Frequently asked questions

For education providers

Are providers required to meet the minimum number of hours for placements and client contact for programs of study at Levels 3 and 4 graduate competencies as stipulated in the Evidence Guide?

Providers are required to demonstrate that the quality and quantity of supervision meets relevant criteria from the Standards. These include that supervision is sufficient for students/graduates to practise safely (Criteria 1.8 and 1.10) and that the duration of placement is sufficient for students to demonstrate the graduate competencies (Criterion 1.9).

The figures provided in the Evidence Guide are presented as guidelines and are not prescribed as minimum numbers of hours. Providers are free to establish their own guidelines for sufficient supervision and placement hours, supported by an appropriate rationale and relevant evidence.
What is the difference between APAC accreditation and Psychology Board of Australia approval?

The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 (National Law) requires a program to be both accredited by APAC and approved by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) to be considered as a qualification suitable for the purpose of registration as a psychologist in Australia.

Accreditation refers to the review process of psychology programs for quality assurance and quality improvement against the Accreditation Standards. Approval refers to the process of assessment by the PsyBA of an APAC accredited program to determine if it meets the PsyBA’s requirements for the purpose of registration as a psychologist in Australia under the National Law.
I have a concern regarding an accredited program that may not be complying with the Accreditation Standards. How do I notify APAC of my concern?

If, after reading the Complaints handling policy and the Accreditation Standards, you believe that an accredited program may not be complying with one or more Standards, please notify APAC by submitting the Concerns about accredited programs form outlining how each relevant Standard may not be met and detailing what evidence you are able to provide to support your concern. Please note, APAC is unable to investigate anonymous notifications, however will respect a request for confidentiality (within the limits of legal discoverability) if confidentiality is requested at the time of the notification.

It’s also important to note that in most instances APAC is not the appropriate body to investigate a complaint or grievance and concerns relating to personal complaints and/or Registered Health Practitioners cannot be addressed by APAC. Students seeking to have a matter investigated and addressed to result in a change to their personal situation, including matters such as admissions and selection, recognition of prior learning/experience, placement allocation, assessment outcomes, or dismissal from training will not be considered by APAC. In such instances, APAC advises students to use the formal grievance procedures established by the education provider or contact the PsyBA for any concerns about a health practitioner.
Is there a review process if the education provider is not happy with the APAC accreditation determination?

An education provider may request an internal review of an APAC accreditation determination of accreditation failed or accreditation withdrawn.

For further information on the process, including how to lodge a request for review, please contact ceo@apac.au.
Do you recognise offshore psychology programs?

The Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) does not recognise programs that are delivered entirely outside of Australia on its register of approved programs. This includes overseas-based programs that have been accredited by APAC. The PsyBA considers that approval of programs delivered entirely outside Australia is beyond the scope of its regulatory functions, which are generally limited to Australia.

Students who have completed an APAC accredited undergraduate program overseas and wish to apply for entry to an Honours or higher degree program in Australia should make an application directly to their preferred higher education provider. The higher education provider is responsible for determining the admission requirements for their program.

Students who have completed an APAC accredited program overseas and wish to apply for entry into the 4+2 or 5+1 internship program or register as a psychologist in Australia should make an application to the PsyBA.

For further information, please refer to the overseas qualifications page.
Do all placement supervisors have to be Board approved?

Yes, please refer to the APAC evidence guide under criteria 1.7 and 1.8. Please also refer to Appendix 1 in the Accreditation Standards for further details of the Psychology Board of Australia’s supervision requirements.
What are the research requirements for programs at a particular level?

Please refer to Appendix 1 in the evidence guide for details of research requirements. Please note, the research requirements align with the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Is the 10 year rule still part of the entry requirements?

The 10 year rule was specified as an entry requirement in the 2010 Standards for programs at fourth year and above. It has been removed from the entry requirements in the 2019 Accreditation Standards. Entry requirements for programs at Levels 1, 2, 3 or 4 are listed in the introductory comments for each level within the Accreditation Standards.

The Accreditation Standards are a minimum threshold and education providers may set additional requirements above and beyond those set out in the Standards.
What are the transition arrangements for the 2010 Standards to the 2019 Standards?

The transition to the 2019 Accreditation Standards occurred officially at midnight on 31 December 2018, and the 2019 Standards came into effect 1 January 2019. The 2010 Accreditation Standards became historical as of this date.

Any existing conditions on accreditation in place at the end of 2018 were transferred into the language of the 2019 Standards.

