How do I become a school psychologist?
School psychologists working in the School Counselling Service have qualifications in psychology and hold either provisional or general registration as a psychologist. This page explains the career pathways to becoming a school psychologist in the NSW School Counselling Service.
The infographic below explains the school psychologist career pathway – view/download the infographic as a PDF (127 KB). Read on for more information about these pathways and related scholarships and programs.
To be eligible for registration as a psychologist in Australia, you will need to meet the requirements for general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. This includes the completion of an accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degree in psychology which is equivalent to at least 5 years of study.
The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) provides a list of all accredited psychology programs on their website. Tertiary education providers of psychology degrees can provide advice regarding eligibility and pre-requisites for accredited psychology courses.
There are 2 pathways that lead to general registration as a psychologist:
The Psychology Graduate Scholarship Program is available for 4th year psychology students applying for the 5th year of psychology study. This includes a guaranteed psychology placement and employment as a school psychologist in the School Counselling Service.
Enrolment in any accredited 5th year of postgraduate psychology study (e.g., Master of Professional Psychology) leads to provisional registration as a psychologist.
After the completion of the 5th year of psychology study, provisional psychologists are eligible to be employed as a school psychologist as part of their 5+1 internship year. The school psychologist role meets the requirements of the internship, and the School Counselling Service can provide supervision for school psychologists undertaking this pathway. The successful completion of the 5+1 internship program requirements and passing the National Psychology Exam can lead to general registration as a psychologist. For more information about provisional/general registration, the 5+1 internship program and the National Psychology Exam, see the Psychology Board of Australia website.
Employment opportunities for provisional psychologists completing the 5+1 pathway include KickStart internship program, the school psychologist talent pool, and school psychologist positions advertised at various school locations on I work for NSW. Successful placement in the school psychologist talent pool can lead to either temporary or permanent employment contracts in the School Counselling Service in locations that you nominate.
The second pathway to general registration as a psychologist in Australia is to complete an accredited 2 years (minimum) of postgraduate study in an area of practice endorsement (e.g., Master of Clinical Psychology, Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology). Provisional psychologists undertaking this pathway are not eligible for employment until they have completed all the requirements of their academic degree that will lead to general registration.
Once general registration has been obtained, employment opportunities include the school psychologist talent pool and school psychologist positions advertised at various school locations on I work for NSW. Successful placement in the school psychologist talent pool can lead to either temporary or permanent employment contracts in the School Counselling Service in locations that you nominate.
Psychologists with general registration
Generally registered psychologists, including those with an area of practice endorsement (e.g., Clinical, Educational and Developmental and others) are welcome to apply for the school psychologist talent pool or school psychologist positions advertised at various school locations on I work for NSW.
Placement and Registrar Program support for current School Counselling Service staff pursuing an area of practice endorsement in Clinical or Educational and Developmental psychology may be available. Current school counselling staff can find further information through the department’s internal School Counselling Service Hub.