What’s the difference between registered and clinical psychologists in Australia?

Registered General and Clinical Psychologists

Psychologists who have general registration are often referred to as registered psychologists, whereas psychologists who are registered and who have a clinical endorsement are referred to as clinical psychologists.  

In Australia, all psychologists need to be registered with the Australian Board of Psychology and are professionals who work in psychology. Still, there are some differences between general and clinical psychologists in their qualifications, training, and areas of expertise.

General Registered Psychologists

A general psychologist in Australia has completed a minimum of four years of university education in psychology. This typically includes an undergraduate degree in psychology, additional postgraduate education and/or a comprehensive supervised practice program. They may have post graduate education such as a master's degree in organisational psychology, forensic psychology, educational psychology, counselling psychology, health psychology or sports psychology.

A general psychologist has met the minimum study and training requirements of the Australian Board of Psychology for general psychologist registration. They must also maintain their registration status yearly and keep up with minimum registration activities determined by the Australian Psychology Board, such as professional development and insurance.

General psychologists can work in various settings, such as schools, companies, community health centres, government agencies, private practice, and more.

Clinical Psychologist

A clinical psychologist in Australia has completed a minimum of six years of university education in psychology and has undergone focused training in clinical psychology. After four years of undergraduate study, clinical psychologists typically have a Master's degree and/or a Doctorate specifically in clinical psychology to gain a clinical psychology endorsement with The Australian Psychology Board.

In addition to their formal university education, clinical psychologists must complete a supervised clinical practice period. This training focuses specifically on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders and emotional difficulties, often with complex mental health presentations.

In summary, while general and clinical psychologists have completed extensive education and training in psychology, clinical psychologists have undergone focused training in assessing and treating mental health disorders. They often work in clinical settings, diagnosing and treating various psychological issues. In contrast, registered psychologists may work in various other settings and can specialise in different areas of psychology beyond clinical practice.

It's important to note that the requirements to become a general or clinically registered psychologist can change and have changed over the years in terms of training and registration requirements. We try to update information as frequently as possible; however, as this article was written in March 2024, it's essential to check in with The Australian Psychology Board and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to confirm the most current and accurate information.

Medicare Rebates

Under the Australian government's Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative, clients can claim rebates for psychology services in certain circumstances.

Rebates are available for up to 10 counselling sessions undertaken with a General or Clinical Psychologist in a calendar year with a Mental Health Care Plan.

You can read more about Medicare's rebatable psychologist services here.