Provisional registration

You’ll need provisional registration to complete one of these supervised practice pathways to general registration as a psychologist:

• 5+1 internship program 
• Higher degree 
• The 4+2 internship program. This pathway closed to new applications on 30 June 2022. Provisional psychologists undertaking this pathway must apply for general registration before this pathway retires. For information on the hard retirement deadlines see the 4+2 retirement page.

Provisional registration is also required for those completing a transitional program (for overseas-qualified applicants seeking psychology registration in Australia) or a return-to-practice program (for those who have taken a long break from psychological practice).

Requirements for provisional registration

The requirements for provisional registration are set out in the Provisional registration standard.

Before applying for provisional registration, ensure you are familiar with the obligations and responsibilities of provisional psychologists, including our registration standards, the code of ethics, and applicable guidelines and policies. You must meet the requirements set out in the following registration standards when you apply for provisional registration:

• Provisional registration standard
• Criminal history registration standard - you must declare all criminal history including spent convictions and overseas criminal history when you apply for registration; Ahpra will conduct criminal history checks
• English language skills registration standard - you must provide evidence of your English language competency; this applies to all registration applicants including Australian applicants
• Recency of practice registration standard – note that if you completed an approved program of study (e.g. undergraduate psychology degree) within the last five years you automatically meet the standard
• Professional indemnity insurance arrangements registration standard - you must declare that you will meet the requirements of the standard. 

Applying for provisional registration

You can apply online for provisional registration when you have completed an accredited four-year sequence of study in psychology and wish to start your fifth year in either the 5+1 internship or higher degree pathway. 

You will need to choose your pathway for further training before submitting your online application because you will need to select the fifth-year program and education provider you will be training at.

Easy steps to apply online 

1. Create your account using the online services portal
2. Select your training pathway
3. Upload your documents and pay the required fees. You need to make sure you have provided all required documentation to prove you’ve met the registration standards, including certified copies of your photo ID.
4. Wait for your education provider to provide your fourth-year results and evidence of enrolment in a fifth-year program to Ahpra.

Once we are satisfied that you have met all the requirements for provisional registration, we will finalise your application. 

When you are registered, we will publish your name to the Register of practitioners. 

Fees for provisional registration can be found on the schedule of fees.

Renewing provisional registration

Provisional registration is granted for one year from the date your application is approved. You will need to renew each year while undertaking your supervised practice program (e.g. a higher degree or an internship). We will send you an email reminder when it is time to renew. To ensure you get these reminders, add Ahpra to your safe senders list in your email account.

It is your responsibility to ensure you renew on time. If you do not renew and your provisional registration expires, you will have to reapply for provisional registration and you will not be able to undertake your internship or any placements within your degree until your provisional registration is in place.

Provisional registration cannot be renewed more than twice. If you don’t finish your degree or internship within three years, you’ll need to make a new application for provisional registration. We recommend lodging your application at least two months before your expiry date to ensure your study or internship is not disrupted. You won’t incur any application fees, you’ll just pay the annual provisional registration fee (so it’s the same cost as renewing).

Further information

Refer to the Board’s registration standards, guidelines and policies and relevant Fact sheets and FAQ.