The Australian Psychological Society’s (APS) college approval process ceased at the end of 2018, and APAC will no longer be joined by college assessors on site visits. APS college conditions in place at the end of 2018 were transferred into the language of the 2019 Accreditation Standards.

Programs previously accredited under the 2010 Standards will maintain its accreditation status into 2019 and beyond, assuming no changes resulting from any required follow-up site visits, audits, etc. Higher education providers will not have to apply for accreditation under the 2019 Accreditation Standards until their scheduled cycle accreditation assessment or until they submit an application for a new program in an out of cycle assessment.
What constitutes a sound rationale for any variation as is referred to in the evidence guide at various points?

The move to outcome focussed Accreditation Standards allows providers to focus on evidence that demonstrates that outcomes are achieved rather than relying solely on inputs that assume that outcomes can be achieved. This means that the lists of evidence provided are a guide to how the Standards and graduate competencies can be met and innovation is encouraged. Where variation is applied, education providers will need to consider each situation carefully with a view to ensuring the Standards and graduate competencies are met and, when next subject to assessment, demonstrate that any decisions taken fit within that context.

Until APAC conducts a full assessment (whether that be, for example, as part of a cycle accreditation assessment, an out of cycle assessment for a new program, a monitoring site visit etc.), APAC is unable to advise or offer a determination on which rationales for variation may be appropriate as there will be a range of factors to consider as part of the wider picture. An assessment takes into account documentation submitted, information obtained from meetings with staff, students and supervisors, etc. In the first instance, therefore, the onus will be on providers to ensure that all aspects of accredited programs meet the requirements of the Accreditation Standards and graduate competencies.

For students

What do the different psychology organisations do?
The Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) works to ensure that Australia’s psychologists are suitably trained, qualified and safe to practise. Public safety is a priority.

Its functions include:
- registering psychologists and provisional psychologists
- developing standards, codes and guidelines for the psychology profession
- handling notifications, complaints, investigations and disciplinary hearings
- assessing overseas trained practitioners who wish to practise in Australia
- approving accreditation standards and accredited courses of study.
PsyBA contracts the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) to be the higher education accreditation authority for the psychology profession in Australia.

APAC accredits more than 1000 programs of study across 43 higher education providers including Australian university programs delivered in Malaysia, Dubai, Vietnam and Singapore. APAC’s accreditation outcomes are sent to PsyBA for approval.

APAC also reviews accreditation standards and makes recommendations to PsyBA.

Psychology students and early career psychologists can join the Australian Psychology Society (APS).

Benefits include expert information and advice, job opportunities and opportunities to network with or be mentored by established psychologists in diverse settings around Australia.

Similar benefits are also offered by the Australian Association of Psychologists (AAPi).

Clinical psychologists who hold accredited postgraduate qualifications with endorsement in clinical psychology can join the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA).
What is the difference between APAC accreditation and Psychology Board of Australia approval?

The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 (National Law) requires a program to be both accredited by APAC and approved by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) to be considered as a qualification suitable for the purpose of registration as a psychologist in Australia.

Accreditation refers to the review process of psychology programs for quality assurance and quality improvement against the Accreditation Standards. Approval refers to the process of assessment by the PsyBA of an APAC accredited program to determine if it meets the PsyBA’s requirements for the purpose of registration as a psychologist in Australia under the National Law.
Am I eligible for the School Counsellor Sponsorship Program?

APAC accredits psychology programs in Australia and provides advice on pathways to become a registered psychologist in Australia. It does not provide advice on becoming a school counsellor, nor does it accredit programs of study leading to registration as a school counsellor. As such, queries relating to school counselling is outside the remit of APAC.

Additionally, APAC has no involvement with the School Counsellor Sponsorship programs and all enquiries can be directed to the Department of Education and Training.
Do I automatically gain membership of the Australian Psychological Society if I complete an accredited program?

As APAC is a separate organisation from the Australian Psychological Society (APS), you need to apply directly to the APS if you choose to seek membership of that professional association. The same is true if you choose to join an alternate professional psychological association.
Why has APAC sent an Assessment Team to my education provider when my program of study is already accredited?

There are a number of reasons why an APAC Assessment Team may be conducting a site visit at your education provider. It may be the case that your education provider is approaching the end of its current five-year accreditation cycle and is, therefore, due for a full re-accreditation assessment. Perhaps your education provider has made significant changes to its accredited programs or to other aspects of its structure or functioning which require examination by APAC to ensure that Accreditation Standards are still being met, or your education provider may have been randomly selected by APAC for an audit.

