PBA, AHPRA, APS, APS-CCN: Introduction to Key Organisations (and lots of links!)

There seems to be some confusion related to registrar requirements and it seems that some of this might be based on students viewing the PBA endorsement requirements and the APS-CCN Membership requirements and being puzzled that they do not completely correspond.
It is important to emphasise that, while there are many similarities, the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) requirements for endorsement (i.e. getting the ‘Clinical Neuropsychologist’ Title) is separate to the Australian Psychological Society (APS) requirements for Full Membership for the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (CCN). Some students may not even fully realise that the PBA and APS are completely distinct organisations.

So I thought I would briefly detail what the PBA and APS are and how they are different.

The Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) is the national board for the psychology profession in Australia - the PBA regulates registration and ultimately the title of “Psychologist” and "Clinical Neuropsychologist.' The PBA is a part of the broader Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). AHPRA also includes other national boards, such as the Medical Board and Dental Board.

The PBA is a fairly new entity. Before the PBA, the profession of psychology was regulated by separate state psychology boards (e.g., a NSW Psychology Board, a VIC Psychology Board etc.), some with slightly different registration requirements, making it a bit confusing if psychologists wanted to practice interstate.

As the PBA regulates the requirements to gain the title of Provisional Psychologist, General Psychologist and finally Clinical Neuropsychologist, to get the title of Clinical Neuropsychologist, students would ultimately want to primarily take note of the PBA requirements for endorsement. Probably the most helpful document pertaining to the PBA registrar program can be found here

The Australian Psychological Society (APS), does not regulate the registration of psychologists or the specialist titles, however it is the largest professional organisation that represents psychologists in Australia. More specifically the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (APS-CCN) is the section of the APS that represents the specialist area of Clinical Neuropsychology.

APS membership and APS-CCN membership are separate things. One can become a Full Member of the APS without being a Full Member of the more specific APS-CCN (though if an individual is a Full Member of the APS-CCN they are necessarily a Full Member of the more general APS). To become a Full Member of the APS one need to have completed six years of study in Psychology (i.e. be fully registered as a psychologist). To become a Full Member of the APS-CCN one needs to complete additional training similar, but not identical, to the PBA registrar program involving supervised practice. Probably the most helpful link pertaining to the APS-CCN Full Membership requirements can be found here