Revised Qualification in Forensic Psychology (post-July 2021 enrolments)

Outline

The qualification requires you to undertake structured supervised practice over a 2, 3 or 4 year period, depending on your employment, for example whether you work full-time or part-time, and your access to relevant development opportunities.

During this time your supervised practice will build upon the academic components of your MSc by requiring the development and demonstration of skills in the following areas:

• Conducting psychological applications and interventions
• Research
• Communicating psychological knowledge and advice to other professionals
• Training other professionals in psychological skills and knowledge

You will undertake your supervised practice with the support of your Co-ordinating Supervisor, Additional Supervisor (if applicable to your plan of training), the Forensic Psychology Qualifications Board and a designated Professional Development Delivery Officer.

You will have agreed points at which you will submit specific work for assessment, dependent on whether you are enrolled on a 2, 3 or 4 year track.

This structure provides a framework within which you can undertake your training, whilst still offering flexibility in the way that you develop the competencies within your individual work setting.

For more information consult the appropriate handbooks and guidelines:

• Candidate Handbook
• Terms and conditions
• Guidelines for candidates with dyslexia (Under Review)
• Guidelines for supervisors & placement providers of candidates with dyslexia (Under Review)

Code of Conduct

The BPS sets standards that it expects candidates to follow.

In order to guide candidates in understanding their responsibilities as a trainee, the society has adopted this Code of Conduct for Members enrolled on a Society Qualification.

Enrolment

First consult the Candidate Handbook to make sure that you fulfil the entry requirements.

Next, find a Co-ordinating Supervisor using the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors. It is advisable to contact more than one supervisor before agreeing terms.

Your Supervisor will be able to explore with you how you might design your plan of training, taking into account any previous qualifications and your current circumstances. 

Once you have secured supervisory support, the next step is to meet with your Co-ordinating Supervisor and line manager to discuss your enrolment application. This will help to ensure that you are ready to undertake the qualification and will be supported in doing so by those around you.

You can then complete and submit your enrolment application. The Candidate Handbook will help guide you through the process of enrolment and provide tips on how to complete the forms.

Once your application has been received, you will be invited to a Registrar review meeting to explore your plan of training in more detail. Once your application is approved and your enrolment confirmed, you will be undertake a QFP induction as the final part of the enrolment process.

Enrolment dates 2024

• Monday 15 January 2024
• Monday 15 April 2024
• Monday 15 July 2024
• Monday 14 October 2024

The deadline for all enrolment dates is 5pm.

Enrolment forms

• Enrolment checklist
• Enrolment form
• Guidance notes for enrolment form
• Plan of training
• Plan of Training Example A
• Plan of Training Example B
• Sample supervision contract
• Pre-enrolment meeting record
• Health declaration
• Reference request
• Payment information form
• Direct Debit mandate
• AEC form (if you are applying for any AEC)

As part of your electronic enrolment you must ensure that:

• All documents are signed with an electronic signature (scanned and inserted) and not typed
• Certificates are authenticated copies. This means a photocopy/scanned version that has been signed by your co-ordinating supervisor with a written statement to confirm they have seen the original document
• The criminal records check is a full scan of all pages
• All documents are enclosed in a zipped folder labelled with your name, membership number and qualification you are enrolling on

Your documents must be submitted to the office electronically.

If you are employed by any other employer (non-MOJ) please submit your enrolment application via Hightail (link below)

Submit your documents

Assessment

You will enrol on a two, three or four year track, depending on your employment and associated opportunities.

Based on your enrolment track, you will have set points at which you will submit specific work for assessment. You will also need to attend a viva assessment as the final part of the assessment process.

Your submissions will be assessed against the competencies to ensure that, across all of your submissions, you have demonstrated all of the competencies and can be awarded the qualification.

Fees

If your fees are being paid for by the Ministry of Justice, please indicate this at the relevant point on the enrolment form. The fee details below apply only to candidates not employed by the Ministry of Justice.

We will be periodically holding information sessions for new enrolments.

These sessions will be run by the registrar team so please feel free to attend if you wish to discuss any queries relating to the revised qualification.

Places will be limited so please book as soon as possible.

Please check this page for future announcements.