Full membership (FMBPsS)
The membership designed for professionals who use psychology in the workplace.
Why should I become a Full member?
Get your experience and expertise recognised
Your years of using psychology in your work have given you skills far beyond those you had when you graduated, and the FMBPsS designation was created to recognise this. It's a mark that lets potential employers know immediately your level of expertise and experience using psychology.
Membership also gives you the chance to build your CV by applying to join a range of specialist registers and directories*, such as the Science Council register and EuroPsy. Promote your expertise and competence in different areas and specialisms and get the work you want.
A world of resources at your fingertips
Psychology moves fast. And we know it's often difficult - and expensive - to stay at the cutting edge, so to help Full members we give you:
- Free print, online and app access to our official magazine, The Psychologist, where you'll find the latest thought leadership, news, reviews and more.
- Free access to BPS academic journals (plus 32 related Wiley titles) via PsychHub.
- Free access to EBSCO online resources, including the full Psychology & Behavioural Sciences collection.
- Free access to our MyCPD online system, a really useful tool which lets you easily plan, record and reflect on your professional development.
- Free online access to over 150 test reviews and practice papers.
- Discounts on tickets to conferences, events and webinars.
- Up to 40% off CPD courses and webinars produced and led by experts in their specialism (online and in-person).
- 25% off Routledge publications.
- 30% off Sage titles.
- 20% off Oxford University Press titles.
- Subsidised Article Publication Charge for our 11 journals and a 15% discount for BMJ Mental Health - get published for less.
Save on business costs too
You'll also get:
- Discounts on professional indemnity insurance. Get the best deal for protecting yourself and your professional services.
- 30% off hiring our meeting rooms at both our Leicester and London offices.
- Income tax relief on all membership subscription fees, saving you money.
- Discounted service regarding DBS checks*.
See our full list of member benefits.
Be part of something bigger
With Full membership you're able to meet, collaborate and share ideas and best practice with other psychologists involved in your specialism, by joining our member networks. You'll automatically become a member of your local branch, and we have over 150 more of these exclusive communities of friendly psychology practitioners and academics for you to explore, so you're bound to find somewhere that's perfect for you.
As well as our member networks, we have online communities - thousands of people, all passionate about psychology, coming together to discuss the latest ideas, support each other and make connections. It's a great way to become part of the conversation, and build your network.
*Additional fees and eligibility criteria may apply.
How can I become a Full member?
There are three ways you can become a Full member of the BPS.
Before you apply, make sure you have the evidence required to complete one of the following three routes available. That way we can process your application as quickly as possible.
Route A - Academic or practitioner qualification
1. If you're not a current graduate member, upload a copy of the transcript (the list of subjects and grades) for your degree level, or above, psychology qualification(s).
2. We also need to see a copy of the transcript for your BPS-accredited Stage 1 master's degree (e.g. MSc in Occupational Psychology). A conversion course is not a stage 1 master's.
3. Then upload evidence to show one of the following:
- Successful completion of the first year (or equivalent) of your PhD. This should be shown by a letter on headed paper from your Head of Department.
- Successful completion of your first year (or the equivalent) of your BPS-accredited doctoral qualification. This needs to be a letter on headed paper from your Head of Department and should confirm successful assessment of some elements of knowledge and of practice.
- Successful completion of your first year (or equivalent) of your BPS Stage 2 Qualification. Again, this should be as a letter on headed paper from the Chair of the relevant Qualifications Board and should confirm successful assessment of some elements of knowledge and of practice, or successful achievements of some elements of the agreed training plan.
- Employment for at least one year as an Assistant Psychologist in the UK, confirmed by a letter on headed paper from the Head of Service.
- Your degree certificate from an HCPC approved course that grants eligibility to apply for registration as a Practitioner Psychologist.
- Acceptance for HCPC registration, including your HCPC registration number.
- A EuroPsy certificate.
- Acceptance for EuroPsy registration, including EuroPsy registration number.
Route B - Accredited associate psychology course
1. If you're not a current graduate member please upload a copy of the transcript (the list of subjects and grades) for your degree level, or above, psychology qualification(s).
2. Then upload a copy of the transcript for your qualification that has been accredited against the BPS Standards for the Accreditation of Associate Psychology. These programmes of study are either the Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP), or the Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology (CAAP, Scotland).
