Clinical psychologist : Training

The majority of those accepted on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology course are employed as trainee clinical psychologists through the National Health Service (NHS) (see NHS Careers ).

Training in your first post will be mainly on the job and will include a range of short courses.

Further study is encouraged and once you have qualified there are opportunities to move into different specialisms, such as clinical neuropsychology on completion of the Division of Neuropsychology Membership Qualification or forensic psychology on completion of the Diploma in Forensic Psychology.

Upon qualification, and as soon as their services are offered to the public, chartered clinical psychologists are obliged by the British Psychological Society (BPS)  to take part in continuing professional development (CPD) in order to maintain occupational competence in their specialist area.

In addition to general CPD, clinical psychologists may also be required by the relevant division of their society to undertake a further training each year in their specialist area,