Pathways to registration

The Level 1 Foundational Competencies are broadly equivalent to the level of competence of a Bachelor degree which may be designed specifically for psychology or as a psychology sequence in a Bachelor degree for a different discipline. The Level 1 Foundational Competencies can also be used as a psychology sequence in a higher level psychology qualification (i.e. AQF 8 Graduate Diploma) intended as a bridge for students holding a qualification in another discipline.

If you have graduated from a program that is not APAC accredited, you may be eligible for entry into a 3-year bridging program (approximately 12-18 months in duration) which, on successful completion, you may be eligible to apply for entry to an APAC accredited fourth year program.

The Level 2 Pre-Professional Competencies are broadly equivalent to a Bachelor Honours degree and can be offered as either a stand-alone program or integrated with a lower or higher-level program. The Level 2 Pre-Professional Competencies can also be used as a psychology sequence in an equivalent Level 2 Graduate Diploma degree.

When offered as a stand-alone program, typically, these programs are one year in duration on a full-time study load.

Note: some education providers offer years 1-4 (packaged Level 1 and 2) in one program which is a four-year psychology sequence, or years 4-5 (packaged Level 2 and 3) in one program which is a two year psychology sequence.

5+1 pathway

Complete an APAC accredited Level 3 fifth year program of study as a provisionally registered psychologist, followed by a one-year internship of supervised practice and subsequently, pass the National Psychology Exam.

Please refer to the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) for further information on the 5+1 internship program.

Please note, students who are enrolled in the packaged Level 2 and 3 program will need to gain provisional registration at the end of the fourth year component of the program. Please refer to the PsyBA for further information regarding registration requirements.

Postgraduate professional psychology 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 programs 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, a psychologist must also complete the PsyBA registrar program to be eligible for AoPE. Please contact the PsyBA for further information on the registrar program.

Level 4 Stand-alone programs for endorsement

Psychologists who hold general registration, including those who have completed an internship pathway, may be eligible for 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 the 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 a program page lists all current APAC accredited programs of study. Please contact the relevant higher education provider directly for more information about its programs.

Please note that the PsyBA closed the 4+2 internship program to new applicants on 30 June 2022. Please refer to the PsyBA for further information regarding the retirement of the 4+2 internship program.