Pathways to Registration as a Psychologist

Step 1 - Complete an APAC accredited Level 1 program (three-year undergraduate psychology sequence)

If you have an undergraduate degree in a program that is not APAC accredited, you may be eligible for entry into a 3-year bridging program (approximately 12-18 months duration) which enables you to apply for entry to an accredited 4th-year program.

Step 2 - Complete an APAC accredited Level 2 program (fourth year such as an Honours year or a fourth-year equivalent Graduate Diploma in Psychology)

These programs are typically one year in duration at a full-time capacity.
Note: some institutions offer years 1-4 (packaged Level 1 and 2) in one program which is a four-year psychology sequence.

Step 3 - At the end of 4th year there are typically 3 pathway options:

• 4+2 pathway:

  • complete a two-year internship of supervised practice as a provisionally registered psychologist and subsequently, pass the National Psychology Exam. This pathway is being retired by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA). 
    Refer to the PsyBA for further information on the 4+2 internship program.  

• 5+1 pathway:

  • complete an APAC accredited Level 3 (fifth year of study, such as a Master of Professional Psychology) as a provisionally registered psychologist; the fifth year of study is completed at an education provider, followed by a one-year internship of supervised practice and subsequently, the requirement to pass the National Psychology Exam.
    Refer to the PsyBA for further information on the 5+1 internship program.  

• postgraduate professional psychology qualification pathway: 
  • complete an APAC accredited packaged Level 3 and 4 (fifth and sixth year of study) Masters, combined Masters/PhD or Doctorate program as a provisionally registered psychologist. Professional postgraduate degrees are offered in nine Areas of Practice Endorsement (AoPE): 
    • clinical neuropsychology 
    • clinical psychology
    • community psychology
    • counselling psychology
    • educational and developmental psychology
    • forensic psychology
    • health psychology
    • organisational psychology 
    • sport and exercise psychology
  • After completion of an AoPE postgraduate program, the newly registered psychologist must also complete the registrar program with the PsyBA to be eligible for AoPE. Please refer to the PsyBA for further information on the registrar program.

One-year bridging qualifications and Level 4 Stand-alone programs for endorsement:

Psychologists who hold general registration, including those who have completed an internship pathway, may be eligible to gain entry into a one-year Level 4 stand-alone program for AoPE. As with all programs for endorsement, psychologists must also complete the PsyBA registrar program to be eligible for AoPE.

Psychologists who already hold general registration plus an AoPE and wish to gain another AoPE may be eligible for entry into a Level 4 Post-Masters bridging program, followed by the PsyBA registrar program. 

The search for programs page lists all of the current APAC-accredited programs of study. Please contact prospective universities directly for more information about their programs.

Registration standards are managed by Psychology Board of Australia. Please refer to their website for further information. Please also note that all enquiries relating to AoPE and Internships are to be directed to the PsyBA.

Further information on careers, study pathways and for the assessment of overseas qualifications in psychology is available from the Australian Psychological Society.