Additionally, APAC may be in possession of credible information that the education provider’s programs of study may no longer comply with the Accreditation Standards and as a result has commenced an audit of the relevant programs of study.
How does a program of study become APAC accredited?
The typical accreditation process includes:
- an education provider must lodge a submission for accreditation to APAC in the year before it wishes the program of study (course, degree) to be assessed against the Accreditation Standards and approved by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA).
- after receiving and making an initial assessment of the submission, APAC may decide a site visit is required. The purpose of a site visit is to verify the information provided in the submission and to allow for a report of the assessment to be prepared.
- an accreditation assessment report is prepared based on the submission findings and if applicable, the site visit observations.
- the report then follows a due process where it is considered by the APAC Accreditation Assessment Committee and subsequently, the APAC Board. Upon a final determination made by the APAC Board, correspondence is sent to the education provider and the PsyBA.
- the PsyBA will then decide whether to approve or refuse each program of study as a program which falls within the pathway to register as a psychologist in Australia.
- APAC accreditation is typically followed by a cyclical period of accreditation for five years. During the period of accreditation, under section 50 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, APAC is also required to monitor programs that it accredits. All monitoring processes are outlined in APAC’s monitoring framework.
Why doesn’t my education provider appear on the APAC website?

Education providers are listed on the APAC website under the states and territories in which they are based. Where an APAC accredited program of study operates outside Australia but is offered by an Australian education provider, it will appear as offshore against the relevant education provider.

If an education provider does not appear anywhere on the website, it means the provider has no programs of study which are currently accredited by APAC.
How do I find programs that are accredited in off campus (distance, online or external) mode?

APAC refers to programs that are delivered off campus as online programs. These may be known as distance, online, external, mixed mode or blended delivery. Please contact the education provider offering the program for further information.
What happens if the status of my program changes to accreditation revoked or accreditation refused before I graduate?

Where a student completes a program of study which has an accreditation status of accreditation revoked (before the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 (National Law) sometimes referred to as accreditation withdrawn), accreditation refused (before the National Law sometimes referred to as accreditation failed), or where the program of study has no accreditation status, then APAC’s view is that the student will not have completed an accredited program, regardless of the fact that the program may have held a grade of accreditation in the past, including at the time the student enrolled in it.

In this event, it would be expected that education providers would make appropriate arrangements to ensure students are able to complete an accredited program. APAC is required under the National Law to notify the PsyBA of the revocation of accreditation, as under Section 51 of the National Law the PsyBA’s approval of the program is also cancelled.
If a program is accredited with conditions, how can I find out what the conditions are?

APAC publishes reports on the accreditation reports page that summarise the key accreditation assessment findings following each assessment it conducts. However, to obtain the full details of the conditions of accreditation imposed on a program, you should contact the relevant education provider.
What does accreditation with conditions mean?

Where APAC accredits a program of study, it can grant this accreditation with or without conditions (prior to the introduction of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 (the National Law), the terms used were conditional accreditation and full accreditation).

Where a program has been granted accreditation with conditions, this means that a shortfall against a standard has been identified and a condition is imposed against the standard to remedy that shortfall. In such circumstances, the education provider will be given a specified period of time within which it must meet those conditions – all conditions must be met before accreditation without conditions can be granted.

A student who successfully graduates from a program of study which holds accreditation (either with or without conditions) at the time of their graduation is considered to have completed an APAC accredited program of study.
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.
What education and training is required to become eligible for general registration as a psychologist in Australia?

A student is required to complete APAC accredited programs if they wish to become a psychologist in Australia. It’s important for a student to complete the APAC accredited sequence (the required units) within an accredited program. For more information regarding the pathway to registration, please refer to the pathways to registration page.

When completing programs, the student is required to complete APAC accredited programs and for the purposes of registration, these programs must also be approved by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) as a program of study which falls within the pathway the registration as a psychologist in Australia.

The PsyBA is the National Board for the psychology profession that is established under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 and the requirements for registration as a psychologist are determined by the PsyBA. After successful completion of the chosen pathway, the student must apply to the PsyBA for registration as a psychologist.

Supported by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, the PsyBA’s functions include registering psychologists and provisional psychologists, regulating the psychology profession, as well as assessing overseas trained practitioners who wish to practice in Australia and approving Accreditation Standards and accredited courses of study. For further information regarding registration requirements, please visit the PsyBA website.
Does APAC have an education provider ranking system?

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.
Why is there a difference of 6 months for three-year bridging programs that are estimated at 12-18 months? Do the 18 month programs offer more units?

