Once you have completed the first 4 years (or 2 years if you already hold another undergraduate degree) of your APAC accredited sequence you will be eligible to apply for APAC accredited Masters programs which can lead to registration as a psychologist through either the 5+1 pathways or the higher degree pathway.

If you pursue a Master of Professional Psychology program you will do a fifth year of tertiary study which will normally include a supervised placement. After this you will then need to complete a year of practical experience called an Internship before you can apply for general registration as a psychologist. This additional year can be completed through an internship directly with an organisation or through an internship or multiple internships orchestrated by a tertiary institution. Cairnmillar offers this second option through our Master of Professional Psychology Practice (MPPP). For more information on the combined MPP and MPPP 5+1 program at Cairnmillar, see: Cairnmillar Professional Psychology Info Sheet.

If you pursue a Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) you will complete two years of further full-time study involving coursework, placement and a research thesis. After this you will be eligible for general registration as a psychologist. This pathway will also enable you to apply for registration as a psychologist with clinical endorsement (i.e. a clinical psychologist) after two years of supervised practice through the ‘registrar’ program. This supervised practice is typically completed whilst you are working as a general psychologist.

If you pursue a Doctor of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) you will complete four years of full-time study involving coursework, placement and a substantial research thesis. The first two years of coursework and placements are identical to those in the Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology). After two years of full-time study you may then be eligible for general registration as a psychologist if you have completed the equivalent coursework and placement requirements as per the Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) and you have made suitable progress on your research thesis. Upon completion of the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) you will be able to apply for registration as a psychologist with clinical endorsement (i.e. a clinical psychologist) after one year of supervised practice also known as a registrar program. This supervised practice is typically completed whilst you are working as a general psychologist.

For more information on the pathways see: https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/registration/general.aspx

The APS also have a great guide here: https://www.psychology.org.au/Training-and-careers/Careers-and-studying-psychology/studying-psychology/Study-pathways

For more information on area of practice endorsements and registrar programs for clinical psychologist, see: https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Endorsement/Registrar-program.aspx