Self-paced
RN–Psychotherapist Credentialing Program
Tuition & Fees
Breakdown
A clear view of program tuition, payment options, what is included, and where practicum-related costs may vary across the 12-month credentialing pathway.
One focused year of graduate-level study, clinical formation, and supervised practice.
Program Overview
A Structured 12-Month Pathway
The RN–Psychotherapist Credentialing Program is delivered over 12 consecutive months across three sequential semesters. Students move through foundational study, advanced pre-practicum coursework, and a final supervised practicum designed to support readiness for professional psychotherapeutic practice.
The program includes graduate-level academic instruction, applied clinical preparation, and a 1,000-hour practicum that consolidates therapeutic skill, ethical judgment, and professional identity.
- 01Semester 1 Two courses focused on foundations, therapeutic formation, and ways of knowing in psychotherapeutic nursing practice.
- 02Semester 2 Three courses focused on communication, assessment, treatment planning, ethics, and accountable practice.
- 03Semester 3 A 1,000-hour supervised practicum supported by advanced clinical seminar learning and professional integration.
Program Structure
Three Semesters. One Cohesive Progression.
The curriculum is intentionally sequenced so that students build academic, relational, and clinical competence before entering supervised practice.
Semester 1
Foundations
The foundational phase introduces gateway learning, identity formation, and African and Indigenous ways of knowing that ground psychotherapeutic nursing practice.
- BEC101Nurse to Psychotherapist: Foundations for Psychotherapeutic Nursing Practice36 hours
- BEC103A/BThe Becoming Method®: Foundations of Safe and Effective Use of Self in the Therapeutic Relationship169.5 hours
- BEC105Ubuntu: African & Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being112 hours
Semester 2
Advanced Coursework
The pre-practicum phase deepens communication, assessment, treatment planning, ethics, cultural accountability, and decolonizing practice before supervised placement begins.
- BEC301Authentic Presence and Intuitive Communication in Psychotherapeutic Nursing Practice112 hours
- BEC302Psychotherapeutic Assessment and Treatment Planning — Trauma Practice Models and Holistic Frameworks112 hours
- BEC303Ethics, Cultural Accountability, and Decolonizing Practice in Psychotherapeutic Nursing112 hours
Semester 3
Clinical Practicum
The practicum phase centers a 1,000-hour supervised psychotherapeutic placement supported through advanced clinical integration and practice-based consolidation.
- BEC304A/B1,000-Hour Psychotherapeutic Practicum1,084 total hours · 1,000 direct client contact hours
Program Timeline
How the Program Flows
Four steps. Clear entry points. Flexible pacing—without losing your place in the pathway.
Designed completion: 12 months
Hybrid
BEC103 A/B
Online
BEC 301–303
Practicum
BEC 304
Planning note: sequencing may vary based on intake timing, placement availability, and learner readiness.
Tuition Details
Tuition & Fees Breakdown
A clear view of tuition, what is included, and where practicum-related costs may vary by placement or supervision arrangement.
Program Tuition
Total program tuition
RN–Psychotherapist Credentialing Program
$13,497 + HST
Total with HST: $15,251.61 CAD
Tuition covers institutional instruction, coordination, and program delivery. External practicum costs may apply depending on setting.
What Tuition Includes
Core program components
- All required coursework (Becoming 101–304)
- Live intensive training and structured integration periods
- Instruction, evaluation, and faculty oversight
- Learning platform access (Brightspace) and institutional resources
- Program coordination and administrative support
See the policy accordions below for planning details.
Practicum & Supervision
Costs may vary by setting
Some practicum settings may have placement requirements that influence out-of-pocket costs, including supervision, travel, or insurance.
Details are outlined below to support planning and budgeting.
Planning & Transparency
Additional Costs & Policies
These details support budgeting and planning. Where costs depend on placement or supervision arrangement, we outline what may vary.
Payment schedule & methods Tuition installments, pacing flexibility, and what happens if a payment is missed.
Monthly installments
Total program tuition is $13,497 CAD + HST, payable in 12 monthly installments of $1,270.97.
