Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is continually renewing its list of service providers. If you are a mental health professional and are currently treating or are interested in treating Veterans Affairs Canada clients and their families, please refer to the following resources:
Professional qualifications and requirements
VAC is particularly interested in identifying psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and clinical care managers who are interested in working with Veterans and their families. Check here for a brief overview of the qualifications and experience required to become a VAC provider in these areas.
Professional qualifications and requirements
Mental health service providers required by VAC include:
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Social workers
- Registered marriage and family therapists (where provincially regulated)
- Clinical care managers (RN, MSW, Mpsych, OT)
Check below for information on the qualifications and experience required to become a VAC provider in these areas.
Psychologists
- Masters degree in Psychology with a preference for a doctorate
- Must be licensed in the province in which they practice with their provincial licensing body
- Five years supervised clinical counselling experience for Masters level psychologists
- Two years supervised clinical counselling experience for Ph.D. level psychologists
- Criminal record check
- Proof of liability insurance
Psychiatrists
- Must be licensed to practice psychiatry in the province in which they practice with their provincial licensing body
- Or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Social workers
- Proof of Masters in Social Work
- Proof of membership with provincial regulatory body
- Five years of post-Masters social work experience including three years supervised
- Criminal record check
- Proof of liability insurance
Registered marriage and family therapists (RMFT)
- Proof of Masters and MFT designation
- Proof of membership with provincial regulatory body
- Five years of post-Masters clinical experience including three years supervised
- Criminal record check
- Proof of liability insurance
Clinical care managers
- Proof of Masters in Social Work, Masters in Psychology, Bachelors of Nursing, Bachelors of Occupational Therapy
- Proof of membership with provincial regulatory body
- Five years mental health or relevant work experience including three years supervised
- Criminal record check
- Proof of liability insurance
How to register
Understand how our list of approved providers is created and maintained, who to contact in order to apply and what your responsibilities are as a newly registered provider.
As our claims administrator, Medavie Blue Cross is responsible for establishing and maintaining Veterans Affairs Canada’s list of registered service providers. Individuals wishing to register should call Medavie Blue Cross at 1-888-261-4033 or fill out their Provider Application form on-line.
Please keep the following information in mind:
- Medavie Blue Cross registers updates and accesses information on all types of providers through their Provider Registry Network (PRN). To register, potential providers’ credentials are verified and assessed according to criteria from three federal partners: Department of National Defence (DND), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). This process has been in place since 1989.
- Claims processing is also administered by Medavie Blue Cross.
- Once you have registered, it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the Provider Registration Number, Benefit Provision and Payment Guidelines, Benefit Grid and Claim Forms provided. These documents are mailed to approved, registered providers within two weeks of registration.