Qualification in Health Psychology (Stage 2)

Outline

The Qualification requires you to undertake a minimum of two years of structured supervised practice (or the part-time equivalent).

Your supervised practice will build upon the academic components of your MSc by requiring the development and demonstration of your skills to a doctoral standards in the following areas:

• Professional practice
• Psychological interventions
• Research
• Consultancy
• Teaching and training

You will undertake supervised practice with the support of your Co-ordinating Supervisor, Workplace Supervisor (if appropriate), the Health Psychology Qualifications Board and a designated Qualifications Administrator, with the ultimate goal will be to develop all the necessary competencies required to practise independently as a health psychologist. 

We are committed to ensuring that the QHP allows you the flexibility to develop the competencies and submit work for assessment at your own pace.

For more information, view the following handbooks and guidelines:

• Candidate Handbook
• Supervisor Handbook
• Terms and Conditions
• Viva Guidelines
• 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 complete and submit your enrolment application (our Candidate Handbook will help guide you through the process of enrolment and provide tips on how to complete the forms).

The QHP (Stage 2) is a flexible qualification and does not formally close for applications. Therefore, you are welcome to submit your application at any time.

Enrolment forms

• Enrolment form
• Guidance Notes for Enrolment form
• Plan of Training form
• Plan of Training Guidance
• Sample Supervision Contract
• Request for Ratification of Supervisor
• Quarterly Supervisory Meeting Record
• Reference Request form
• Application for Accreditation of Existing Competence
• Direct Debit Mandate
• Health Declaration
• Payment information form

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 true copy
• The enhanced DBS is full scan of pages 1 and 2
• 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 via Hightail.

Submit your documents

Assessment

The assessment of the QHP is conducted at the end of your two years of training (Plan of Training) by means of a Portfolio of Competence and an oral examination relating to the contents of the Portfolio.

Registration forms are available from BPS Learn.

Submission point one: Spring 2024

• Registration date: 07 January 2024
• Submission of materials: 11 February 2024
• Vivas: 07/08 May 2024

 Submission point two: Summer 2024

• Registration date: 07 July 2024
• Submission of materials: 11 August 2024
• Vivas: 05/06 November 2024

Submission point three: Autumn 2024

• Registration date: 08 September 2024
• Submission of materials: 13 October 2024
• Vivas: 14/15 January 2025

Academic Misconduct

The society updated its Academic Misconduct Policy in December 2023.

An information session was held for new enrolments on Tuesday 24 May 2022.

The session was presented by our QHP Qualification Lead, Dr James Byron Daniel, and supported by contributors from DHP, NHS England and NHS Scotland to share information about the qualification and how to apply.

To watch this recording go to BPS Learn and click 'Log In'.

If you do not already have a BPS account you will be prompted to create one.

Anyone can create a BPS account – you do not have to be a member.

Once you have logged in to BPS Learn you can access the recorded session and select 'Enrol Me' to view the recording.

Fees

A different fee structure applies to candidates who enrolled prior to 31 December 2014 – details of that payment structure can be sent upon request.

Enrolment fee

• Amount: £120 (£100 + VAT)
• When: upon submission of an enrolment application

This is a non-refundable fee which covers the processing and review of your enrolment application.

An invoice will be sent to you when we receive your enrolment application and this must be paid within 30 days of the date on the invoice.

We will not be able to confirm your enrolment until this fee has been paid.

Accreditation of Existing Competence (AEC) fee

• Amount:  £360 (£300 + VAT)
• When: upon submission of an AEC application

This is a non-refundable fee which covers the processing and review of your AEC application.

An invoice will be sent to you when we receive your AEC application and this should be paid within 30 days of the date on the invoice.

We will not be able to confirm the outcome of your AEC application until this fee has been paid.

Qualification fee

• Amount: £6189.60 (£5158.00 + £1031.60 VAT)
• When: upon confirmation of enrolment (either in full or by monthly Direct Debit)

This fee covers any support and expert advice you might need, as well as administration carried out during your enrolment by either the society's staff or members of the Qualifications Board.

It also pays for one assessment of each element of the qualification.

If you are referred for further assessment on any element a re-submission fee will become due.

Should you withdraw from the qualification a refund may become due (please see the Terms and Conditions for further information).

Re-submission fee

• Amount: £385.20 (£321 + VAT)
• When: one month prior to submitting your amended work

The re-submission fee covers the cost of work carried out during the re-assessment of your portfolio.

Direct debit

We offer flexible payment plans via direct debit to spread the cost of a qualification over your period of study. These are monthly interest free payments and you can choose to pay over 12, 24, 36 or 48 months.

We only charge you for the cost of the qualification once. If you need longer to complete the qualification we won't charge you extra.

Please be aware that if you complete your qualification before the payment term has been completed you will be required to pay the outstanding balance before your results can be released.

Third-party fees

Please note that you may incur additional costs during your training which are not set by the society, may include, but are not limited to, supervision costs, travel and accommodation costs (for instance, for supervisory meetings, events and conferences) and professional indemnity insurance.

These fees are not set by the society so we are unable to advise on what rates will be charged.

Fee reductions

A fee reduction of 20% is available to candidates who are in receipt of state benefits or a state pension.

Requests for reductions for other reasons will not be considered.

Formal requests for reductions must be submitted to the Professional Development Delivery Officer along with evidence of income and level of state benefits.

Review of fees

All fees charged by the society are reviewed annually and, therefore, are subject to change from 1 January each year.