Therapy Bulletin Therapy Bulletin

Every rule sourced. Every change dated.

Liability insurance

Two separate questions live here, and the second is the one that catches people. First: does your regulator require professional liability insurance at all, and at what limits? That answer is not uniform, even between colleges in the same province.

Second, and less documented anywhere: where does your coverage actually apply? Regulator by-laws are frequently silent on territory, while the insurance programs practitioners actually buy differ sharply — some follow you worldwide, some stop at the Canadian border, and some address travelling with your existing clients without ever addressing clients based elsewhere. The matrix separates what the regulator requires from what a policy is documented to cover, because conflating them is how a gap goes unnoticed.

3 records traced and verified for Liability insurance, across 1 jurisdiction. Every row below carries its own source and last-verified date.

Liability insurance — obligations by jurisdiction and profession, each sourced to its primary text and dated to the last check against it.
Jurisdiction Applies to The rule Status Last verified Source & citation
Ontario Psychologist MANDATORY. Registrants holding a certificate authorising autonomous, interim autonomous or supervised practice must hold or be covered by professional liability insurance IN ALL SETTINGS IN WHICH THEY PRACTISE. Minimum coverage $2,000,000. No deductible is permitted. The only exemption is for a registrant who resides outside Ontario AND provides no services within Ontario at any time during the registration year, nor supervises anyone providing services in Ontario. In Force 2026-07-31 By-laws of the College of Psychologists of Ontario, By-law 22 (Professional Liability Insurance), ss. 22.1-22.3, 22.6
Show statutory text
"22.1 Subject to Section 6, each member of the College registered with a certificate of registration authorizing autonomous practice, interim autonomous practice or supervised practice shall hold, or otherwise be covered by professional liability insurance in all settings in which the member practices. 22.2 The amount of insurance coverage shall be no less than $2,000,000. 22.3 The insurance shall have no deductible." — CPBAO By-laws, By-law 22 (revised 2024-03-21, effective 2024-07-01)
Regulatory model
clinician_restriction
Authority basis
insurance
Enforcement body
College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario
Enactment date
not traced
Effective date
2024-07-01
Penalties
—
Consent required
No
Documentation required
No
Confidence
high
Record ID
ca-on-insurance-psychology
Ontario Psychotherapist MANDATORY for all registrants except inactive registrants who have purchased run-off coverage. The policy must carry: at least $1,000,000 per occurrence; at least $5,000,000 annual aggregate; NO deductible; run-off coverage for a minimum of two years; an insurer licensed with FSRA Ontario or OSFI Canada; and a sexual abuse therapy and counselling fund endorsement covering persons eligible under s. 85.7(4) of the Code. In Force 2026-07-31 By-laws of the College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario, s. 20.01 (Requirement to Carry Insurance)
Show statutory text
"(1) A Registrant, other than an Inactive Registrant who has purchased any run-off coverage contemplated by these by-laws, must carry professional liability insurance with the following characteristics: (i) a minimum of no less than $1,000,000 per occurrence; (ii) annual aggregate coverage of no less than $5,000,000; (iii) no deductible; (iv) run-off coverage for a minimum of two (2) years; (v) provided by an insurer licensed with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario or the office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada..." — CRPO By-laws, s. 20.01 (made 2024-12-12, effective 2025-01-01, amended 2025-10-01)
Regulatory model
clinician_restriction
Authority basis
insurance
Enforcement body
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
Enactment date
not traced
Effective date
2025-01-01
Penalties
—
Consent required
No
Documentation required
No
Confidence
high
Record ID
ca-on-insurance-psychotherapy
Ontario Clinical social worker NOT MANDATORY. Professional liability insurance is not a registration requirement for OCSWSSW registrants. The College strongly encourages it but does not require it, and there is no by-law or regulation imposing it. A social worker in Ontario private practice may register and practise without professional liability insurance. In Force 2026-07-31 Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998, no insurance provision — see notes
Show statutory text
"Although not required by the College, registrants are strongly encouraged to obtain professional liability insurance, which can be purchased through a professional association or another insurance carrier." — OCSWSSW, Private Practice page
Regulatory model
none
Authority basis
insurance
Enforcement body
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
Enactment date
not traced
Effective date
not traced
Penalties
—
Consent required
No
Documentation required
No
Confidence
high
Regulation
O. Reg. 383/00 (Registration)
Record ID
ca-on-insurance-social-work
Not legal advice. This page states rules and quotes their sources; it does not apply them to your situation. Confirm anything that matters with your college or regulator, your accountant, or your insurer before acting on it.