EuroPsy (or European Certificate in Psychology)
is a European standard of education, professional training and competence in psychology set by the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA).

Visit: www.europsy.eu  

Learn more on EuroPSy FAQ 

Specialist Certificate in W&O Psychology:
The experience of the pilot test and future developments 

Download here as PDF 

Announcement:
Working Group on EuroPsy Competencies, Training Standards and CPD Standards:

The task of the Working Group is threefold:

• firstly, to revise and update the education and training standards for the EuroPsy basic certificate (see Appendix II & V in EuroPsy https://www.europsy.eu/quality-and-standards/regulations ) that reflect best practice in Europe;

• secondly, to revise the competencies for the EuroPsy (see Appendix III in EuroPsy regulations) taking into account the existing regulations and the International Declaration of Core Competences in Professional Psychology;

• and thirdly, to elaborate on the continuous professional development (CPD) standards for maintaining the EuroPsy certificate (see Appendix VI EuroPsy regulations and develop guidance on systems for evaluating CPD).

Do You know?

EuroPsy - ‘field of practice in the basic 'EuroPsy’ and ‘specialist certificate’

By: EuroPsy Team

We have had several requests during the past few years from those of you interested in the EuroPsy for clarification on the question: 'what is the difference between the field of practice and the specialist certificate?'. The European Awarding Committee clarifies.

As those of you who are familiar with the Basic EuroPsy certificate are aware, there are three fields of practice associated with the EuroPsy certificate: clinical and health, educational, and work and organisational psychology. The Basic EuroPsy certificate is issued to applicants who meet the EFPA standards for initial qualification to practice psychology. This standard is: five years of university education with an approved curriculum in psychology (that involves education up to masters level), one year of supervised practice, and a commitment to the ethics code. Those psychologists who apply for the basic EuroPsy certificate and their area of practice does not fit into these three fields of practice (e.g. traffic psychology) are able to use the designation 'Other - Traffic Psychology' on their certificate. This might also apply to psychologists whose fields of practice are in community psychology, sports psychology, forensic psychology, counselling psychology. The field of practice is the area in which the psychologist first trained.

The Specialist certificate is available for those psychologists who have already qualified for the basic EuroPsy certificate and have undertaken further education, training and specialisation in their field of practice. This is an advanced qualification that builds on the basic education and training for a psychologist. At present, we have two such specialisms: Psychotherapy and Work and Organisational Psychology. The standard for a specialist certificate is: advanced study or training equivalent to at least 90 ECTs and at least 3 years of supervised practice in the specialism (400 hours per year) with at least 150 hours supervision (at least 50 per year).

To take the example of work and organisational psychology, I could hold a basic EuroPsy certificate with work and organisational psychology stated as my field of practice if my initial education and training was in work and organisational psychology. However, in order to be eligible for the specialist certificate, I would need to undertake a further advanced study and training programme in work and organisational psychology, additional supervised practice (3 years) and supervision (150 hours) to be eligible for the specialist certificate in work and organisational psychology.

Those of you who have attended EFPA General Assemblies - in recent years will know that many member associations have been interested in expanding the number of fields of practice, most recently to include sports psychology (2019). These motions have not been successful. A two thirds majority vote from members associations of EFPA is needed to change the EuroPsy regulations. Thus, while there was a lot of support for adding sports psychology as a field of practice to the basic EuroPsy certification process, there was not enough support for it to be approved at the General Assembly in Moscow.

The good news for sports psychologists is that in EFPA General Assembly in Moscow, a motion for developing a specialist certificate in sports psychology was also proposed and there was sufficient support for this. Thus, following the General Assembly vote, EFPA approved a pilot test for a third specialist certificate, that of Sports Psychology. This is in line with the structures and systems that were developed for psychotherapy and work and organisational psychology. The Pilot European Awarding Committee in Sports Psychology will co-ordinate the development of systems within member association countries that can issue a specialist certificate in sports psychology. If the pilot test is successful, we will begin to implement this third specialist EuroPsy certificate.

EuroPsy Team.

The Turkish Psychological Association (TPA) has made a several video clips about EuroPsy certificate. In these clips is explained what is EuroPsy, for how long does EuroPsy remain valid, how EuroPsy certified psychologists can practice psychotherapy in Europe, and the requirement of the TPA membership for the EuroPsy certificate application.

The links to the videos can be found here below.

• Does the EuroPsy certificate expire? 

• Can EuroPsy-certified psychologists practice psychotherapy in Europe?  
• Is TPA membership required for Europsy certificate application?  
• What is EuroPsy? 