WANT TO REGISTER

Overseas trained: How to register

Who can apply through this pathway?

Individuals who completed their psychology training in a country other than Australia or New Zealand.

If you are registered as a psychologist in Australia, you should apply under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition (TTMR) Pathway.

If you are overseas-trained and considering applying for registration in New Zealand, first you should complete the Board’s online Self-Assessment of Eligibility for Registration. Please be aware that eligibility to apply for registration does not guarantee that registration will be granted.

When considering an application for registration as a psychologist in New Zealand, the Board will look for several criteria, including whether the applicant:

Completed a minimum six-year course of studies in psychology.
Graduated from an accredited training programme.
Finished 1500 hours of supervised practice (an internship) as part of their psychology qualification, closely supervised by a qualified psychologist.
Underwent an endpoint evaluation of their internship or passed a licensing examination.
Holds registration as a psychologist in both the country where they trained and the country where they currently reside

Applications from overseas-trained practitioners are assessed on an individual basis for fitness, equivalence of qualifications, and competence.

Please note, processing applications from countries with training and regulation standards similar to New Zealand’s (Canada, Ireland, South Africa, the UK, and the USA) takes less time. To comply with cost-recovery and anti-cross-subsidisation rules, the Board has set lower application fees for these ‘prescribed’ countries.

What documentation is required?

Application form
Current passport
Evidence of name change (if applicable)
Academic Transcripts for all psychology qualifications
Course curriculum documents for all psychology qualifications (*if applicable)
Verification letter of completed internship
Completed Training Details Document
Letter or Certificate(s) of Good Standing for all regulatory bodies you have held registration with.
Current Curriculum Vitae (CV) on the Board’s CV template
Three references on the Board’s reference template
IELTS (Academic) English language test results (*if applicable)
Police clearance certificate(s) from all countries/jurisdictions you have lived in for 3+ months in the last 5 years.

*Does not apply to applicants who completed their psychology training in Canada, Ireland, South Africa, the UK, or the USA.

All supporting documents submitted with your application must be provided in English or include a certified English translation. Translations must be completed through a certified translation service; the Board cannot accept any other forms of translation.

All your documents must be certified copies or be sent directly to the Board by the issuing authority.

For specific document requirements, please see our guide here.

How do I apply?

To apply, please send your completed application form and supporting documentation to using the subject line: Submission of OS Registration Application – [Your Full Name]

Before submitting your application, please ensure you have all the required supporting documentation.

Please note that to ensure fairness, all applications are processed in chronological order based on the date they were received. Therefore, the Board will not expedite the processing of an application, even if you have been offered a job.

What is the assessment process for this application?

Step 1: Initial Check

Once submitted, a Registration and Standards Coordinator will conduct an initial review of your application and documents to ensure completeness. You will be contacted and asked to provide further information if:

Any documents are missing, out-of-date, or uncertified.
There are concerns about your eligibility.

Please note that we cannot process your application further until all required documentation has been provided. If you do not meet the eligibility criteria, or if you fail to submit the requested documents within the required timeframe, either your application will be returned, or you will be given the opportunity to withdraw it.

Step 2: Application Assessment

After the initial document check has been completed, your application and supporting documents will be assessed by one of the Board’s Psychology Specialists.

The primary purpose of this assessment is to determine if:

Your qualification(s) would lead to registration in the jurisdiction in which you obtained said qualification
Your qualification(s) are equivalent to the to the minimum standard of a New Zealand accredited psychology qualification
You meet the fitness requirements for registration under section 16 of the HPCA Act 2003
Your competence and conduct meet the standards of practice expected of New Zealand registered psychologists, outlined in the Core Competencies for the Practice of Psychology in New Zealandand the Code of Ethics for Psychologists Working in Aotearoa New Zealand 2002.

Based on the results of their assessment, the Psychology Specialist will make a recommendation as to whether registration should be granted.

