Study pathways

This sequence is achieved by completing an APAC-accredited Bachelor degree with a major in psychology or an APAC-accredited Graduate Diploma with psychology subjects for those who have completed a Bachelor degree in a different discipline. 

An undergraduate degree in psychology will equip you with core skills, including: 

• applying psychological principles to personal, social and group issues 

• planning, implementing and evaluating research 

• thinking critically and creatively, using scientific methods to solve problems 

• communicating effectively in a variety of formats and settings 

• acting professionally within an ethical framework. 

Search for accredited courses on the APAC website.  
 

Exit point 1:  

At this stage, Graduates often seek employment or continue their studies in fields such as: 

• community services 

• business 

• education 

• health services 

• protective services 

• graduate programs. 

This sequence is achieved by completing the above undergraduate sequence and then an APAC accredited Honours Degree or Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology.  

Following successful completion of this sequence you can pursue further pathways to obtain general registration as a psychologist with the PsyBA. 

Exit point 2: 

If you finish your psychology study after a fourth year, or take time off before completing further psychology training, there are several career options available. 

In addition to those listed above, graduates may also pursue positions aligned with psychology such as research assistants or telephone counsellors. 

There are currently two pathways available to fourth year graduates to obtain general registration as a psychologist. 

Option 1: The higher degree pathway 

Fourth year graduates accepted into an APAC-accredited sixth year program can apply for provisional registration with the PsyBA. You must hold provisional registration before undertaking the supervised practice component of the course - otherwise known as a placement. 

Learn more about provisional registration on the PsyBA website. 

Following the minimum two-year, APAC-accredited postgraduate degree (fifth and sixth year of study), you can then apply for general registration as a psychologist with the PsyBA. 

Current APAC-accredited professional postgraduate degrees are Masters, Doctorate and Masters/PhD, involving coursework, placements and a thesis.  

Degrees are offered in nine areas of psychological practice (PsyBA-approved areas of practice endorsement): 

• clinical neuropsychology 

• clinical psychology 

• community psychology 

• counselling psychology 

• educational and developmental psychology 

• forensic psychology 

• health psychology 

• organisational psychology, and 

• sport and exercise psychology. 

Details of accredited postgraduate courses can be found on the APAC website. 

Once completed, you can then work towards gaining eligibility for an area of practice endorsement with the PsyBA. 

Note: Postgraduate entry is highly competitive. Please contact your university for more information about their course entry requirements. 

Option 2: 5+1 internship pathway 

The 5+1 pathway consists of completing a one-year APAC-accredited Graduate Diploma of Professional Psychology, gaining provisional registration with the PsyBA, undertaking a PsyBA-regulated one-year internship of supervised practice and successfully completing the National Psychology Exam. 

Once the 5+1 pathway is successfully completed, graduates can apply for general registration as a psychologist with the PsyBA. 

The 5+1 internship program is regulated by the PsyBA. For more information read the 5+1 page of the PsyBA website. 

For more information about fifth year APAC-accredited courses, visit the APAC website. 

Exit 3: 

Completing your postgraduate degree or internship program means you’re now eligible to apply for general registration as a psychologist with the PsyBA. 

After gaining general registration, you may also choose to do further study or undertake a PsyBA registrar program to gain an area of practice endorsement. 

After completing an APAC-accredited Masters or Doctorate, a registered psychologist must undertake a PsyBA registrar program to be eligible for endorsement in one of the nine PsyBA-approved areas of practice. 

A registrar program consists of: 

The registrar program can only entered once you have completed one of the above and made sufficient progress on your thesis. 

Additional information regarding endorsement can be found on the PsyBA website.  
 

Exit 4: 

On successful completion of your registrar program, you are eligible to apply for area of practice endorsement with the PsyBA.  

This needs to be the same area of practice as your APAC-accredited postgraduate degree (e.g. Counselling registrar program for MPsych Couns.). 

For further area of practice endorsements, the current standard is to complete the MPsych, MPsych/PhD or DPsych for that area of practice, followed by a registrar program. Alternatively, you can complete a post-Masters APAC-accredited bridging program followed by the registrar program.  

More information on bridging programs can be found on the APAC website.