Frequently Asked Questions

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 criteria are met.
• Second, a pair of raters (comprised of training 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 2024-25 APPIC cycle, interviews will be completed January, 2024. 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 and applicants.

How many practicum hours are required at the time of application?

As per CPA standards, the minimum hour requirement is 600 hours, which must include 300 direct and 150 supervision hours.

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 1, 2023. Interviews scheduled for January 2024 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 2024 also includes a virtual orientation session provided by the Director and/or Assistant Director of Training, a possible virtual tour of the facility, and a virtual meeting with current Residents. 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 4 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. Supervision also includes administrative (0.5 hours per week) and group supervision (1 hour per week) with the Director of Training, Assistant Director or another faculty member.

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 2024 interviews. This information will be available to applicants at that time.

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. Fridays are dedicated as non-clinical days, and include seminars, group supervision, and program admin.

How often will I see other Residents?

This varies across rotations. At minimum, all Residents spend the full day on Friday together each week. 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 seminars. 

Can you please tell me more about the program evaluation requirement?

Program evaluation 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 program evaluation requirement 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 program evaluation 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 program evaluation report. 

Residents complete program evaluation projects in pairs, and various topics are provided by the program at the beginning of the year. In most cases, Residents will work with a separate supervisor on this project, and 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) in Ottawa, as well as the Brockville Mental Health Centre (BMHC) in Brockville. The main campus at 1145 Carling Avenue houses most programs. Residents working at the main campus will be required to pay for parking. 

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. 

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 completed a program evaluation 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 completion of requirements throughout the year, both clinical and additional. 

Are there opportunities to engage in research projects during my residency year?

Aside from the program evaluation 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 institutions 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. 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.