(d) What does the Introduction of Regulation mean for me?

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). CORU’s legislative remit, as defined in the Act, is a fundamental concern to ensure public protection.

In contrast, professional bodies are voluntary organisations and act, principally, as advocates for the profession. While the work of professional associations bodies can contribute to the provision of a level of public protection, there is no statutory – or legal – basis to underpin it. This is the fundamental distinction that professional regulation provides: the statutory powers of enforcement to protect the professional title of the profession(s) and Fitness to Practice mechanisms to ensure the consistent and safe level of professional practice by all practitioners using the professional title.

Membership of any professional body will have no impact on the outcome of an application to register with CORU. It is not a requirement to hold membership of a professional body to be registered with CORU and use the protected title. A registrant may be a member of a professional body, but this is not connected to statutory registration with CORU. 

The establishment of Registration Boards is required under the provisions of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended). Each Registration Board is established by the Minister for Health. Currently, CORU has 12 Registration Boards, each of which holds responsibility for the registration for a specifically designated profession or professions.

Established by the then Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, on 21 July 2017, the Psychologists Registration Board has responsibility for:

• Establishing and maintaining a Register of members of the profession
• Setting the threshold level of knowledge, skills and professional behaviours required for entry onto its registers
• Assessing, approving and monitoring training courses for the health and social care professions under the Act
• Establishing the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics and standards of performance to which clinical, counselling and educational must adhere.

Information about the membership of the Registration Board can be found on the CORU website.

It will be possible for practitioners to register for more than one register if they can demonstrate they meet all the Board’s requirements for eligibility to apply. A person will need to be registered on the relevant register to use the protected title of the specialism (i.e. clinical, counselling and/or educational psychologist) once the grandparenting period ends.

It is not a requirement to hold membership of a professional body to be registered with CORU and use the protected title. A registrant may be a member of a professional body, but this is not connected to statutory registration with CORU. Membership of any professional body will have no impact on the outcome of an application to register with CORU.

CORU regulates by protection of title, in line with other Irish regulatory bodies, not by scope of practice. The Standards of Proficiency set by the Board for each of the professions articulate the threshold knowledge and skills required to enter into practice as a psychologist.

Professional bodies may continue to have their own Code of Conduct for their members, but all registered professionals will be required to follow the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, that will be set – in advance of the registers opening – by the PsychologistRegistration Board.

The Code sets out the standards of conduct, performance and ethics which a member of that profession must adhere to throughout the course of their work. It is a statutory requirement for all registered professionals to adhere to their Code.

All registrants will be required to adhere to their Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. Once registered, a complaint may be received against any professional who may be deemed to be in breach of their Code.

In line with commitments made under the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, each registrant must maintain their continuing professional development. This is the responsibility of individual registrants.

Registrants across all CORU regulated professions are required to demonstrate completion of 30 CPD credits in every 12-month period, with one credit corresponding to one hour of new or enhanced learning. More detail on the CPD model operated by CORU is available on our website here. 

CORU is responsible for auditing registrants to ensure registrants have a system or process to maintain their skills and knowledge. Registration Boards also provide their registrants with CPD support and guidance documents.

A professional body may continue to set its requirements for CPD as a condition of membership of that body and/or offer supports to its members to engage in CPD. However, the statutory requirement to complete CPD – required as a registered professional – is distinct and separate to any CPD requirements a professional body may have.

It is not within CORU's responsibility to establish employment criteria for employers. Employers should understand that anyone using a protected title must be registered on the relevant register. Individuals who use a protected title without being registered will face enforcement actions after the grandparenting period ends (and if a Section 91 registration application has not been made by this stage). However, CORU registration alone may not guarantee employment in all settings. Employers have the right to set their own employment criteria as they deem necessary for the services they offer.