Many people are interested in psychology, and in fact it is one of the most popular degrees that can be studied at university. But having a degree in psychology is not the same as being a Registered Practitioner Psychologist. A Registered Psychologist is a legally regulated professional, who holds a postgraduate qualification in the application of psychological science to a particular issue. There are currently seven types of Practitioner Psychologists:

• Clinical Psychologists
• Counselling Psychologists
• Educational Psychologists
• Forensic Psychologists
• Health Psychologists
• Occupational Psychologists
• Sports & Exercise Psychologists

Registered Clinical Psychologists have a degree in psychology plus an additional three to five years of postgraduate experience and university training in applying the science of psychology to clinical problems.

It takes six to eight years to qualify as a Registered Clinical Psychologist, resulting in a doctorate in Clinical Psychology.