Publication of Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes for Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychologists

The Psychologists Registration Board is continuing to make progress towards the introduction of statutory regulation for the psychology profession. The Board has developed a regulatory model that will facilitate the protection of the title ‘psychologist’ in Ireland. This model will introduce regulation in two phases: the first phase of which will see the opening of three registers – one each for clinical, counselling and educational psychologists – followed, in the second phase, with a fourth register opened – known as the ‘Psychologists Register’. This register will be for all other psychology specialisms. Together, when opened, these four registers will allow for protection of the professional title ‘psychologist’. More detail on the regulatory model that will facilitate the introduction of regulation for psychologists is available here

In preparation for the opening of three registers, as part of the first phase of introducing regulation, the Psychologists Registration Board has published its pre-registration education and training requirements for entry onto each of the three registers for clinical, counselling and educational psychologists.

For each of the three specialisms, the Board has published two key documents:

Standards of Proficiency: these outline the threshold knowledge and skills required for entry to the register. These standards apply only to new or recent graduates at the time the register opens.
Criteria for Education and Training Programmes: these set out the systems and processes education providers must implement in the design and management of education and training programmes. They provide assurance that all graduates have achieved all the Standards of Proficiency upon successful completion of an education and training programme.

The Board’s Standards and Criteria for the three specialisms are available by clicking the links below:

The publication of the Standards and Criteria for each of the three specialisms represents a significant milestone in the introduction of statutory regulation for the psychology profession in Ireland.

The Board acknowledges and recognises the valuable engagement from members of the profession throughout the drafting process, in particular, the nearly 700 individuals who responded to the public consultation process, including educators, the professional body and existing practitioners. Following the consultation, the Board reviewed every submission carefully and used the feedback provided to shape the final documents. The published Standards and Criteria reflect this input and the ongoing engagement between the Board and the range of stakeholders in the psychology profession.

More information on the Standards and Criteria, along with information around other regulatory issues – including registration processes – is available in a dedicated FAQs resource section available here.

With the publication of its Standards and Criteria, the Board now moves into the next phase of its work to establish the regulatory infrastructure to facilitate the opening of registers for clinical, counselling and educational psychologists. This phase of work will involve the adoption of the qualifications the Board will use for Section 38 applications, the publication of its Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for each register along with its CPD Support and Guidance materials and finalising the registration bye-laws for each register.

The Board will continue to engage with stakeholders, both through the CORU website and social media channels and through communication with stakeholders, including the union and professional body, to provide updates on progress in relation to these activities as it works towards opening registers in early 2026.

In tandem, the Board is continuing to make progress in relating to setting the pre-registration education and training requirements for entry to the fourth register that will accommodate the registration of all other psychologists. More information on the progress of this work is available here