Psychology is taught in a range of settings across Australia. Log on to the APAC website for a listing of more than 420 accredited courses across 40 higher education providers in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Psychologists throughout Australia are required to complete six years of education and training before being eligible for General registration to practice as a psychologist.

This can be achieved via a number of pathways, each of which requires as the first step a three-year undergraduate degree in psychology plus an accredited fourth (honours) year, both of which must be accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and approved by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA). These qualifications can be followed by:

• an accredited and approved postgraduate professional masters or doctoral degree, or
• an accredited and approved Graduate Diploma in professional psychology plus one year of PsyBA-approved supervised experience, or
• a two year PsyBA-approved internship.

For more information, see:

• Study pathways

Studies in psychology open up a world of opportunity. As well as a thorough understanding of human behaviour, and the factors that shape it, undergraduate psychology students will graduate with a set of skills and attributes that are highly regarded by employers and will give them the edge in a range of careers. These graduate attributes can be applied in many settings, according to an individual's interests and strengths. Many graduates of psychology find employment or continue their studies in fields such as community services and counselling, business, education, health services and protective services.

• Read more about graduate attributes and other careers.

Under APAC Rules & Accreditation Standards (Section 5.3.1), students who have successfully completed their fourth year have up to 10 years to apply for entry into a Master's degree. You can view the guidelines under the Standards and Guidelines section of the APAC website.

Yes, there are APAC-accredited psychology courses that can be completed by distance education, which can be found on the APAC website. Courses are listed by state, and those that have the option of distance education are indicated by a ^'1' next to the course name.

The easiest and quickest way to find out if your course is APAC-accredited is to search the accredited course listings on the APAC website.

Qualified psychologists bring unique skills that are highly-valued across a wide range of workplace settings. Demand for psychologists continues to grow in private practices, consulting firms, market research companies, recruitment firms, academic and applied research settings, universities, schools, hospitals, police forces, law courts, prisons, defence forces - the list goes on.

For more information, see:

• What does a psychologist do?
• Psychologists Stories
• Other careers with an undergraduate degree in psychology

No. Only those individuals who have obtained General registration with the Psychology Board of Australia can use the title 'psychologist'.

The Psychology Board of Australia recognises nine specialist fields of psychology, called areas of practice endorsement. Psychologists with General registration that have a recognised higher degree and advanced supervised practice (via Masters or Professional Doctorate pathway) in a particular area of practice can apply for an area of practice endorsement on their General registration. The nine areas of practice endorsement are:

• Clinical neuropsychology
• Clinical psychology
• Community psychology
• Counselling psychology
• Educational and developmental psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Health psychology
• Organisational psychology
• Sport and exercise psychology

For more information, see:

• Psychology Board of Australia website
• APS Colleges

The APS can help students and graduates get their career started on the right foot by delivering insights from leaders in the profession, opening doors to enable valuable contacts to be made, and by providing access to practical resources to supplement academic education.

By joining the APS you can make use of the expertise of psychologists already established in the fields that interest you. You will also be demonstrating your commitment to the discipline and profession of psychology, a step that will be highly regarded when you apply for postgraduate placements, internships, supervised placements and employment.

APS membership also provides exclusive benefits that can support you throughout study, internships and as you begin building a successful career, including:

• Networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities within a 20,000-strong community of APS members, including those in the local area in which you live
• An insider's view into the latest developments in the discipline and practice of psychology
• Accurate and timely updates on changes to education, training and registration requirements - all in one place
• Representation by a politically-active professional organisation that can help influence the future direction of psychology
• Insights from leaders across this diverse profession
• Access to practical resources to supplement your academic education
• Access to guidance and support during internships and paid employment

For more information, see:

• Student Subscriber benefits

There are several ways for members to engage and participate with the APS, including:

• Networking events and conferences
• Involvement with Branches, Colleges and Interest Groups

The APS is the peak professional body for psychologists in Australia, representing more than 20,000 members. The APS is committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and profession for the benefit of members and the communities they serve. This is achieved through the provision of member resources and services, advocacy, submissions and representation to government and other organisations.

The Psychology Board of Australia is the regulatory body for psychologists. It was established in 2010 and is responsible for the registration of psychologists in Australia. An individual must have General registration with the Psychology Board in order to practice as a psychologist anywhere in Australia.