CHANGING YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Am I eligible for the membership type Early Career Year 1, for the membership year 2024?

If you graduated with your Masters or PhD (in Psychology, or a related field) in 2023 then YES you are eligible for the ECY1 Membership type.

If I graduated with a Masters in 2023 but am continuing my studies, should I apply for Early Career Year 1 for the 2023 membership year?

No. Because you are continuing your studies, you are still considered a student and would apply for the Student Affiliate rate.

If I graduated with a PhD in 2023 and am doing a postdoc, am I eligible for the Early Career Year 1 for the 2024 membership year?

Yes, you are eligible for the Early Career Year 1 membership, provided your PhD is in Psychology or a related field.

Am I eligible for the new membership type, Early Career Year 2, for the membership year 2024?

Yes, provided you either:

  1. Graduated with your Masters or PhD in Psychology or a related field in 2022

OR

  1. Were a CPA Member under the category ECY1 for the 2023 membership year
Am I eligible for the new membership type, Parental Leave, for the membership year 2024?

Yes. You will be required to provide proof that your Parental Leave is taking place during the 2024 calendar year. See below for Parental Leave document requirements.

If I graduated with a BA in 2023, what category would I qualify for?

If you are taking a year off to apply to graduate school, then you can apply for the Bachelor Gap Year Affiliate category.

If you have completed your studies, you will apply for the Special Affiliate category.

You may not apply for Early Career Year 1 as this category is for students who have graduated with a Masters or a PhD in Psychology.

A Bachelor’s degree does not qualify you for full membership with the CPA, and the Early Career Year 1 and Early Career Year 2 membership types are part of a graduated fee structure that bridges the Student Affiliate to full CPA Member status.

For how many membership years can I keep my Early Career Year 1 or Early Career Year 2 membership?

Early Career Year 1 membership is valid for one year. At the end of the membership year (December 31st) your membership type will automatically change to Early Career Year 2.

The same will happen at the end of the next membership year: your Early Career Year 2 membership will automatically change to CPA Member.

Would I still qualify for Insurance with BMS If I choose to upgrade my membership to Early Career Year 1, Early Career Year 2 or Parental Leave?

Yes, you would still qualify for insurance with BMS if you choose to upgrade your membership to Early Career Year 1 or Early Career Year 2.

If your membership type is Parental Leave, your Psychology Practitioner Liability Insurance policy includes 12 months of Extended Reporting Period (ERP) coverage at no additional charge.

This means that if you are participating in the insurance program and have discontinued practice because of maternity or parental leave, you will remain protected for up to 12 months following the expiry of your policy. Note that you must renew your insurance and have an active policy in place before returning to practice.

See BMS Insurance page - https://www.psychology.bmsgroup.com/faqs.html

If my membership type is Parental Leave, do I need to upgrade my membership to CPA Member before I return to work?

Yes, to retain access to BMS insurance, you must upgrade your membership to CPA Member before you return to work. To do so, please contact the CPA Membership Service Center either by email at membership@cpa.ca or by phone: 613-237-2144 (Toll Free 1-888-472-0657) ext. 324.

My parental leave will begin halfway through the calendar year and continue into next year. Should I apply for a Parental Leave membership now?

A Parental Leave membership is only valid for one calendar year and cannot bridge 2 years. If your parental leave carries over to the next calendar year, you may choose which year to apply for Parental Leave membership.

What documents are required if I am applying for Early Career Year 1 membership?

If you are upgrading your membership type from Student Affiliate to Early Career Year 1, you are required to submit a document from your university that clearly shows:

  • Your full name
  • Your program of study
  • The year of completion (2023)
What documents are required if I am applying for Parental Leave membership?

If you are looking to register for the Parental Leave you are required to submit a copy of the notice of your parental leave presented to your workplace which outlines the start and end date of your parental leave or the duration of your leave.

Can I change my Category from a CPA Member or Affiliate to a Section Associate in 2024?

There are 2 Scenarios in this case:

You have renewed your membership with CPA for 2024: in this scenario you cannot change your Category to a Section Associate. You can change your category in the following membership year, 2025.

You have not yet renewed your membership with CPA for 2024: in this scenario you can change your category to a Section Associate by contacting the CPA Member Service Center at membership@cpa.ca

Can I change my Category from Section Associate to CPA Member or Affiliate?

Yes, you can change your Category from Section Associate to CPA Member or Affiliate by contacting the CPA Member Service Center at membership@cpa.ca