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About the application
- Are there any special/extra forms or letters to submit to APPIC?
The only required forms are the APPIC application and the cover letter. Please see the section on the Application Procedure for information required in the cover letter.
- How are applicants ranked?
A multi-step review and ranking process is used.
First, we review all applications to ensure all entry eligibility criteria are met.
Second, a pair of raters (comprised of Psychology faculty and current residents) rate the written application and assign it a numeric score (based on specific criteria and fit to our program). All applications are then rank-ordered based on the assigned score. This ranking determines who will be invited for an interview.
Third, applicants are invited for an interview. For the 2026-27 APPIC cycle, interviews will be completed January, 2026. Details are outlined in the brochure. Additional information about the interview process is located below. Standardized interviews are conducted by a panel and assigned a score. Applicants are then rank-ordered based on the score of their written application + the score of their interview and a final ranking list is developed and submitted to APPIC. Care is taken to ensure no conflicts of interest exist between assigned raters/interviewers and applicants.
- How many practicum hours are required at the time of application?
The minimum hour requirement is 600 hours, which must include 300 hours of direct contact and 150 hoursof supervision.
- How does the interview process work?
As per the process noted above, if you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by the residency program coordinator on December 5, 2025. Interviews scheduled for January 2026 will be conducted virtually by a panel consisting of two faculty members. We make every effort for applicants to be interviewed by training faculty who represent tracks and rotations of interest. The interview day for January 2026 also includes a virtual orientation session provided by the director and/or assistant director of training, and a virtual meeting with current residents. Applicants are also invited to attend optional virtual “open house” hosted by primary track supervisors to learn more about their clinical programs and ask questions. There are also opportunities to speak to other training faculty outside of the interview process.
- How many supervision hours will I get?
At a minimum, residents receive four hours of supervision per week from registered clinical psychologists. Individual supervision includes face-to-face supervision, and on some rotations, may be complemented with group supervision. Supervision occurs each week in both primary and secondary rotations. In accordance with CPA accreditation standards, up to 25% of residency supervision may be asynchronous.
- How are rotations decided?
Each of the three tracks at The Royal represents the clinical program in which the matched applicant will complete their primary rotation. Secondary rotations are assigned after the APPIC Match and are based on resident interest and the pool of available secondary rotations.
- How are supervisors assigned in cases where there are multiple supervisors per rotation?
Supervisors for primary rotations (tracks) and secondary rotations will be identified prior to the January 2026 interviews. This information will be available to applicants at that time. As stated above, secondary rotations and supervisors will be assigned after the APPIC Match and are based on Resident interest and supervisor availabilities.
- How do you determine your schedule once your rotations have been selected?
There is discussion with the resident and both primary and secondary supervisors to see what days (Monday-Thursday) have the most requirements for residents (e.g., team meetings, groups) in each rotation. Residents are encouraged to set aside Mondays for evaluation research and flex time to avoid missing clinical rotation time on holiday Mondays. Fridays are dedicated as non-clinical days, and include seminars, group supervision, and program admin.
- How often will I see other residents?
During the orientation process, residents will be together each day. Following this two-week period, residents will typically spend each Friday together (virtual or in-person).
Some residents are together in a specific rotation and may have more contact with one another. Residents also have the opportunity to come together with other residents from Ottawa residency programs through monthly citywide/CCPPP seminars.
- Can you please tell me more about the evaluation research requirement?
Evaluation research experience is increasingly a requirement in the job market and many of our graduates tell us that they used the skills gained on residency in their employment. The evaluation research rotation is flexible across the range of evaluation methodologies (such as needs assessments, program development and formative or summative evaluations) to fit residents’ interests. Most residents do not come with formal evaluation research experience but are provided didactic seminars and ongoing supervision to develop the projects, evaluate the report, and guide its dissemination. Common components of the project include meetings with stakeholders and producing a written evaluation research report, and engaging in additional dissemination activities.
Residents are expected to complete an evaluation research project as a group (for 2026-27) as part of their core requirements for the year. Various topics are provided by the program at the beginning of the year. Time is dedicated towards working on the project on residents’ flex day.
- How many sites are there at The Royal, and where are they in relation to each other?
The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (ROMHC) has two campuses in Ottawa, as well as The Brockville Mental Health Centre (BMHC) in Brockville. The main Ottawa campus at 1145 Carling Avenue houses most programs. Residents working at the main campus will be required to pay for parking. The main campus is accessible by the city’s public transportation OC Transpo.
The Carlingwood campus, located at the Carlingwood Shopping Centre in Ottawa (located 4 km west of the main campus) houses the Community Mental Health Program, the Transitional Aged Youth service, and other services. Residents working out of the Carlingwood campus can use the shopping centre parking lot at no additional cost. The Carlingwood campus is also accessible by OC Transpo.
The Brockville Mental Health Centre is located at 1804 Highway 2 East (approximately one hour drive from the Ottawa main campus). BHMC primarily houses the Forensic Treatment Unit and the Secure Treatment Unit of the Integrated Forensics program, along with other services. Residents working at BMHC will have access to free parking.
- Will I have a dedicated office space?
Residents each have their own office at the ROMHC main campus. Each resident office is equipped with a laptop with a webcam/external webcam, an ergonomic height adjustable desk, and an ergonomic chair. Residents working at satellite sites may be assigned a shared office/cubicle space within that program’s location.
- In addition to clinical activities, what other things will I be involved in?
In addition to clinical activities in the primary and secondary rotations, Residents are required to complete an evaluation research project, participate in a hospital committee, supervise a student, deliver a Grand Rounds presentation, and attend seminars.
Residents are provided with a core requirement form to track the completion of requirements throughout the year, both clinical and additional. Residents will work closely with their primary and secondary rotations supervisors as well as Training Committee Executive at the beginning of the year to plan how these core requirements will be met throughout the year.
- Are there opportunities to engage in research projects during my residency year?
Aside from the evaluation research project, there are no research-oriented core requirements in The Royal’s residency program.
- How many residents go on to work at The Royal after their residency year?
While the number of residents who choose to work at The Royal after their residency varies from year to year, it is most often the case that one or two residents stay at The Royal post-residency. Of course, many residents choose to return to their home province for post-residency ventures, to begin work in private practice, choose academia, or to work in other publicly-funded hospitals and health centres like The Royal.
- What is it like to live in Ottawa?
As the capital of Canada, Ottawa is a city full of culture. During the summer, the city is vibrant with numerous festivals, including the Tulip Festival, Bluesfest, Folkfest, and the Dragonboat Festival. Ottawa is a vibrant metropolitan area, with rich ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity. This is reflected by its multicultural neighbourhoods, cuisines, arts and culture, and annual celebrations such as Odawa Powwow, Capital Pride, Festival Franco-Ontarien, and the Ottawa Lebanese Festival. During the summer, the city is famous for its numerous festivals, including the Tulip Festival, Bluesfest, Folkfest, and the Dragonboat Festival. During the winter, Winterlude is a main attraction, as well as the Rideau Canal Skate way (the largest outdoor rink in the world!). Residents have appreciated the connection to Canadian culture through numerous museums and cultural sites, as well as Parliament Hill. Click here for more information about living in Ottawa: City of Ottawa and The Royal.