The Accreditation Standards are set to ensure bridging programs meet the requirements of an APAC accredited three-year sequence, including that education providers have robust processes in place to ensure students graduate acquiring the Level 1 Foundational Competencies.

It is up to the education provider to decide how it structures its programs ensuring that robust processes are in place to meet the Accreditation Standards and students have the ability to acquire the Level 1 Foundational Competencies upon the completion of their studies. Please contact the education provider directly for more information.
What is refresher training and am I eligible for it?

Neither the Accreditation Standards, nor the rules for accreditation stipulate any requirements relating to refresher training. As such, please contact the Psychology Board of Australia directly for further information regarding any refresher training.
How can I confirm if my program of study is APAC accredited?
In the first instance, please visit the search for a program page to search for your program of study. If you are unable to locate your program of study within the list of accredited programs, there could be several reasons to consider:
- if you completed your program several years ago, it might not be offered anymore and may have been removed from the APAC website. Where a program is no longer offered, it will remain on the website for a period of time after the program is completely discontinued. If your program is not listed and to ascertain whether a program was accredited at a specific point in time, please refer to the request for an academic transcript check page.
- if the program is new, it may not have completed the accreditation assessment process yet. Programs are not listed on the APAC website until accreditation is granted. Please contact the education provider which offers the program directly to confirm where the program is in the accreditation assessment process.
- if your program does not appear on the APAC website and you are sure whether it is discontinued or a newly proposed program, you should contact the education provider who offers the program for further information.
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.
How do I get my Australian qualifications accredited by APAC?

APAC only accredits programs of study as a whole upon receipt of an application from an education provider who offers them. APAC does not accredit the qualifications of individuals, nor does it accept individual student applications. To find out if your program of study is APAC accredited, please refer to the search for a program page.

To determine whether your program is approved by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) for the purposes of registration as a psychologist, please consult the PsyBA website.
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.
I have a concern regarding an accredited program that may not be complying with the Accreditation Standards. How do I notify APAC of my concern?

If, after reading the Complaints handling policy and the Accreditation Standards, you believe that an accredited program may not be complying with one or more Standards, please notify APAC by submitting the Concerns about accredited programs form outlining how each relevant Standard may not be met and detailing what evidence you are able to provide to support your concern. Please note, APAC is unable to investigate anonymous notifications, however will respect a request for confidentiality (within the limits of legal discoverability) if confidentiality is requested at the time of the notification.

It’s also important to note that in most instances APAC is not the appropriate body to investigate a complaint or grievance and concerns relating to personal complaints and/or Registered Health Practitioners cannot be addressed by APAC. Students seeking to have a matter investigated and addressed to result in a change to their personal situation, including matters such as admissions and selection, recognition of prior learning/experience, placement allocation, assessment outcomes, or dismissal from training will not be considered by APAC. In such instances, APAC advises students to use the formal grievance procedures established by the education provider or contact the PsyBA for any concerns about a health practitioner.
I need advice regarding registration as a psychologist. Who can I speak to?

The Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) is responsible for developing and endorsing the Registration Standards for psychologists in Australia, and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency manages the processing of applications to the PsyBA for registration as a psychologist. As such, please contact the PsyBA directly for information and advice regarding registration requirements.
Does APAC accredit individual units of study?

APAC accredits programs as a whole and while APAC does not accredit individual units, it is important to note that the accredited sequence (the required units) must be completed to satisfy the requirements of the APAC accredited program. APAC recommends contacting the education provider directly for advice to ensure that you have met all requirements.
Which is the best program of study or education provider?

As an accreditation authority, APAC is unable to provide any recommendations regarding programs of study or education providers. APAC’s role is to assure the compliance against the Accreditation Standards of each accredited program, however we do not rank programs or education providers. It’s recommended that you contact your prospective education provider for further information regarding its programs to make an informed decision.
Who can I contact for career advice?

APAC’s remit extends only to the accreditation of programs of study offered by Australian Higher Education Providers at specific campuses. As such, students should contact the Australian Psychological Society or the Australian Association of Psychologists for more information and advice regarding employment and careers.
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.
Can APAC advise which education provider is the best to study with online?

As an accreditation authority, APAC is unable to give any advice regarding which online program of study or education provider is best to study with.

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.

All programs listed have been assessed and accredited on the pathway towards registration as a psychologist.
Does APAC see an online degree as more or less favourable to an on campus degree?

The delivery mode does not have any impact as long as the program is accredited.
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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