Entry requirements

For NHS places, you need the right to work

Because NHS places are funded by trainees being employed, you need the right to work in the UK without restriction.

• Please see the Funding page for details of how funding works for NHS places and for self-funded places
• Please see the International Applicants section if you need more information about right to work in the UK

England

From April 2022 you need at least a 2 year gap between finishing your previous NHS-funded training in the psychological professions and starting NHS-funded clinical psychology training. This is an NHS England (NHSE) requirement.

This applies to anyone who starts NHS-funded training, regardless of how the training ends: pass, withdraw, fail, etc. And the end date used is the date of the exam board for that course, regardless of when/how you left.

• Please see the NHSE website for a set of FAQs about the requirements, including the dates that apply and a list of psychological professions training

Wales

From 16 October 2023 you need at least a 2 year gap between finishing your previous NHS-funded training in the psychological professions in any part of the UK and starting NHS-funded clinical psychology training. This is a Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) requirement.

• Please see the NHSE website for a set of FAQs about the requirements, including a list of psychological professions training
• Please also see the Bangor University and South Wales entries in the Courses section

Scotland

NHS Education Scotland (NES) funds the following psychological training:

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (University of Edinburgh/NHS Scotland and University of Glasgow/NHS Scotland)
• MSc Psychological Therapies in Primary Care (Universities of Dundee & Stirling/NHS Scotland)
• MSc Applied Psychology for Children and Young People (University of Edinburgh/NHS Scotland)
• Stage 2 Health Psychology Training (NHS Scotland/British Psychological Society)*
• Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Training (Human Development Scotland/NHS Scotland)
• Postgraduate certificates and diplomas in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) training to Accredited Practitioner or Supervisor level
• Family Based Treatment (FBT) training to Accredited Practitioner or Supervisor level
• Family Therapy (FT) Masters level Training
• Enhanced Psychological Practice Programme, with Adults (EPP-A) or with Children, Young People and their Families (EPP-CYP), (Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and NHS Education for Scotland (NES))

Where a candidate has previously received, or is currently in receipt of funding for any of the above programmes, that candidate will normally not be eligible to receive funding for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology until a minimum of 18 months after the award for the previous training is recommended by a qualifying examination board or by chair’s action after the qualifying exam board (or achieved by other recognised route). Where a candidate has enrolled in, but not completed one of the identified programmes, funding would not be available for a period of 24 months after the exit date from the programme. Please note that the 18 (or 24) month period is from the date of award of the previous training to the date of commencing the subsequent training.

* For Stage 2 Health Psychology Training the date of award is taken as end of the 2 year NES funded contract, rather than award of the qualification by the BPS.

• Please also see the University of Edinburgh and University of Glasgow entries in the Courses section

Safeguarding, NHS values, Job description and person specification

Safeguarding

All the courses involve working with children and vulnerable adults. Safeguarding is therefore taken very seriously and the highest standards of behaviour are expected from clinical psychology trainees.

• Please see the Other Things to Consider section for information about fitness to practise, criminal record checks, health checks, etc.

NHS values

NHS Values are a foundation to both selection and training as a clinical psychologist.

• Please see the NHS Careers website for information about NHS Values and the NHS Constitution

Job description and person specification

This is a sample document provided as a guide for applicants:

Actual Trainee Clinical Psychologist job descriptions and person specifications may differ from it.

• Please see the Courses section for information provided by individual course centres