Further Information Related to PBA Endorsement

Following a few questions that have been received, I thought it would be worth highlighting what is likely the most helpful PBA document concerning the registrar program (click here: Guidelines on Areas of Practice Endorsements). This is not a new document, but it is possible that some students may have overlooked it when searching the PBA website (you may have noticed that I linked the document to the blog I wrote earlier today).

Important details in the document (which is likely to assist students who have emailed me) include:

1)A list of specific forms that need to be submitted in order to start (and complete) the registrar program

2)An outline of the core competencies that need to be addressed (both general competencies and competencies specific to obtaining the “Clinical Neuropsychologist” title –see attachment B)

3)An Important definition of ‘psychological practice’ (i.e. the type of work that counts towards the registrar program). NOTE: the work does not necessarily have to be paid; and is not limited to direct clinical care and can, in some circumstances, include such things as administration, education and research and advisory work.

4)The amount of hours a one-year (1540 hours of practice) and two-year (3080 hours of practice) full-time registrar program must consists of. Importantly, the document clearly details how these hours can be spread (i.e. over a maximum of five years. Though, as outlined in the document, there are minimum requirements per year that must be maintained).

5)Information on ‘board-approved’ supervisors, including the distinction between a ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ supervisor. As the title suggests, both must be board-approved (the ‘secondary’ supervisor does not have to be endorsed in the approved area).

Importantly, the transitional arrangements are not coved in the document. Several PBA documents are available regarding transition arrangements, such as page 5 and 9 of the FAQ.

More detailed information regarding Transitional arrangements are available in the Fact sheet (Transition and grandparentingarrangements for area of practice endorsements). Students who had commenced and was undertaking an APAC accredited higher degree on 30 June 2010 or was a recent graduate on 30 June 2010 are examples of individuals who can apply for an area of practice endorsement under the transition rules.

There are important deadlines specified by the PBA – in some instances to be covered under the transition rule, the registrar program must be completed and the application for area of practice endorsement must be lodged prior to 30 June 2013 (i.e. applicants must submit the application for approval of a registrar program before 30 June 2012 to start the one-year registrar program) (see page 7).