARE requires a permit or legal authorisation, must maintain the liability coverage required by the Ordre while informing the client that the Ordre’s coverage is valid only for claims within Canada, and must tell the client the Ordre can still receive and handle a complaint about services delivered remotely. (2) Asked about a psychologist or psychotherapist REGISTERED IN ONTARIO who will be in Montreal for a few months and wants to keep seeing their ONTARIO clients, the OPQ answers that to offer services to clients in Quebec OR remotely to clients outside Quebec, a person who is physically in Quebec must register with the OPQ or obtain a special authorisation to practise. Physical presence in Quebec therefore triggers the OPQ requirement even where every client is elsewhere. (3) Asked whether a psychologist or psychotherapist registered in BRITISH COLUMBIA may serve a person living in Montreal, the OPQ answers that a psychologist or psychotherapist located outside Quebec may offer online services to clients situated in Quebec. It RECOMMENDS — not requires — that such a person be legally authorised to practise the profession in their own jurisdiction; it states they must carry professional liability insurance; and it requires that clients be advised that any disciplinary proceeding must be brought before the regulatory body in the jurisdiction where the professional is located. CRITICAL LIMIT ON ALL OF THE ABOVE: this guidance addresses OPQ REGISTRATION. It does not displace the Code des professions, art. 187.1, under which PSYCHOTHERAPY IS A RESERVED ACT in Quebec — reserved to physicians, psychologists, and permit-holders who are members of seven named ordres. A person outside Quebec who is not within that class does not acquire the right to perform psychotherapy with a Quebec client by reading an FAQ about registration, and the OPQ is itself the body that prosecutes illegal practice of psychotherapy (art. 187.4.3). No data-hosting, platform, or server-location requirement is specified anywhere in this guidance.
Q: « Je suis psychologue ou psychothérapeute en Ontario et je serai à Montréal pour quelques mois. Je voudrais continuer à voir mes clients de l’Ontario. » R: « Afin d’offrir des services à des clients du Québec ou à distance à des clients à l’extérieur du Québec, une personne qui est physiquement au Québec doit s’inscrire auprès de l’Ordre des psychologues du Québec ou obtenir une autorisation spéciale d’exercer. » Q: « Je suis psychologue ou psychothérapeute en Colombie-Britannique et je souhaite offrir mes services à une personne qui habite à Montréal. » R: « Un psychologue ou un psychothérapeute situé à l’extérieur du territoire québécois peut offrir des services en ligne à des clients qui se trouvent au Québec. Nous recommandons que la personne située à l’extérieur du Québec, qui offre des services en ligne à la population québécoise, soit légalement autorisée à exercer la profession de psychologue ou de psychothérapeute dans sa juridiction. Cette personne doit également être assurée pour la responsabilité professionnelle. Il est également requis d’aviser la clientèle que toute poursuite disciplinaire devra être portée devant l’organisme réglementaire dans la juridiction où se trouve le professionnel, le cas échéant. » — Ordre des psychologues du Québec, Télépratique ou pratique à distance (FAQ)