Welcome to APAC
Search for an accredited psychology program
Information for education providers
Information for students
Registration pathways
There are typically two pathway options to register as a psychologist following the completion of an APAC accredited Level 1 and Level 2 program.
The accreditation process
Program accreditation is the process of assessing whether a program of study meets the Accreditation Standards and produces graduates who have the knowledge, skills, and more to practise psychology in Australia.
2024 has been a busy year as we continue our work to strengthen APAC’s accreditation effectiveness and efficiency.
APAC’s Evidence Guide has been updated to provide more detailed guidance on how higher education providers can demonstrate compliance against the Accreditation Standards.
The APAC Board met on 25 November 2024 in person.
The scoping and design phase for a new APAC Information Management System (AIMS) was reviewed.
The APAC Board has adopted an updated Strategic Plan to cover the period from 2024 to 2029.
The past year has seen substantial change in APAC’s governance, in line with our Strategic Plan 2023-2028, which has committed us to developing “organisational structures that support independence, transparency and effective decision-making”.
As part of APAC’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan, one of our priorities is to deliver risk-based accreditation services.
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What is accreditation?Accreditation refers to the review process of psychology programs for quality assurance and quality improvement against the Accreditation Standards. Only programs which are granted APAC accreditation may be considered for approval by the Psychology Board of Australia for the purposes of registration as a psychologist in Australia.
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Are online programs also APAC accredited?All programs listed on this website are APAC accredited, whether they are online and/or on campus. The search for a program page contains all of the current APAC accredited programs of study, including programs that may be offered via an off-campus mode (either partially or fully). The programs offered via an online mode are indicated in the search results. Some online programs are offered fully online or in mixed mode and as such, APAC recommends you contact the education provider directly to enquire if there are any on campus requirements.
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Do I automatically become registered as a psychologist if I complete an accredited program?Upon completion of the required psychology program of study, graduates are required to gain provisional or general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) in order to practice as a psychologist within their scope of practice in Australia. Please note, the PsyBA develop the registration standards, codes and guidelines for the psychology profession including the requirements for registration, as well as assess individual suitability for registration. For further information, please refer to the PsyBA website.
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Does APAC recommend a particular program or provider?As an accreditation authority, APAC does not have a ranking system in place, nor does it give any advice regarding which program of study or education provider is best. If you require further information, including which education provider you should apply to or about the individual education provider’s admission processes, it is recommended that you contact education providers directly and comparing its programs of study and other relevant services to make an informed decision. Alternatively, more information about a career in psychology can also be found on the websites of the Australian Psychological Society or the Australian Association of Psychologists.
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How do I get my overseas qualifications accredited by APAC?If you have gained an overseas academic qualification in psychology and you are seeking to register to practise as a psychologist or continue further studies in an APAC accredited program in Australia, the appropriate course of action is dependent on the advice you are seeking. For more information, please refer to the overseas qualifications page.
Resources
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Video transcript