The first installment is due upon acceptance and enrolment. Subsequent installments are billed monthly until tuition is paid in full.
Program pacing & flexible completion
The program is designed to be completed within approximately 12 months.
Students may complete program components at a different pace, including completing the 1,000-hour supervised practicum out of sequence from coursework, subject to approval and placement availability.
Included access & support
Tuition includes access to coursework, instructional delivery, learning platforms, practicum coordination, evaluation, and administrative support for up to twelve months from the official program start date.
Extended enrolment
If a student remains active beyond the twelve-month completion window, an Extended Enrolment Fee of $500 + HST per additional month applies.
This supports continued access to Brightspace and institutional learning platforms, practicum coordination, documentation oversight, and ongoing administrative tracking.
Good financial standing
Program participation, academic progression, and access to learning platforms require tuition and applicable fees to remain in good standing.
- Payments are processed through the Institute’s authorized payment processor and may include credit card, electronic transfer, or other approved methods.
- If a scheduled payment fails, up to three automated payment attempts may be made, and written notification is issued.
- A 15-day grace period applies following a missed payment. If unresolved, a $250 administrative late fee may be applied and access may be temporarily paused until the account is brought current.
Refunds, withdrawal & deferrals Clear policies to support planning and institutional accountability.
Refund policy
Refunds are calculated based on the official program start date, defined as the first scheduled class session, whether or not the student attends.
- Before program start: 100% of tuition paid, less a $500 administrative fee.
- Within the first 30 days: Prorated tuition refund, less a $1,000 administrative fee.
- After 30 days: No refunds are issued.
Administrative fees are non-refundable.
Student withdrawal
A student may withdraw from the program by submitting written notice to the Institute.
Written notice must include the student’s full name, program name, and a clear statement of intent to withdraw. Non-attendance or informal communication does not constitute withdrawal.
Withdrawal for non-payment
If tuition remains unpaid after reminders and the applicable grace period, access to Brightspace and learning platforms may be paused, and the participant may be administratively withdrawn from the program.
Outstanding tuition and applicable fees remain payable. Reinstatement may be considered once the account is brought into good standing, subject to program capacity.
Deferrals
Deferrals are reviewed case-by-case and are subject to cohort capacity and placement availability.
- Maximum of two deferrals.
- Deferrals apply to the next available cohort only.
- $500 administrative deferral fee applies per approved deferral.
- Tuition paid carries forward to the deferred cohort.
Policy updates
The Institute may update policies periodically to reflect academic, institutional, regulatory, or partner placement requirements. Students are notified of material changes that affect program participation.
Additional costs not included in tuition Common expenses beyond tuition, which may vary by placement and supervision arrangement.
While program tuition covers the full academic pathway, instructional delivery, and institutional coordination, some costs associated with training and practicum participation are not included and may vary depending on individual circumstances and placement requirements.
Travel & accommodation
Travel to in-person intensive training sessions, accommodation, meals, and related expenses are the responsibility of the participant.
Books & learning resources
Some required and recommended books or readings may be purchased separately by the participant.
The Institute provides core training materials during the intensive training period, including workbooks, manuals, and applicable standards of practice resources.
Practicum placement & agency administration
Some practicum settings may require placement-related or administrative fees, depending on site-specific requirements. These costs are determined by the host agency and are assessed on an individual basis.
Clinical supervision
Clinical supervision is a standard and essential component of psychotherapy training and is not included in tuition.
- Supervision is coordinated separately from tuition billing.
- Anticipated cost is approximately $100 per hour.
- Actual rates may vary depending on supervisor qualifications, setting, and regional factors.
Insurance & variable costs
Depending on practicum site requirements, additional costs may include professional liability insurance, supervisor honoraria, placement administration fees, or travel related to practicum participation.
Important Note
Tuition and policy information is provided to support informed planning. Full terms and conditions are set out in the Student Enrolment Agreement issued upon admission.
Tuition and policy information is provided to support informed planning. Full terms and conditions are set out in the Student Enrolment Agreement issued upon admission.
