We currently have hundreds of Canadian practices using SimplePractice to streamline their workflows and run their businesses more efficiently. If you’re a practice owner located in Canada, this guide can help you assess whether SimplePractice will work for your needs.
Below, you'll find answers to several commonly asked questions about using SimplePractice from Canada:
- Can I create a new SimplePractice account from Canada?
- Can I use an Online Payments account in Canada?
- Is SimplePractice PHIPA and PIPEDA compliant?
- Do you have data servers located in Canada?
- Can I use SimplePractice form templates in Canada?
- Can I submit electronic insurance claims in Canada?
Note: If you’re planning to use SimplePractice in another country, or if your clients will be using the Client Portal internationally, we recommend consulting with your legal counsel to make sure you maintain compliance with any applicable data privacy and security regulations.
Can I create a new SimplePractice account from Canada?
Yes, you can create and manage a SimplePractice account from Canada. We’ve found that customers have the most success evaluating our platform by exploring our features first-hand and taking advantage of our free trial. You can sign up for your 30-day free trial here (no credit card required).
Can I use an Online Payments account in Canada?
Our Canadian customers can definitely take advantage of our Online Payments feature. However, there are some details that are different for Canadian accounts compared to US-based accounts.
When you first sign up for your Online Payments account, you'll be given the option to choose your business type. If your business type is a Corporation or an LLC, you'll be asked to enter the country where your business is legally represented. You'll need to select Canada in this field in either of the following situations:
- If you're residing in the United States and you're legally represented in Canada
- If you reside in Canada and your business is also legally represented in Canada
If you select Canada as your country, you'll be asked to enter your Business Number (BN), which is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). These fields ensure that your Stripe account is accurately configured for tax purposes.
While processing payments and refunds are the same as US accounts, the payout schedule for Canadian accounts will follow a different timeline. You can still set your payout schedule to deliver payments daily; however, your payouts will include transactions from 7 calendar days prior. For example, a payout received on a Friday will include transactions from the previous Friday.
Is SimplePractice PHIPA and PIPEDA compliant?
SimplePractice is fully HIPAA compliant. Each provider is responsible for complying with the compliance regulations that apply to their location.
It is worth noting that we have found that there are some differences of legal opinions between federal and provincial laws in Canada. Because of this, we encourage you to consult with a legal advisor to make sure that you're complying with all of the regulations that are applicable to your practice.
While we're not legal experts in Canadian law, we can share that some practices make sure they’re in compliance by including a disclaimer in their practice's consent documents, informing clients that the protected health information (PHI) associated with their practice is stored in the US. Consulting with your regulatory body is also highly recommended for determining any measures you should take.
Note: To learn more about our robust security measures, you can review our Trust & Security Page, or see SimplePractice BAA, Terms of Service, and Trust & Security information.
Do you have data servers located in Canada?
All of our data servers are located and backed up in the US. If needed, you can include a disclaimer in your practice's consent documents to inform your clients that their protected health information (PHI) will be stored securely in servers located in the US.
Can I use SimplePractice form templates in Canada?
If you plan to use our consent form templates, you'll want to carefully review them and adjust as needed to reflect the legislation and requirements applicable to your area.
Can I submit electronic insurance claims in Canada?
Electronic claim submission is a feature that's only available for use with U.S. insurance companies. However, you can still use SimplePractice to create insurance claims, which can then be submitted outside of SimplePractice.
Tip: You can add any Canadian insurance payers to your SimplePractice account so that the payer information can auto-populate onto your claims. Then you can download the claim form to submit outside of SimplePractice.