How to become a psychologist in Australia

Psychology is a rewarding profession where you can help others and make a practical difference. It is also a popular field of study as it can be applied to areas of the workforce outside research and clinical practice (e.g., human resources). As a result, there is consistent demand for psychology enrolments at Australian universities. If you are reading this article, you may be wondering what it takes to become a psychologist and the journey that is involved. I will go into detail below.

To become a psychologist in Australia, you must have a minimum of six years of university education and supervised training. There are several pathways to becoming a psychologist (see diagram below). Please note, I have omitted the 4+2 internship program as it is due to be retired. For more information on this program, please see the following link.

Through selecting certain training pathways, psychologists can also gain registration with an area of endorsement (essentially specialising in a certain field). In Australia, there are currently nine areas of endorsement:

- Clinical psychology

- Clinical neuropsychology

- Counselling psychology

- Forensic psychology

- Educational and developmental psychology

- Health psychology

- Organisational psychology

- Community psychology

- Sport and exercise psychology

Psychologists who do not have an area of endorsement are referred to as general psychologists.

Pathways to becoming a psychologist

First, you will have to enrol into an accredited undergraduate psychology course which typically spans three to four years. For individuals completing a three-year undergraduate degree, they will have to apply for an accredited fourth year psychology program (either an honours degree or postgraduate diploma). Fourth year psychology programs are very competitive as honours students have their fees partially subsidised by the Australian Government. Conversely, postgraduate diplomas in psychology are less competitive but students will have to pay their fees in full.

The fourth-year program is research intensive as half the course is dedicated to research and thesis writing, with the other half dedicated to course work. Undertaking a fourth year in psychology will equip you with basic research skills and allow you to work on a research project. It may also allow direct entry into a research PhD in psychology, depending on your grades. Typically, students who graduate with first or upper second-class honours can be admitted into a PhD program. It must be noted that you cannot practice as a psychologist with just a research PhD in psychology. A research PhD in psychology trains you to specialise in psychology research as opposed to practice.

For individuals wishing to practice as a psychologist, there are four pathways available which include the 5+1 internship program, Master’s degree programs, Doctor of Psychology program, and Clinical PhD (combined masters and PhD) program. Due to limited places, admission to these programs is extremely competitive and will require a combination of excellent grades, extensive counselling/clinical experience, and a successful interview.

5+1 pathway: In the 5+1 pathway, students will complete a fifth year of university study along with one year of supervised practice. Upon completion, students will obtain registration as a general psychologist.

Masters degree pathway: In the Masters pathway, students will complete a fifth and sixth year of university in a specialised area of study of their choice (e.g., clinical psychology, forensic psychology). This course will involve a combination of psychology coursework, a short thesis, and practical placement where students will see patients as a provisionally registered psychologist. Upon completion, students will obtain registration as a general psychologist. To be registered in an area of endorsement, students must spend two years of supervised practice as a psychology registrar along with eighty hours of professional development.

Doctor of Psychology pathway: In the Doctor of Psychology pathway, students will complete four more years of university in a specialised area of their choice (e.g., clinical psychology, forensic psychology). This course will involve a combination of psychology coursework, a doctoral thesis, and practical placement where students will see patients as a provisionally registered psychologist.

As the Doctor of Psychology program is focused more on practice than research, there will be greater emphasis on placement as opposed to the thesis component of the degree. Upon completion, students will obtain registration as a general psychologist. To be registered in an area of endorsement, students need to spend one year of supervised practice as a psychology registrar along with forty hours of professional development.

Clinical PhD pathway: In the Clinical PhD pathway (also referred to as the combined Masters/PhD program), students will complete four more years of university in a specialised area of their choice (e.g., clinical psychology, forensic psychology). This course will involve a combination of psychology coursework, a PhD thesis, and practical placement where students will see patients as a provisionally registered psychologist.

As the Clinical PhD program is focused on both the research and practice of psychology, students are expected to write a PhD thesis (ranging from 80,000 to 100,000 words) in addition to completing psychology coursework, and practical placement. Upon completion, students will obtain registration as a general psychologist. To be registered in an area of endorsement, students will need to spend one and a half years of supervised practice as a psychology registrar along with sixty hours of professional development.

Summary

Psychology is a popular profession that also has applications outside of research and practice. There are multiple pathways to becoming a psychologist in Australia, with options involving undergraduate and postgraduate study. The journey to becoming a psychologist is long, extremely competitive, and challenging, but the payoff is rewarding.