Communiqué

March 2022

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The deadline for RP, RP (Qualifying), and RP (Inactive) registrants to complete renewal is approaching! Registration renewal for registrants in these categories is due by March 31, 2022. 

The renewal form is available on the “Renewal” page of your user account. The last step in the form will be payment of the annual registration fee and you will be prompted to pay by Visa or MasterCard directly through your account. The alternative for individuals without credit cards is a prepaid credit card.

Starting April 1, 2022, registrants who have not yet renewed will be required to pay a late fee of $150 +HST.

If you don’t intend to renew and would like to resign your registration with CRPO, please go to the “Category transfer request” page in your CRPO account and submit the resignation form.

Please see the Renewal page for more information and check out our renewal FAQ.

Advertising can be an effective tool to inform prospective clients about a registrant’s training, services, and areas of competence. Advertising allows clients to make an informed decision about who may be best suited to provide their treatment. Registrants must ensure that any advertising platform does not prohibit them from abiding by CRPO’s Professional Practice Standards. Here are some suggestions to promote truthful, transparent, and accurate advertising:

1.Some online directories require therapists to use dropdown menus or pre-filled selection options to display psychotherapeutic techniques, issues treated, and client populations served. RPs should take special care to review each individual selection. Registrants who advertise competency to treat a specific issue (e.g., addiction, eating disorders, etc.) must be able to demonstrate through verifiable information that they have completed relevant training to treat that particular issue. Registrants who do not have verifiable training in a particular area of practice should not advertise or provide that service. Some specialized issues (e.g., addiction, eating disorders, etc.) may require advanced training beyond entry to practice requirements.

2.At this time, the College has not established a program to formally recognize and confer specialty designations. A designation should only be used if it has been earned from a recognized credentialing body and meets established standards.

3.In situations where registrants are receiving assistance to develop advertising content from a third party (e.g., employer, website developer, social media manager, etc.), it is important to apprise them of ethical standards in advertising. It is the registrant’s responsibility to ensure third parties advertise appropriately on their behalf regarding professional credentials and areas of competence. Where advertising content is being developed by a third party, it is advisable for registrants to review draft content prior to posting.

Ultimately, registrants are responsible for ensuring factual and clear advertising to avoid misleading clients. For more information, review CRPO’s Advertising Checklist and Professional Practice Standards (Standard 1.2.: Use of Terms, Titles and Designations; Standards 6.2. Advertising and Representing Yourself and Your Services).

Basic IT Security Measures for RPs (and Everyone Else)

CRPO receives many questions about security of electronic information. While we cannot address every aspect of this topic in one article, the following is a list of basic practices that can reduce the risk of information security breaches. Registrants are responsible for ensuring information in their custody is secure. Registrants need to use their judgment, consult advisors as needed, and update their privacy policies based on their situation.

1. Have good password habits. Use strong passwords that are difficult to guess (long, a combination of upper-case and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols). Have a different password, and if possible, different username, for each account. Use a reputable password management software to keep track of multiple passwords.
2. Use two-factor authentication whenever possible. Two-factor authentication provides a second line of defence if one’s password is compromised, by also requiring access to another key, such as code sent to one’s cell phone.
3. Use encryption. Encryption prevents ready access to your hard drive data if it is physically lost or stolen. Some computers come with encryption software, or it can be implemented through downloadable programs.
4. Regularly update software, either by checking manually or enabling automatic updates. Updating programs and operating systems prevents malicious actors form taking advantage of vulnerabilities discovered in older versions.
5. Consider using a ‘clean device’ when appropriate. There may be times when your physical device is less secure, such as when crossing borders, travelling, or otherwise when there is increased risk of seizure, loss, or theft. A clean device means no sensitive information is stored locally on the device’s hard drive. Rather, data can only be accessed remotely through secure cloud services or an encrypted connection to another device (e.g., a computer located in one’s office).
6. Secure any network connections. Only connect to trusted WIFI networks. Your own WIFI network should have a password. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) if connecting to a public WIFI network. Use communication platforms that offer end-to-end encryption. These measures can help prevent third parties from intercepting information during transmission.
7. Beware of ‘phishing’. Do not click on unsolicited, suspicious, or unknown links or attachments.
8. Enable your operating system’s anti-virus and firewall protections.
9. Back up your data. And run recovery tests. A backup may be needed if your information is lost, damaged, or stolen.

Please do not unsubscribe. CRPO uses email to communicate with registrants about important College updates. If you choose to unsubscribe, it is then your responsibility to regularly check our website to keep yourself informed about your College obligations. It is the responsibility of each registrant to make sure CRPO has your current contact information, updated within 30 days of a change, and ensure that the organization you work for does not block CRPO emails.