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How to become a registered psychologist

Your guide to becoming a registered psychologist in Australia, including accredited psychology study pathways at the University of Sydney.
  • https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/study/study-areas/psychology.html Study psychology

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At the University of Sydney, there are several pathways to becoming a registered psychologist in Australia, accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Whether you are following the traditional Bachelor of Psychology stream or already have a degree from a different discipline, there is a pathway to suit you. Below, we break down the courses and pathways available at the University of Sydney.

1. Complete an undergraduate degree with an accredited psychology sequence

To begin the pathway to becoming a psychologist in Australia, you must complete an undergraduate degree that includes an APAC-accredited psychology sequence. At the University of Sydney, there are several ways to complete this requirement:

Students can enrol in the Bachelor of Psychology or the Bachelor of Psychology Honours, a four-year degree where the honours year (the fourth year of psychology) is embedded within the program.

Students can study psychology as a program within another bachelor's degree, such as the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts.

The Psychology Program consists of ten 6 credit point units made up of:

  • 12 credit points of first-year psychology units
  • 24 credit points of second-year psychology units
  • 24 credit points of third-year psychology units 

Students who have already completed a Bachelor's degree from any discipline may complete the 1.5-year (full-time) Graduate Diploma in Psychology.

2. Complete a fourth year of psychology (Honours)

After completing an accredited undergraduate psychology sequence (see Step 1), students will then need to complete a fourth year of psychology (Honours). Admission into Honours is based on the average mark from 2nd and 3rd year PSYC units and requires that the student has completed the Psychology Program.

At the University of Sydney, this can be completed in two ways:

3. Complete postgraduate psychology training (fifth and sixth years)

To become eligible for registration as a psychologist in Australia, students must complete two additional years of postgraduate psychology training. At the University of Sydney, this can be completed through the Master of Clinical Psychology

Students can apply for registration as a psychologist after completing the Master of Clinical Psychology. 

In order to be endorsed in a specific area of practice (e.g., Clinical Psychology), students need to complete a two-year registrar program after graduation.

Professional recognition of qualifications

Graduates who successfully complete an APAC-accredited psychology pathway can seek professional recognition from the following organisations:  

  • Psychology Board of Australia, the Board that determines who may practise Psychology in Australia.
  • Australian Clinical Psychology Association, a professional body representing Clinical Psychologists in Australia who have completed post-graduate qualifications leading to endorsement in clinical psychology. Membership of ACPA is not required to practise as a psychologist in Australia.
  • Australian Psychological Society (APS),  a professional body representing Psychologists in Australia with a fifth and sixth year of graduate study. Membership of the APS is not required to practise as a psychologist in Australia.

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