Registration with the 
Psychologists Board

General Information about Registration  under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act)

One of the functions of Psychologists Board under the HPCA Act is to authorise the registration of psychologists.  The purpose of the HPCA Act as is to "protect the health and safety of members of the public by providing for mechanisms to ensure that health practitioners are competent and fit to practise their professions."

The Board may register an applicant within a scope of practice if the applicant is fit for registration, has the qualifications that have been prescribed for the scope of practice, and is competent to practise within that scope of practice.

Fitness for registration is clearly set out under section 16 of the Act e.g. in summary: the applicant’s: ability to communicate (includes satisfactory English language standard), convictions, mental or physical health, professional investigations or disciplinary proceedings.

The Act states that the Board must consider a duly completed application for registration or for a change of scope of practice as soon as reasonably practicable.

The Board may, if it thinks fit, receive any other information from, or question, the applicant, or any other person, in respect of an application being considered.  The Board must advise the applicant about the identity of the person to be questioned and the nature of the questions.

The Board may before authorising registration or authorising a change to applicant's scope of practice, require the applicant to take and pass an examination or assessment that is set or recognised by the Board for the purpose of satisfying the Board that the applicant is competent is competent to practise or that the applicant's ability to communicate in and comprehend English is sufficient to protect the health and safety of the public.

The Board can authorise a change to the scope of practice through for example the inclusion of conditions.  The conditions must be of a kind that the authority considers are required to ensure the competent practice of the applicant e.g. that the psychologist practise subject to the supervision of one or more nominated health practitioners.

The HPCA Act (Part 2, sections 15-25) should be read for a finer appreciation of all of the sections of the Act concerning registration.

For further information click on one of the menu items below the "How to Register" links listed in the menu at the top of this page.  Other registration enquiries can be directed to:

Bill King
Deputy Registrar - Registration
Email: Bill King
Tel: +64 4 471-4588