Step 3: Registrar/Deputy Registrar review

After the Psychology Specialist makes a recommendation, the Registrar or Deputy Registrar will review your file, supporting documents, and the recommendation to propose one of three outcomes:

Full registration: Granted when all requirements have been met
Registration with conditions: Granted when gaps have been identified
Declined registration: Proposed when the core standards have not been met

Step 4: Application Outcome

A Registration and Standards Coordinator will email you the proposed decision and your assessment report. Within 20 working days, you must either accept the decision or provide further documentation for the unmet components.

Any additional information provided will be considered by the Psychology Specialist and Registrar/Deputy Registrar, after which a final proposed decision will be communicated to you.

Please note, as of 01 July 2026, all eligible overseas-trained psychologists whose applications for registration are approved by the Board are required to participate in the Raka Māui Competence Programme. Implementation of the Raka Māui Competence Programme was approved by the Board at its meeting on 01 July 2026 following a successful pilot and evaluation. Completion of the programme is a condition of your registration and must be completed within two years of registration.

The programme supports psychologists who have completed their primary qualification outside New Zealand to develop the knowledge, understanding and cultural capability required to practise safely and effectively within the unique health, cultural and professional context of Aotearoa New Zealand. The programme combines learning, supervision and reflective practice to support your transition into safe, culturally responsive practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.

What happens after registration is granted?

Psychologist Portal Access

Once registered, you will need to activate your practitioner portal. It is through this portal that you update your contact details, apply for practising certificates or register maintenance, log your Continuing Competence Programme (CCP) activities, and find your registration details.

Certificate of registration

A formal Certificate of Registration showing your name, scope of practice, and date of registration can be downloaded through your practitioner portal. These certificates can be used you to show you are a registered Psychologist but cannot be used in place of a Letter of Good Standing or Practising Certificate.

Practising certificate

To be eligible to practise, you must hold registration and a current Practising Certificate (PC). The Practising year begins on 1 April each year and ends on 31 March of the following year. It is your professional obligation to ensure you know when your practising certificate is expiring.

Please note, any psychological services provided without holding a practising certificate is considered unlawful and may result in disciplinary action.

To apply for a PC, you need to log into your practitioner portal and submit the application and pay the relevant fee. Once your PC application has been approved for issue a digital PC will appear on your practitioner portal dashboard for download. If your PC has been approved but no digital certificate is visible, this is likely because you’ve not yet been issued a HPI number by the Ministry of Health.

Health Practitioner Index (HPI) Number

After registration, you will be issued a Health Practitioner Index (HPI) number by the Ministry of Health. HPI numbers uniquely identify every health professional currently practising in New Zealand.

Raka Māui Competence Programme

The Raka Māui Competence Programme supports psychologists who have completed their primary qualification outside Aotearoa New Zealand to develop the knowledge, understanding and cultural capability required to practise safely and effectively within the unique health, cultural, legislative and professional context of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The programme recognises the valuable knowledge, skills and experience that overseas-trained psychologists bring to the profession while supporting their transition into culturally safe and competent practice in New Zealand.

The programme applies to eligible overseas-trained psychologists whose applications for registration are approved by the Board on or after 1 July 2026.

Psychologists who were registered with the Board before 1 July 2026 are not required to complete the programme. However, if they wish to develop their understanding of psychology practice within the cultural, legislative and professional context of Aotearoa New Zealand, they are welcome to apply to the Board to participate using contact details below to complete the programme on a voluntary basis.

Raka Māui Competence Programme Guide – information about the programme, requirements, timeframes and evidence to be submitted

Welcome to Raka Māui – an introduction to the programme for newly registered overseas-trained psychologists

If you have any questions about the programme, please contact us at

Collegial Bodies

The Board encourages all registered psychologists to join at least one collegial/membership organisation. Examples include:

Such organisations facilitate the development and maintenance of strong links to the profession, offer high-quality professional development opportunities, and provide a collective link to the Board.

They also offer numerous other benefits, such as special pricing on indemnity insurance and annual conferences. Staying well connected and up-to-date on developments in the profession are key to maintaining safe, competent practice.

What does the application cost?

For the current application fee, please refer to our Fees & Levy webpage.

Application fees are non-refundable.