What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is the means by which the Society ensures that psychology courses (or other planned learning experiences) are suitable to support students’ achievement of learning outcomes, and are supported by an appropriate resource base.

In order to become a Chartered Psychologist, you need to follow a training route that is approved by the Society. This could comprise completion of accredited courses, completion of Society qualifications, or a mixture of the two.

The first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist is achievement of the Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR). The Society accredits undergraduate and conversion courses that allow students to meet the requirements for GBR, and that provide an appropriate resource base to support their learning.

The next step is to undertake three years full-time (or part-time equivalent, where available) of postgraduate training in psychology. The Society accredits training programmes in several areas of applied psychology. We also accredit Scottish Educational Psychology services.

Accreditation is carried out under the authority of the Membership and Professional Training Board and Psychology Education Board of the Society, and visits and other review activity are undertaken by psychologists who are members of one of the Society’s Training Committees. Programmes of education and training seeking accreditation need to apply to the Society through the relevant Committee.

The Royal Charter, Statutes and Rules of the Society provide a framework for our accreditation function.