Verify your psychologist · AHPRA Psychology Board
How to verify your psychologist on the AHPRA register
The AHPRA register is the single source of truth on who is and isn’t a psychologist in Australia. Free, public, fast. Here’s how to use it, what endorsements mean, and how to spot the line between a registered psychologist and someone who isn’t.
★Key takeaways
- ✓AHPRA-registered psychologists hold a legally protected title. Anyone calling themselves a “psychologist” without current AHPRA registration commits an offence under the National Law.
- ✓Search the public register free at ahpra.gov.au/registration/registers-of-practitioners. Each entry shows status, endorsements, conditions and registration expiry.
- ✓Nine endorsement areas: Clinical, Clinical Neuropsychology, Counselling, Community, Educational + Developmental, Forensic, Health, Organisational, Sport + Exercise. Endorsements require 2 years of supervised registrar training.
- ✓Clinical Psychology endorsement attracts the higher Medicare rebate ($141.85 vs $96.65) under Better Access. Both endorsed and general-registration psychologists can deliver high-quality therapy.
- ✓Counsellor, psychotherapist, life coach, mental health coach – none of these are AHPRA-protected titles. None attract Medicare rebates. Reputable counsellors register with PACFA or ACA.
Step by step
How to check the public register
- Go to ahpra.gov.au/registration/registers-of-practitioners. No login required.
- Search by the psychologist’s name (first and last), registration number, or location. Profession field: select Psychology to filter.
- Open the result. Confirm status is Registered, not Suspended, Cancelled or Surrendered.
- Check the registration type: General registration (the standard) or Provisional (still in internship). “Non-practising” registration cannot deliver therapy.
- Look at any endorsements. The endorsement determines whether the higher Medicare rebate ($141.85, Clinical endorsement only) or general rebate ($96.65) applies under Better Access.
- Read any conditions, undertakings, reprimands. These appear directly on the entry and are public information.
- Note the registration expiry. AHPRA registration renews annually on 30 November.
- Cross-check against your psychologist’s website or business card. The registration number on their materials should match the register entry.
Source: ahpra.gov.au. AHPRA also publishes tribunal decisions and prosecutions for offence-against-the-National-Law (including unauthorised use of protected titles).
The 9 endorsement areas
What each psychology endorsement means
An endorsement is an additional credential earned after 2 years of supervised registrar training in a specific practice area. The Psychology Board recognises 9 endorsement areas. Only the Clinical Psychology endorsement attracts the higher Medicare rebate – this is a payment-system decision by the Department of Health, not a clinical-quality statement about the other endorsements.
Clinical Psychology
Assessment, diagnosis and treatment of moderate to severe mental health conditions across the lifespan. Two years of supervised registrar training after a Master’s or Doctorate. Attracts the higher Medicare rebate ($141.85) for Better Access sessions.
Clinical Neuropsychology
Assessment and rehabilitation of cognitive function – memory, attention, executive function – in the context of brain injury, dementia, neurological disease, developmental conditions. Two years registrar training in neuropsychology after relevant postgrad.
Counselling Psychology
Mental health, wellbeing and functioning across the lifespan, with emphasis on personal growth, life transitions, relational and existential concerns. Registrar program after Master’s in counselling psychology.
Community Psychology
Group-, organisation- and community-level psychological work. Prevention, public mental health, social action, community wellbeing. Smaller endorsement area in number but distinct training pathway.
Educational and Developmental Psychology
Learning, development and behaviour from infancy through adulthood. Schools-based assessment (cognitive, learning disability), early intervention, family work, developmental concerns including autism and ADHD across the lifespan.
Forensic Psychology
Application of psychology to the legal system. Court-ordered assessments, offender treatment, witness preparation, criminal responsibility evaluations, family law assessments. Specific registrar pathway.
Health Psychology
Psychological aspects of physical health and illness. Chronic pain, cardiac rehab, oncology psychology, diabetes self-management, behaviour change for health outcomes, smoking cessation, weight management.
Organisational Psychology
Workplace psychology – selection, performance, leadership, organisational change, occupational health and safety, return-to-work, executive coaching. Often consulted by employers, less commonly seen by individual patients.
Sport and Exercise Psychology
Performance optimisation, anxiety management, focus, recovery from injury and exercise behaviour change. Works with elite and recreational athletes and exercise-as-treatment populations.
Source: Psychology Board of Australia, Areas of Practice Endorsement standard. The Board’s endorsement registers are searchable at psychologyboard.gov.au.
Titles that look similar
Psychologist vs counsellor vs coach
| Title | Protected by law? | Registration body | Medicare rebate? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychologist | Yes – National Law | AHPRA / Psychology Board of Australia | Yes (Better Access, with MHCP) |
| Clinical Psychologist | Yes – endorsement | AHPRA / Psychology Board | Yes – higher tier $141.85 |
| Psychiatrist | Yes – medical specialist | AHPRA / Medical Board / RANZCP | Yes – psychiatry items |
| Counsellor | No | PACFA or ACA (voluntary) | No |
| Psychotherapist | No | PACFA (voluntary) | No (unless also AHPRA-registered psych) |
| Mental health social worker | Title not protected; accreditation is | AASW (accreditation) | Yes – Better Access items 80155 etc |
| Mental health occupational therapist | OT title protected; mental-health endorsement via OT Australia | AHPRA OT Board + OT Australia endorsement | Yes – Better Access items 80125 etc |
| Life coach / mental health coach | No | None required | No |
Practical implication: if Medicare matters to you, confirm AHPRA registration. Counsellors and coaches can be excellent practitioners, but the rebate is psychology-only (plus the accredited mental-health social worker and mental-health OT pathways).
