BCASP and the Evolution of School Psychology in British Columbia

Abstract

Since 1992, the British Columbia Association of School Psychologists (BCASP) has been the professional body for school psychologists in British Columbia. In the intervening 24 years, BCASP has been very successful in performing the dual roles of a certifying body and a professional development organization for school psychologists in British Columbia. Historically, school psychologists at the master’s level have been allowed to practice and to use the title school psychologist in specific settings (school, government agencies, hospitals, and universities) through an Exemption Clause in the Psychologist Regulation of the Health Professions Act. In 2001, the Health Profession’s Council repealed both the Psychologist Regulation and the exemption clause under which school psychologists work. The Ministries of Education and Health, recognizing that if these recommendations were adopted, the provision of psychological services in British Columbia schools would be severely affected, instead opted to extend the existing Exemption Clause until an agreement could be reached with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia (CPBC) and BCASP. This article provides an examination of the integral role that BCASP has played in this evolution of school psychology in British Columbia.