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FAQs on Psychologists

Will I still be able to use my title?

CORU regulates by protection of title. This means that by protecting the title ‘psychologist’, any individual wishing to use the title ‘psychologist’ must first be registered with the Psychologists Registration Board. This work is being progressed and an update is available to view here.

When the three divisions of the register open, existing practitioners of Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychology will have to register to continue to use these titles.  

  Practitioners who are not working under these three specialisms (Clinical, Counselling and Educational) may continue to use the title         ‘Psychologist’ until registration opens for the remaining specialisms

Will I be able to use my specialism in my title?

To continue to use the title of Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychologist, you must apply to the appropriate division of the register during the transitional period. The transitional period will be available for existing practitioners to make an application for two years from the date of the division of the register opening.

Practitioners in all other Psychology specialisms may continue to use their title, until a division of the register opens for them. For an update on the regulatory model to protect the title of psychologist and regulate the whole of the profession please see here.

It should be noted that the use of Chartership is specific to membership of the professional body. There is no restriction, from a regulatory perspective, in using ‘Chartered’ in your professional title.

I am a member of a professional body. Do I still need to register?

Yes, to be eligible to continue the use of your professional title you will need to make an application to the appropriate division of the register when opened. It is an individual’s responsibility to make an application to a division of the register. Membership of a professional body is not an eligibility requirement for registration.  

I am a student. What qualification should I complete to be eligible to apply to a division of a register?

The Psychologists Registration Board have not made its Bye-Law listing the qualifications required of graduates for entry to the divisions of its register. In advance of divisions of the register opening, the board will undertake public consultation on a draft Approved Qualifications Bye-Law and invite submissions as to the qualifications listed as being suitable for entry to the relevant division of its register

I am an existing practitioner. What are the criteria for applying to the register?

When a register first opens, there are transitional arrangements for existing practitioners to apply to the register. This is called the “Grandparenting” route established under section 91 of the Act which sets out the eligibility criteria for existing practitioners.

To be eligible to apply under the transitional arrangements, you must be able to demonstrate that you have been engaged in practice of the relevant specialism for two years out of five on the date the register opens. You must demonstrate that you hold a Schedule 3 Qualification or a sufficiently relevant qualification (determined on a case-by-case basis by a board) or successfully complete an Assessment of Professional Competence. You must also demonstrate you meet fit and proper requirements.

When will I have to register by?

Existing practitioners of Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychology will have two years, from the opening of the Register to make an application under the transitional arrangements.

Once the three divisions of register have opened, Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychologists who have been practicing in the Republic of Ireland for two of the last five years, can apply under the transitional arrangements referred to as S91 applicants. This is for existing practitioners to apply to register during the two-year transitional period when a division of the register first opens.

What information will I be required to provide for registration once the register opens?

CORU provides guidance for applicants applying under the transitional arrangements of S91 route which applies to all registers when first established and can be found here.

For more information on Registering with CORU, please see here.

What is the fee for registration and renewal?

The current registration fee is set at €100. The annual renewal fee is also set at €100 per annum.

What is the timeline for the opening of the Clinical, Counselling and Educational Divisions of the register?

Currently, the Psychologists Registration Board are working to establish divisions of its register for clinical, counselling and educational psychology by the end of October of 2025.

CORU anticipate that it will take longer to establish a division that will facilitate the complete protection of title psychologist. This is dependent on how quickly the implementation of changes in the education and training pathways for certain specialisms can be introduced

I am an education provider. What do I need to do?

When the Registration Board set its criteria for education and training programmes and standards of proficiency education providers will be notified of the timeline to align to the Board’s education quality assurance requirements in advance of commencing its programme approval process.

What is the role of CORU and how does it differ from a professional association / accrediting body that is currently in place for Psychologists?

CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health regulator. Our role is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professionals. CORU was set up under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended). It is made up of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and the Registration Boards, one for each profession named in our Act.

CORU’s focus is on the protection of the public. Professional associations/ accrediting bodies act as advocates for the profession. Once statutory regulation is introduced for Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychologists, practitioners wishing to work using these titles in the Republic of Ireland will have to be registered with CORU on the appropriate division of the register.