Category Archives: FAQ

MY SPS MEMBERSHIP HAS LAPSED. HOW DO I APPLY TO REINSTATE MY SPS MEMBERSHIP?

MY SPS MEMBERSHIP HAS LAPSED. HOW DO I APPLY TO REINSTATE MY SPS MEMBERSHIP?

Individuals whose membership has lapsed may re-apply and will have an initial opportunity to reinstate their membership by paying their dues for the current year and the normal application fees. Membership will then be deemed to have commenced from the date of reinstatement.

Subsequent to this, further non-payment will require the lapsed member to pay dues for the period of lapsed membership as well as the current dues.

Members are advised it is their personal responsibility to update their postal addreses with the society so that a situation of lapsed membership does not arise. A termination of the membership will be effected following 2 consecutive years’ non-payment of membership dues.

(Procedures for reinstatement of membership was approved by the members at the SPS AGM on March 29, 2000).

HOW DO I BECOME A PSYCHOLOGIST IN SINGAPORE?

HOW DO I BECOME A PSYCHOLOGIST IN SINGAPORE?

• How do I apply for a license to practise as a psychologist in Singapore?
  At present, there is no official statutory regulation of the practice of psychology in Singapore. Therefore, it is not COMPULSORY for you to be licensed or registered with a government agency or professional board to practise as a psychologist.
  In the absence of governmental regulation of the practice of psychology, the Singapore Psychological Society has implemented a register of psychologists who are professional qualified and providing psychological services. The Singapore Register of Psychologists is to ensure that consumer interest is better served. Although psychologists providing psychological services are encouraged to apply to be listed on the Singapore Register of Psychologists , it is not a legal requirement to be listed on the Singapore Register of Psychologists in order to practise as a psychologist in Singapore.
• How do I apply for a job as a psychologist?
  The Singapore Psychological Society regrets that it is not able to help individuals to secure employment as psychologists in Singapore or elsewhere. The SPS apologizes to the individuals who have written to the Society to ask for help in looking for jobs as psychologists. You may wish to check the Employment Bulletin on the SPS website, the Straits Times, or individual government ministry websites for job advertisements.
• Must I join the SPS to practise as a psychologist in Singapore?
  You are encouraged to join the SPS if you are working as a psychologist in Singapore. The SPS is the only professional society for psychologists in Singapore.
• Would employers in Singapore recognize my psychology qualifications?
  Individual private sector employers in Singapore decide if they would recognize the psychology qualifications. You must check with the individual employers
• Would government ministries or agencies in Singapore recognize my psychology qualifications?
  You must check with the particular government ministry or agency. Government ministries and agencies have their own criteria for evaluating psychology qualifications.

For more information, refer to the:

• Ministry of Education (Singapore) website
• Ministry of Education (Singapore) website
• Singapore Civil Service

ARE PSYCHOLOGY DEGREES THAT ARE COMPLETED OVERSEAS RECOGNISED BY THE SPS?

ARE PSYCHOLOGY DEGREES THAT ARE COMPLETED OVERSEAS RECOGNISED BY THE SPS?

The Singapore Psychological Society will accept psychology degrees as qualifications for applying for SPS membership only if the psychology programs are fully accredited by the appropriate agencies.

• Psychology degrees completed at and conferred by American universities .
  Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in psychology must be completed at and conferred by American universities that are accredited by one of the following accrediting associations:  
  • Middle State Association of colleges and Schools
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges
  • North Central Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Distance Education and Training Council (for Universities that only offers distance learning programs)

  Doctoral degrees in clinical, counseling, school and combined professional-scientific psychology; predoctoral internship programs in professional psychology; and postdoctoral residency programs in professional psychology that are completed at and conferred by American universities must be accredited by the American Psychological Association

  Doctoral programs in psychology that are not within the scope of the American Psychological Association’s accreditation program (for example, the APA do not have any systems to accredit social psychology doctoral programs) – must be completed at and conferred by American universities that are accredited by one of the following accrediting associations:

  • Middle State Association of colleges and Schools
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges
  • North Central Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Distance Education and Training Council (for Universities that only offers distance learning programs)

  See also the US Department of Education and Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Dept of Education for information about accreditation of schools, colleges and universities in the USA

• Psychology degrees completed at and conferred by Australian universities must be accredited by the Australian Psychological Society
• Psychology degrees completed at and conferred by British universities must be accredited by the British Psychological Society
• Psychology degrees completed at and conferred by Canadian universities :
  Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology and Pre-doctoral Internship programs in Clinical Psychology, in Counselling Psychology, and in Clinical Neuropsychology must be accredited by the Canadian Psychological Society  Other psychology degrees that are completed at and conferred by Canadian universities must be recognised by the relevant psychological authorities in Canada Psychology degrees completed at and conferred by New Zealand universities must be recognised by the New Zealand Psychological Society Other countries : The general rule is that the psychology degrees must be recognised or accredited by the national psychological bodies in that country, or are completed at and conferred by universities that are recognised or accredited by the relevant authorities in that country, or are recognised as qualifications to apply for registration or licensure as qualified psychologists in that country.