How to become a psychologist

Understand the pathway to become a psychologist in Australia.

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Want to know how to become a psychologist in Australia?

If you’re curious about why people think, feel and behave the way they do, a career in psychology could be a great fit. Keep reading to learn more about what a psychologist does, what careers are available and how to become a registered psychologist in Australia.

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What does a psychologist do?

Psychology is the science of studying human behaviour and how we think, act and feel. Psychology offers many career paths, allowing you to specialise in the areas that interest you most. From conducting research and cognitive testing, to studying the brain and social behaviour, a psychology degree can lead to registration, or open doors to many other careers.

Skills of a psychologist

Psychologists explore human behaviour and use this insight to support people in many settings. Many psychologists work to care for people, helping clients with mental and emotional disorders, but the skills of a psychologist can be used in all kinds of settings, from research to business.

You’ll build:

  • research skills
  • clear communication
  • questioning skills
  • sensitive listening
  • observational skills
  • critical thinking
  • analytical skills
  • numeracy skills.

How long does it take to become a psychologist?

In Australia, you’ll complete at least six years of study and training to become a psychologist. 

How to become a psychologist in Australia

To become a registered psychologist in Australia, you’ll need to complete specific study and supervised training. All psychologists in Australia hold general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia, meaning they meet high standards in education, training, supervised practice, ethical and professional standards, and ongoing professional development. To be registered, you need to complete the appropriate study and training.

What qualifications do you need to be a registered psychologist? It starts with the right undergraduate and postgraduate study.
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Step 1: Complete an undergraduate psychology degree

 A minimum six-year sequence of education and training in psychology is required to become eligible for registration as a psychologist in Australia. Most students start their studies with an accredited undergraduate psychology degree. A Bachelor of Psychology provides a comprehensive understanding of the main discipline areas of psychology and will develop your research, analytical and communication skills.

At UNSW, you can study:

If you have already completed an undergraduate degree in another field, you can complete a Graduate Diploma of Psychology to begin your pathway towards becoming a registered psychologist. 

Step 2: Complete an accredited four-year sequence

After your bachelor’s degree, you’ll complete an honours year. At UNSW, you can complete this as:

If you’ve completed an undergraduate degree in a different field, you can complete a year of honours at UNSW after you have completed a Graduate Diploma of Psychology.

Once you have completed your honours year, you will receive provisional registration from the Psychology Board of Australia.

*If you're enrolled in a four‑year honours program, you still need to meet the required grade to graduate with honours.

Step 3: Complete postgraduate study

Your next step is postgraduate study, where you’ll build advanced skills to assess, diagnose and support people. 

At UNSW, you can study a two-year Master of Psychology (Clinical) or Master of Psychology (Forensic), depending on which area of practice you would like to pursue. With this academic pathway, you need to complete these two years of postgraduate study to obtain General Registration from the Psychology Board of Australia.

Alternatively, you can complete a one year internship and the National Psychology Exam to gain General Registration.

Step 4: Apply for a registrar program

At this stage, you’re eligible to apply for General Registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and begin practising as a psychologist. If you completed the academic pathway, you can also choose to complete the relevant registrar program and earn your Area of Practice Endorsement. 

Careers in psychology

Many psychologists work in a care setting, helping people with mental and emotional disorders. Psychologists also deal with more than just mental health – they apply their knowledge to relationships, workplace stress and financial challenges. A psychology degree can open doors to diverse psychology jobs across Australia. 

Career opportunities for psychologists are available across the public and private sector in a range of industries and roles including: 
 
  • banking
  • childcare
  • counselling
  • developmental care
  • education
  • industrial relations
  • journalism
  • management consultancy
  • marketing
  • public, community and occupational health
  • recruitment
  • sport
  • statistical and data analysis
  • training and development
  • welfare and youth work.

 

Jobs in psychology

Click through each tab to explore the different roles in psychology.

  • Many psychology graduates choose to begin their careers in health settings. Health psychology can include chartered psychologist, psychotherapist, clinical psychologist and rehabilitation counselling.

  • Community health psychology focuses on supporting people and groups facing social or wellbeing challenges. It can include working as a counsellor, but a psychology degree is also helpful in other community-based roles such as being a social worker.

  • Forensic psychology focuses on criminal behaviour, criminal psychology, legal psychology, forensic neuropsychology and clinical forensic psychology. It lets you apply your knowledge of human behaviour to help understand, solve and prevent crime.

  • There are many opportunities for psychology graduates in education. They include educational therapy, educational psychology, guidance counsellor, career counselling and psychoeducational assessment. Psychology is also valuable if you want to become a teacher — teaching psychology is also a possibility.

  • Understanding human behaviours is highly valuable in business settings. There are direct roles working with people, such as a human resource manager. More broadly, applying insights into human behaviour can also benefit careers in IT, finance, sport, the legal sector, government administration, media, advertising, marketing and market research.

  • A psychology degree gives you versatile skills you can apply in many roles, from marketing to policy, social work or research. 

Frequently asked questions

  • Psychologists are trained in assessing psychological disorders. Some psychologists may be trained for medical specialities and focus their work on specific areas. It is up to the psychologist to ensure they have the correct training and experience to be able to diagnose a condition.

  • General psychologists are qualified mental health professionals who provide counselling and therapy. Clinical psychologists complete additional accredited training to specialise in clinical work.

  • No. Psychologists aren’t medical doctors, so they don’t prescribe medication.

  • Psychologists help people with life issues and mental health problems. They provide a range of treatments, including psychological therapy (psychotherapy or talking therapy), practical advice about managing mental health problems and information to help patients understand their symptoms and treatments.

  • A psychology degree prepares you for careers in education, counselling, marketing, research and more.

  • The ATAR needed to study psychology varies depending on the degree. You can find more information about the ATAR requirements for UNSW psychology degrees within the degree’s entry requirements. 

  • Psychology is the science of studying human behaviour and how we think, act and feel. Many psychologists work to care for people, helping clients with mental and emotional disorders, but the skills of a psychologist can be used in all kinds of settings, from research to business.

Start your psychology career journey at UNSW

At UNSW, you'll find a range of programs to lead you toward a career in psychology. Explore your study options at the School of Psychology. 
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