Psychologists

Register as a practitioner psychologist

You must be on the statutory register before you can call yourself a practitioner psychologist or work in a role that requires the title.

This guidance is for psychologists only. It covers who has to register, the qualifications that are accepted, and what you must do each year to stay on the register.

Contents

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1. Who must register

You must be registered if you practise as a clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, health, occupational or sport and exercise psychologist - whether you work in public health services, education, the criminal justice system, private practice or remotely across borders.

You do not need to register if you:

• work only as an academic psychologist or researcher and do not see clients
• are a trainee on an approved programme, until you complete it
• use psychological methods in another registered role, such as a psychiatrist or psychotherapist

Using a protected title without the required registration may breach professional or local legal requirements.

2. Protected titles

Only registered psychologists may use these titles:

• practitioner psychologist
• clinical psychologist
• counselling psychologist
• educational psychologist
• forensic psychologist
• health psychologist
• occupational psychologist
• sport and exercise psychologist
• registered psychologist

The word 'psychologist' on its own is not protected. Job titles such as 'assistant psychologist' or 'psychology graduate' do not require registration, but they must not imply that you hold a protected title.

3. Approved qualifications

To register you need an accredited undergraduate degree in psychology, followed by an approved postgraduate programme in your chosen area of practice. Most routes take 6 to 7 years in total.

Approved routes by area of practice

Area of practice	Postgraduate qualification	Typical length
Clinical psychology	Doctorate in clinical psychology (DClinPsy)	3 years
Counselling psychology	Doctorate in counselling psychology, or an approved qualification route	3 years
Educational psychology	Doctorate in educational, child and adolescent psychology	3 years
Forensic psychology	Approved MSc plus a supervised practice stage	3 to 4 years
Health psychology	Approved MSc plus stage 2 supervised practice	3 years
Occupational psychology	Approved MSc plus a supervised practice stage	3 years

You can take an approved conversion course to gain the graduate basis for chartered membership. Conversion courses usually take 1 year full time or 2 years part time.

You will need to provide transcripts for both your original degree and the conversion course when you apply.

4. How to apply

Applications are made online and usually take 10 working days to process once your documents are complete.

1. Create an account and choose the area of practice you are applying for.
2. Upload your degree certificate, postgraduate certificate and academic transcripts.
3. Provide a professional reference from a registered psychologist who has supervised you.
4. Complete the health and character declaration.
5. Give consent for a criminal record check.

Apply at least 8 weeks before you plan to start practising. You cannot use a protected title while your application is being assessed.

Your referee must:

• be on the register in the same area of practice
• have supervised at least 6 months of your practice
• have known you in a professional capacity within the last 2 years

References from family members or from clients cannot be accepted.

5. Standards of proficiency

Everyone on the register must meet the standards of proficiency for practitioner psychologists. They set out the safe and effective practice expected in your area, and they are what you are measured against if a concern is raised about your practice.

You must recognise the limits of your own knowledge and skills, and refer a client on when their needs fall outside your area of practice or level of experience.

You must keep accurate, dated and legible records of assessment, formulation, intervention and outcome, and store them securely in line with data protection law.

You may only share information without consent where there is a legal duty to do so, or a serious risk of harm to the client or another person.

Explain the purpose, likely duration, risks and limits of the psychological work you propose, and record that the client understood and agreed. Where a client lacks capacity, follow the relevant mental capacity legislation for your nation.

You must have regular clinical supervision appropriate to your caseload, and must not enter a dual relationship - such as treating a friend, colleague or family member - where it could compromise your objectivity.

6. Continuing professional development

You must keep a continuous record of your continuing professional development (CPD). A sample of registrants in each area of practice is audited every 2 years when they renew.

If you are selected for audit you must submit:

• a summary of your practice over the last 2 years
• a dated list of your CPD activities
• a statement explaining how the activities improved your practice and benefited your clients
• evidence for each activity, such as supervision logs, course certificates or reflective notes

There is no minimum number of CPD hours. What matters is that your activities are relevant to your current practice and that you can show the benefit to service users.

7. Applying with international qualifications

If you qualified in another country, your qualification is assessed against the professional standards for your area of practice. Assessment takes up to 4 months.

You will also need to provide:

• certified translations of all certificates and transcripts
• a certificate of good standing from every regulator you have been registered with in the last 5 years
• evidence of English language proficiency, unless your qualification was taught and assessed in English

Do not resign from a post or make major work or travel arrangements before your registration is confirmed. Applications are not guaranteed to succeed.

8. Renewing your registration

Registration runs in 2 year cycles. You will be sent a renewal notice 12 weeks before your cycle ends. To renew you must confirm that you still meet the standards and declare any change to your health or character.

If you do not renew, you will be removed from the register and must stop using your protected title immediately. You can apply for readmission, but you may be asked to show recent evidence of updating your practice.

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Get help

Contact the registration team if you are not sure which area of practice to apply for, or if your qualification is not listed.

psychology@turkmedicaloffice.com

Published 1 April 2026
Last updated 3 September 2026