Clinical Psychology
What is a clinical psychologist?
Clinical psychologists are experts in mental health. They have undertaken highly specialised APAC-accredited training in the assessment, diagnosis, formulation, and psychological treatment of mental health, behavioural, and emotional disorders across the lifespan. The education and training of clinical psychologists takes eight years to ten years.
Clinical psychology is a science-based profession that integrates theory and clinical practice to understand, prevent, and relieve psychological problems or disorders whether they are mild, moderate, severe, chronic, or complex.
Clinical Psychology Training
Training in clinical psychology is at minimum an 8-year requirement. Students firstly undertake a 4-year Honours degree in psychology covering the scientific foundations of psychology. Students then progress to a 2-4 year accredited post-graduate degree, focused on the assessment, treatment, and prevention of mental health disorders. This study is then followed by a 1-2 year registrar program overseen by the Psychology Board of Australia.
A clinical psychologist's specialised training is recognised by the National Law
The additional training of clinical psychologists is recognised under the National Law.
The general register of psychologists records when a clinical psychologist has undergone accredited post-graduate training to receive an Area of Practice Endorsement (AoPE). According to the Psychology Board of Australia an AoPE is a legal mechanism under the National Law which identifies practitioners who have an additional qualification and advanced supervised practice. The advanced, specialised training required for an AoPE occurs primarily within a 2-year Masters degree or 4 year clinical PhD degree, leading to registration in which the AoPE competencies are addressed.
The competencies required within the additional qualification and advanced supervised practice for clinical psychologists are outlined on the Australian Health Practioner's Regulation Agency (AHPRA) website and within the Accreditation Standards for Psychology published by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council.
