Careers in psychology

1. Careers in psychology

2. Areas of psychology Academia, Research & Teaching in Psychology Clinical Psychology Counselling Psychology Educational Psychology Forensic Psychology Health Psychology Neuropsychology Occupational Psychology Sport & Exercise Psychology www.bps.org.uk/yourcareer

3. How do I become Chartered? To become a Chartered Psychologist you must have: • Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and • Society accredited postgraduate qualifications www.bps.org.uk/careers

4. How do I gain GBC? You can gain GBC by completing: • a Society accredited undergraduate degree or • a Society accredited conversion course The lists of Society accredited courses can be found on our website www.bps.org.uk/careers

5. Academia, Research & Teaching in psychology Some teaching staff will have qualified in one of the applied psychological fields. They may return to teaching to develop professional practice and conduct research or simply to share their knowledge. All university lecturers are expected to help extend their subject by gathering psychological evidence on key research questions and telling others what they have found by publishing articles. www.bps.org.uk/yourcareer

6. How do I become one? To become a Chartered Member of the Society in the field of teaching or research in psychology, you need: • Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and • Five or more years supervised and assessed professional activity. The research route will normally include taking a PhD or equivalent research experience. www.bps.org.uk/careers

7. Clinical Psychologists Clinical psychologists deal with a wide range of mental and physical health problems including addiction, anxiety, depression, learning difficulties and relationship issues. They may undertake a clinical assessment to investigate a client’s situation. There are a variety of methods available including psychometric tests, interviews and direct observation of behaviour. Assessment may lead to advice, counselling or therapy. www.bps.org.uk/yourcareer

8. How do I become one? To become a Chartered Member of the Society through the clinical training route, you will need: • Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and • a Society accredited Doctorate in Clinical Psychology www.bps.org.uk/careers

9. Counselling Psychologists Counselling psychologists deal with a wide range of mental health problems concerning life issues including bereavement, domestic violence, sexual abuse and relationship issues. They understand diagnosis and the medical context to mental health problems and work with the individual’s unique subjective psychological experience to empower their recovery and alleviate distress. www.bps.org.uk/yourcareer

10. How do I become one? To become a Chartered Member of the Society through the counselling training route, you will need: • Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) • and either • a Society accredited Doctorate in Counselling Psychology • or • the Society's Qualification in Counselling Psychology www.bps.org.uk/careers

11. Educational Psychologists Educational psychology is concerned with children and young people in educational and early years settings. Educational psychologists tackle challenges such as learning difficulties, social and emotional problems, issues around disability as well as more complex developmental disorders. They work in a variety of ways including observations, interviews and assessments and offer consultation, advice and support to teachers, parents, the wider community as well as the young people concerned. www.bps.org.uk/yourcareer

12. How do I become one? To become a Chartered Member of the Society through the educational psychology training route, you will need: • Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and • a Society accredited Doctorate in Educational Psychology or, for Scotland only, an accredited masters course in Educational Psychology followed by the Society's Qualification in Educational Psychology.  www.bps.org.uk/careers

13. Forensic Psychologists The daily key tasks for forensic psychologists may include; piloting and implementing treatment programmes, modifying offender behaviour, responding to the changing needs of staff and prisoners as well as reducing stress for staff and prisoners. Forensic psychologists also provide hard research evidence to support practice, including undertaking statistical analysis for prisoner profiling, giving evidence in court plus advising parole boards and mental health tribunals. www.bps.org.uk/yourcareer

14. How do I become one? To become a Chartered Member of the Society through the forensic psychology training route, you will need: • Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and either • a Society accredited Masters in Forensic Psychology plus • Stage 2 of the Society’s Qualification in Forensic Psychology or an alternative accredited stage 2 qualification (two years supervised practice) or • a Society accredited Doctorate in Forensic Psychology www.bps.org.uk/yourcareer

15. Health Psychologists Health psychologists use their knowledge of psychology and health to promote general well-being and understand physical illness. They are specially trained to help people deal with the psychological and emotional aspects of health and illness as well as supporting people who are chronically ill. Health psychologists promote healthier lifestyles and try to find ways to encourage people to improve their health. Health psychologists also use their skills to try to improve the healthcare system. www.bps.org.uk/yourcareer

16. How do I become one? To become a Chartered Member of the Society through the health psychology training route, you will need: • Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and either • a Society accredited Masters in Health Psychology plus • Stage 2 of the Society’s Qualification in Health Psychology (two years supervised practice) or • a Society accredited Doctorate in Health Psychology www.bps.org.uk/careers

17. Neuropsychologists Neuropsychologists work with people of all ages dealing with patients who have had traumatic brain injury, strokes, toxic and metabolic disorders, tumours and neurodegenerative diseases. They require not only general clinical skills and knowledge of the broad range of mental health problems, but also a substantial degree of specialist knowledge in the neurosciences. www.bps.org.uk/yourcareer

18. How do I become one? To become a Practitioner Full Member of the Division of Neuropsychology you will need: • Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and • Accredited postgraduate training that gives eligibility for membership as a Chartered Psychologist through the Clinical or Educational training route and • The Society's Practitioner Full Membership Qualification in Neuropsychology* www.bps.org.uk/careers

19. How do I become one? *The Society's Practitioner Full Membership Qualification in Neuropsychology Those that have completed accredited postgraduate training in Clinical Neuropsychology will be eligible for exemption from part of the Society's Practitioner Full Membership Qualification. www.bps.org.uk/careers

20. Occupational Psychologists Occupational psychologists aim to increase the effectiveness of the organisation and improve the job satisfaction of individuals. The speciality is broader in scope and less formalised than many areas of psychology and it touches on diverse fields, including ergonomics, personnel management and time management. Work can be in advisory, teaching and research roles, and to a lesser extent, in technical and administrative roles. www.bps.org.uk/yourcareer

21. How do I become one? To become a Chartered Member of the Society through the occupational psychology training route, you will need: • Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and either • a Society accredited Masters in Occupational Psychology  plus • Stage 2 of the Society’s Qualification in Occupational Psychology (two years supervised practice) or • a Society accredited Doctorate in Occupational Psychology www.bps.org.uk/careers

22. Sports & Exercise Psychologists Sport psychologists counsel referees to deal with the stressful and demanding aspects of their role, advise coaches on how to build cohesion within their squad of athletes, and help athletes with personal development and the psychological consequences of sustaining an injury for example. Exercise psychologists optimise the benefits that can be derived from exercise participation and help individual clients with the implementation of goal-setting strategies for example. www.bps.org.uk/yourcareer

23. How do I become one? To become a Chartered Member of the Society through the sport & exercise psychology training route, you will need: • Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and • a Society accredited Masters in Sport & Exercise Psychology plus • Stage 2 of the Society's Qualification in Sport & Exercise Psychology (two years supervised practice) www.bps.org.uk/careers

24. Protected titles In order to use the following titles, you will need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This involves completing an accredited Doctorate, the Society’s Stage 2 qualification or equivalent that has been approved by the HCPC. Visit www.hpc-uk.org ~ Clinical Psychologist ~ Counselling Psychologist ~ Educational Psychologist ~ Forensic Psychologist ~ Health Psychologist ~ Occupational Psychologist ~ Sport and Exercise psychologist ~ Practitioner Psychologist ~ Registered Psychologist www.bps.org.uk/careers

25. For further information: Web: www.bps.org.uk/careers Email: careers@bps.org.uk Telephone: +44 (0)116 252 9534 www.bps.org.uk/careers