Who This Serves
Designed for Nurses Seeking Psychotherapeutic Practice Readiness
This pathway is designed for nurses who want more than a program outline. It is for clinicians who need to understand how psychotherapeutic formation, supervised practice, and role alignment fit within their current nursing identity and future practice direction.
Registered nurses (RNs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs)For nurses extending their scope into psychotherapy, this pathway clarifies how foundational nursing knowledge, mental health experience, and structured supervision converge into competent, accountable psychotherapeutic practice within Ontario’s regulatory context.
Nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialistsFor advanced practice nurses, the program emphasizes depth rather than introduction—strengthening psychotherapeutic formulation, treatment planning, and process work beyond assessment, diagnosis, prescribing, and consultative responsibilities.
Public health nurses and psychiatric or mental health nursesFor nurses grounded in population and specialty mental health, the pathway formalizes psychotherapeutic competence, linking existing expertise in complex contexts to sustained, supervision-informed psychotherapy with individuals, families, and communities.
Psychotherapy Program Comparison
How Becoming Institute compares
A side-by-side look at tuition, program length, practicum hours, and nursing focus across major Ontario psychotherapy training pathways.
| Institution | Degree / Credential | Program Length | Nursing-Specific | Practicum Hours | Total Tuition (Domestic) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becoming Institute | Nurse Psychotherapist Certificate with Specialization in Trauma Recovery | 1 year | Yes | 1,000 hours | $13,497 CAD |
| McMaster University | MSc Psychotherapy | ~1.5 years | No | 300–500 hours | ~$18,500–$19,000 |
| OISE / University of Toronto | MEd Counselling Psychology | ~2 years | No | 250–500 hours | ~$16,900–$20,000 |
| Western University | MA Counselling Psychology | 2 years | No | 550 hours | ~$12,330–$13,000 |
| Yorkville University | MA Counselling Psychology (MACP) | 2–2.5 years | No | 400 hours | ~$37,730–$40,800 |
| Ontario Psychotherapy & Counselling College (OPCC) | Diploma in Psychotherapy | 5 years | No | 300 hours | ~$25,000–$29,000 |
On mobile and tablet, the table scrolls horizontally so the full comparison remains readable.
What sets us apart
What sets the Becoming Institute apart
Three factors differentiate the Becoming Institute from every other program in this comparison.
Nurse-exclusive pathway
Training the practitioner no one else produces.The Becoming Institute is Ontario’s only psychotherapy training program built exclusively for nurses who want to become independent psychotherapists. Most programs accept anyone with a degree; we accept nurses — and train them to build an independent practice, rooted in their nursing identity and specialized in trauma recovery. No detour. No identity compromise. Just a direct path from regulated nurse to independent psychotherapist.
Practicum depth
Most programs graduate students with a few hundred client hours and limited real-world experience; many still don’t feel ready to practice. Our nurses enter a 1,000-hour practicum carrying a focused caseload of roughly 15 clients for 16 weeks, working repeatedly with core trauma presentations — depression, anxiety, PTSD, relationship rupture, and unresolved grief. They aren’t just observing or role-playing — they are doing psychotherapy, session by session, and immediately applying what they learn in class to real recovery journeys.
Course architecture
Most programs are a collection of stand-alone courses; the Becoming Institute is one continuous learning journey for nurses. From the three-day intensive that introduces live psychotherapy, through weekly seminars, supervision, and the 1,000-hour practicum, every step is sequenced to prepare you for the next. Instead of more content, the design steadily carries you from bedside skill to confident psychotherapeutic practice with a real caseload — so you always know why you’re here, what’s next, and how it all fits together.
Take the Next Step
Begin Your 12-Month Credentialing Pathway
Join a rigorous graduate-level program designed for nurses seeking psychotherapeutic depth, supervised practice, and professional readiness within one focused year.
Schedule a Meeting with an Advisor
Speak to our admissions advisors and ask any outstanding questions you may have. Email us at: admission@becominginstitute.ca