Check here to see if your course is accredited.
Route C - Knowledge and competence
This route lets you submit statements about your knowledge and competence, supported by references, to show you meet the required competences. However, if you wish to base your application based on knowledge and skills in psychological assessment, treatment, or interventions you'll need to do this via Route A or B.
This Route doesn't evaluate individuals' competence as a psychological professional offering unregulated psychological services.
How to apply:
1. If you're not a current graduate member please upload a copy of the transcript (the list of subjects and grades) for your degree level, or above, psychology qualification(s).
2. Show how you meet the knowledge component by uploading a transcript to show you have a master's-level qualification that includes at least 90 credits at Level 7 in psychology (pure or applied). If you don't have this you can upload a knowledge statement and a knowledge statement reference instead, using the templates below:
- Knowledge statement template
- Knowledge reference (Your referee needs to complete this form, then send it to you to upload with the application)
3. Provide confirmation of how you meet the competence component.
Upload both a competence statement and competence statement reference using the templates below:
- Competence statement template
- Competence reference (this is for your referee to complete, and you to upload with the application)
Fees
Application fee
The fee for processing your application is £50 if you're a member, and £100 for non-members. This fee is non-refundable, so please make sure your application is completed correctly.
Membership fee
To complete your application, you will need to buy a membership subscription.
- If you graduated from the qualification which gives eligibility for graduate membership in the last five years: £83
- Standard full membership fee: £168
Payment
You can pay via Direct Debit (UK bank accounts only) or with an online card payment.
Apply
Ready to apply?
Before you start, we recommend you have all your documents to hand - in our experience it makes things far easier!
Once we've received your application it will take approximately two to three weeks to process.
What documents do I need to provide?
You'll need to provide copies (we don’t require originals) of your psychology qualifications.
Transcripts (the list of subjects and grades) are required for all undergraduate, conversion and non-UK qualifications.
For any documents not in English translations are required.
Contact us
If you have any queries please contact the membership team.
What is an accredited conversion programme?
Graduates who haven't taken an accredited programme in psychology may undertake a conversion course. Conversion courses provide an opportunity for graduates to build on their first-degree qualification to become eligible for the Society's Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership.
The course will usually consist of at least one full year (approximately 45 weeks full-time, or its part-time equivalent) and typically comprise either 120 or 180 credits.
Applicants to conversion programmes must normally have a degree at any level which has not been accredited by the Society (whether in psychology or another subject). For conversion programmes comprising 180 credits, this is the only entry requirement set by the Society, although individual providers may set other requirements that they expect their applicants to meet.
Previous studies
For awards comprising only 120 credits, applicants will need to have previously studied the equivalent of at least 60 credits of psychology at the undergraduate level (level 4 or above; level 7 in Scotland). If you haven't done 60 credits or more of psychology study, you can usually do a bridging or access course (often a certificate in psychology) first.
A small number of conversion course providers also welcome applicants who have completed a Society-accredited programme and therefore are already eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership. They typically offer their courses in more specialist areas that may offer interesting further study opportunities for psychology graduates.
Contact us
If you have any queries, please contact the Customer Support Team.
How can I check the accreditation status of a degree when applying for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership?
If you're unsure whether your degree will give you eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, you need to check whether your degree was accredited for your intake year.
To do this please use the "Find an accredited course" search function.
Please note: in order to gain eligibility for the GBC, you need to achieve an accredited award, follow any specified pathway detailed on the results page of the search, and gain a 2:2 or above if you started after September 2006.
You must also pass the psychology project in order to be eligible for the GBC.
Following a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Society and the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), those eligible for Graduate Membership of the PSI after having gained an academic award accredited by the PSI are also eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society.
Contact us
If you have any queries, please contact the Customer Support Team.
Can I choose the same referee when applying for Route ‘C’?
Yes.
You can choose the same referee to complete your Knowledge Statement reference and your Competence Statement reference.
What is the difference between Graduate and Full member?
For some of our members, learning and development don’t stop after completing university.
Full membership is designed for individuals who have expanded their knowledge and skills and are applying them at work. A Full member will also be eligible for graduate membership with the graduate basis for chartered membership (GBC).