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Psychologists have a legal and ethical responsibility to practise only in areas in which they are suitably qualified and experienced. The Board has identified individual scopes that can be practised in New Zealand.

Each scope of practice for psychologists has a unique focus and requires specific qualifications and experience.

Please note: Section 8 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 states that health practitioners are not allowed to practise outside their scope of practice.

Below is an overview of each of the Scopes identified by the Board. These descriptions have been shortened for readability. Please refer to the Scopes of Practice document for full descriptions.

Scopes of Practice

Psychologist

This general scope is defined as rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organisations or the public any psychological service involving the application of psychological knowledge, principles, methods and procedures of understanding, predicting ameliorating or influencing behaviour, affect or cognition.

Depending on training, general scope may have a specialty focus to their work (Industrial Organisational, Community, Health, Military, Corrections, Child and Family, Applied Behaviour Analysis) or may work more generally using evidence-based psychology interventions.

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Psychology from an accredited educational organisation or an equivalent qualification.
• Completed a Board-approved practicum or internship involving 1500 hours of supervised practice.

Clinical Psychologist

Assist individuals and families with emotional, mental, developmental, or behavioural problems by using psychological assessment, formulation, and diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions.

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Psychology from an accredited educational organisation.
• Accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology or equivalent qualification.
• Completed a Board-approved practicum or internship involving 1500 hours of supervised practice.

Counselling Psychologist

Assist individuals and families with personal, social, educational, and vocational functioning by using psychological assessments, interventions, and preventative approaches.

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Psychology from an accredited educational organisation.
• Accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology or equivalent qualification.
• Completed a Board-approved practicum or internship involving 1500 hours of supervised practice.

Educational Psychologist

Assist individuals and families with their learning, academic performance, behavioural, social, and emotional development by using psychological and educational assessments and interventions.

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Psychology from an accredited educational organisation.
• Accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Psychology or equivalent qualification.
• Completed a Board-approved practicum or internship involving 1500 hours of supervised practice.

Neuropsychologist

Work to rehabilitate people who have sustained brain injuries or other neurological conditions by applying scientific understanding of the relationship between the brain and neuropsychological function.

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Psychology from an accredited educational organisation.
• Accredited Postgraduate Diploma in neuropsychology, or equivalent qualification.
• Completed a Board-approved practicum or internship involving no less than 1500 hours of supervised practice.

Intern Psychologist

Enrolled in a New Zealand accredited university programme and practising under supervision.

• Dependent on respective New Zealand programme.

Trainee Psychologist

Employees of either the Department of Corrections or Defence Service who are enrolled in an in-house training programme.

• Dependent on respective New Zealand programme.