Australian Psychological Society Sender: ShozInOz

Dear SS

I'm a psychologist here, and it's a bit of a minefield I'm afraid. I'm in the occupational-ish area (engineering psychologist). In Australia the term 'psychologist' is protected by law (as it should be...IMO) so the most important thing first is to be recognised as a psychologist, and that has nothing to do with the APS. In the UK, Chartership is obtained via the BPS. Here in Aus, you need to apply to your state Registration Board (usual State inefficiency - there are different ones under different guises for each state). Here in NSW it is the NSW Psychologists Registration Board, uner the Health something or other Board-whatever. The process of application involves supervision and demonstration of competency in a whole load of areas such as psychometrics (which your friend will be fine with) and counselling, etc. Frankly it is a pain the the arse but they focus on generalism rather than specialism. In the UK on the other hand you just need to be a specialist (a PhD helps a lot and this was my route). IF POSSIBLE, by far the best way is to get chartership with the BPS, THEN Apply for Psychologist status here via joint recognition. (Bear in mind when considering the 6-year thing that in Aus Hons degrees are 4 years, in the UK they are 3 years but equivalent because honours is parallel with the third year. So really it is more like '5 years' if you have a UK degree.)

After that she can apply to the APS (registration as a Psychologist is a requirement). The Occupational college is not too fussy I don't think - you just need to satisfy them that you can tick the occupational boxes. I checked it out and was told even I would, and my specialism is human factors not occupational psychology.

So the short answer is YES I think she could get into the APS occupational college, if she wished.

BUT...here you don't have to be an APS member at all. I'm not and I wouldn't bother because a) it is not essential - psychologist status is attained separately b) it costs over $400 a year - one of the most expensive psych society in the world, and far more than the UK (which also gives you chartership!).

Steve

--