Benefits of qualifications
Our independent qualifications will develop your skills as an ethical, effective and reflective practitioner, enhancing your career in psychology. You will gain direct working experience in settings suited to you, providing you with the knowledge and competence required to progress in your career.
Become chartered
When you successfully complete either a Stage 2 or blended society qualification, you will be eligible to become a Chartered Member of the BPS.
The title Chartered Psychologist is widely recognised and reflects the highest standard of psychological experience, showing potential employers and your fellow colleagues the level of your knowledge and expertise.
Chartered psychologists can use the title CPsychol and are included in a register of chartered members, along with many more benefits.
Become registered with the HCPC
Our Stage 2 and blended qualifications are approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the regulatory body for Practitioner Psychologists in the UK.
Once you have completed a society qualification, you will become eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC.
Train at a pace that suits you
Our flexible framework allows you to plan your training around your existing commitments.
It's designed to be flexible so can be adapted and amended, to support your development and your interests along the way.
Stay at your current workplace
You can complete a qualification by working in a variety of places, it doesn't matter if the work is paid or a voluntary, as long as you have access to appropriate development opportunities.
You will design your own training plan that can be changed at any time to fit around your commitments.
Support from our team
Get support and guidance from our dedicated Qualifications Team and Head of Supervision, from the point of enrolment through to completion.
We also offer additional support, including access to conferences and events that are relevant to your qualification, as well as pastoral support.
Guided by a supervisor
Build a relationship with an approved supervisor who will act as your mentor throughout your training.
Not sure where to start when finding a supervisor? Our Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors will help you find a BPS approved supervisor that has the right training and experiences to assist you though your qualification.
Access to resources
Our qualifications are now available (or will be very soon) on BPS Learn, our virtual learning environment, supporting you with everything you need for the qualification. The site holds also CPD training courses and bespoke candidate workshops to support your development.
As part of your member benefits, you will also have access to our BPS e-journals and books.
Flexible payment plans
We offer flexible payment plans including monthly direct debits to make the cost of a qualification manageable for you.
How do I pay the qualification fee? Is any funding available?
With your enrolment application, you'll need to include the enrolment fee. This fee is non-refundable and covers the processing of your enrolment application.
If you're applying for accreditation of existing competence then you'll also need to include the non-refundable AEC fee with your application.
Once your enrolment is confirmed, the qualification fee will become due. This fee can be paid in full or via interest-free monthly direct debit. For the direct debit option, you can choose terms of 12, 24, 36 or 48 months.
Please note that the qualification fee must be paid in full before your final results are released.
For example, if you choose to pay over 48 months but complete more quickly, you will need to pay the balance before being awarded the qualification.
As the society is not a traditional higher education institution, you would not be eligible for government funding for this qualification. You may, however, be able to negotiate funding through your employer.
Contact us
If you have any queries, please contact the Qualifications Team.
Do I need to be supervised for the entire time I'm enrolled on the Qualification?
Although candidates are enrolled on the QCoP, they're required to remain in supervised practice.
This also applies once the 450 supervised practice hours have been achieved.
Contact us
If you have any queries, please contact the Qualifications Team.
How can I check the accreditation status of a degree?
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 utilise 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.
What types of programmes does the BPS accredit?
We accredit undergraduate, conversion and postgraduate courses and training programmes. The society's accreditation process is open to all UK providers, and covers provision delivered in the UK and internationally.
Undergraduate
At the undergraduate level, the society accredits a range of single, joint and combined honours courses leading to eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).
Conversion courses are intended for graduates with a non-accredited undergraduate degree who wish to obtain GBC.
Postgraduate
At the postgraduate level, the society accredits psychology courses relating to the different routes to Chartered Membership. These include:
- Clinical Psychology
- Counselling Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Occupational Psychology
- Sport and Exercise Psychology
These areas also correspond with the seven domains of practice regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Training programmes
We also accredit training programmes in clinical neuropsychology, a post-qualification specialism.
The society also accredits training programmes designed to prepare people for roles within the wider psychological workforce, including courses for people training to be psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWP).
Contact us
If you have any queries, please contact the Qualifications Team.
What does the Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC) mean?
The GBC is a society standard in psychology. It demonstrates attainment of knowledge of core psychology subjects at a standard not less than a UK Bachelor Honours Lower Second Class level.
The GBC provides a basis for progression to society-accredited postgraduate professional training in psychology for training to become a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol).
Contact us
If you have any queries please contact the Membership Team.