Red flags
Warning signs on a practitioner profile
- Uses “psychologist” but doesn’t publish an AHPRA registration number on their website.
- Claims a “Clinical Psychology” endorsement but the AHPRA entry shows general registration only.
- Conditions on the register that the practitioner hasn’t disclosed (read them carefully – they’re public).
- Promises “guaranteed cure” or specific outcome claims – AHPRA advertising guidelines prohibit these.
- Heavy use of testimonials about clinical aspects of treatment – prohibited under section 133 of the National Law.
Green flags
Positive signals
- AHPRA registration number on website, email signature, business card, intake forms.
- APS membership (Australian Psychological Society) listed – APS members agree to a separate code of ethics and complaints process.
- Transparent fee schedule and Medicare gap stated up-front.
- Specific therapy approach named (CBT, ACT, schema, EMDR) rather than vague “talking therapy”.
- Free initial phone consultation (10–15 min) to discuss fit – standard practice for many ethical practitioners.
Common questions
AHPRA register check – common questions
What does AHPRA registration mean for a psychologist?
A psychologist registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), through the Psychology Board of Australia, has completed an accredited postgraduate qualification (minimum 6-year sequence of training and supervised practice), met the Board’s English language and criminal-history requirements, holds professional indemnity insurance, and is bound by the Code of Conduct and continuing professional development requirements. The title “psychologist” is legally protected – it’s an offence under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to call yourself a psychologist without current AHPRA registration.
How do I check if my psychologist is registered?
Visit ahpra.gov.au/registration/registers-of-practitioners. Search by name, registration number, or location. Each registration page shows: full registered name, registration number, profession, division, registration status, any endorsements, any conditions, undertakings or reprimands, registration expiry date and principal place of practice. The search is free and doesn’t require login. AHPRA also publishes monthly tribunal decisions and any cancellations.
What is the difference between “Clinical” and “Registered” psychologist?
All practising psychologists in Australia are registered with AHPRA. “Clinical Psychologist” is one of the 9 endorsements – an additional credential earned through 2 years of supervised registrar training after a Master’s or Doctorate. Clinical Psychology endorsement attracts the higher Medicare rebate ($141.85 vs $96.65 for general registration) under Better Access. Both can deliver high-quality therapy; the clinical endorsement is specifically about complex mental health work.
Is a counsellor the same as a psychologist?
No. The title “psychologist” is AHPRA-protected and requires the full training pathway. “Counsellor” is not a protected title in Australia – anyone can call themselves a counsellor. Reputable counsellors register with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) or the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), which have their own training and ethical standards. Key practical difference: counsellors cannot bill Medicare under Better Access for psychological therapy items, so there’s no rebate.
What about “psychotherapist” – is that an AHPRA title?
No. “Psychotherapist” is also not a protected title in Australia. A practising psychotherapist may be an AHPRA-registered psychologist or psychiatrist using the term to describe their practice style, or a counsellor with additional psychotherapy training (PACFA-registered), or someone with no formal accreditation. Check the AHPRA register first if Medicare rebates matter; check PACFA / ACA membership if not.
What are “conditions” on a psychologist’s registration?
Conditions are restrictions imposed by the Psychology Board on a practitioner’s practice. They appear on the public register entry. Examples: practice limited to specific populations (e.g. cannot treat children), supervision requirement, mentor requirement, restricted scope of practice, requirement to complete additional training, regular reporting to the Board. Conditions are not the same as a sanction or finding of guilt – they may be imposed in connection with an issue or as part of a return-to-practice arrangement. Read the condition wording carefully; it’s usually plain enough.
How do I report concerns about a psychologist?
Concerns about a registered psychologist’s conduct, performance or health are reported to AHPRA via the “Make a notification” pathway on ahpra.gov.au. Concerns can include: breach of confidentiality, sexual or other inappropriate boundary violation, impaired performance (substance use, untreated illness), criminal conduct, misleading credentials. The Psychology Board investigates and can impose conditions, suspend, or cancel registration. Each state and territory also has a separate health complaints body for service-quality complaints – HCC in NSW, AHCCC in QLD, Health Complaints Commissioner in Vic, etc.
Can a provisional psychologist practise independently?
A “Provisional Psychologist” is in the 4+2 internship or 5+1 internship program – the final supervised year (or two) before full general registration. They can deliver therapy, but only under formal supervision and inside an approved internship program. Their register entry shows “Provisional Psychologist” explicitly. Provisional registration cannot independently bill Medicare under Better Access; supervised sessions may be billable through the supervisor depending on the specific arrangement.
How often does AHPRA registration need to be renewed?
Annually. Every psychologist renews on 30 November each year and must declare ongoing fitness to practise, completed continuing professional development (10 hours/year general, plus an extra 10 hours for endorsement areas), professional indemnity insurance coverage, recency of practice and any new criminal-history matters. Lapsed registration without renewal means the person is no longer entitled to practise as a psychologist or use the title.
General information only. This is general information about psychology registration in Australia, not clinical advice. Speak with an AHPRA-registered psychologist for advice on your specific situation. Source for register data: AHPRA and the Psychology Board of Australia.