PSI FAQ - About Section
General
What is PSI?
The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) is the learned
and professional body for the profession in Ireland , with the primary
object of advancing psychology as a pure and applied science in Ireland
and elsewhere. It has been in existence since 1970. The Society has
grown significantly since then and now has over 2000 members. The profession
of psychology is not regulated by statute in Ireland, and the Psychological
Society of Ireland initiated its own non-statutory register in 1988 to
promote high standards.
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What do we do?
PSI represents academic and professional psychology
in Ireland. The Society meets regularly with government agencies to represent
areas of concern for psychology and psychologists. PSI is a full member
of the European Federation of Psychology Associations and of the International
Union of Psychological Societies. Through these bodies, it represents
psychology on the European and world stages. Membership of these bodies
also helps us to keep psychology in Ireland informed of current thinking
in Europe and worldwide.
PSI aims to bring psychology to society and our objectives
are:
- To advance psychology as a pure and applied science in Ireland and
elsewhere.
- To advance psychology as a profession.
- To organise, promote and hold conferences on psychological topics.
- To organise and conduct or join in organising and conducting courses,
meetings, lectures, exhibitions and consultations at which members
of the Society may consider matters of mutual interest and benefit.
- To establish and monitor standards of ethical behaviour, competence
and practice within the profession.
The Society is regularly involved in the organisation
of scientific and professional conferences, such as the Annual Conference.
It also supports the Annual Congress of Psychology Students in Ireland,
with the cooperation of the Northern Ireland Branch of the British Psychological
Society.
PSI publishes a monthly newsletter, The Irish
Psychologist, and a refereed academic journal, The
Irish Journal of Psychology, which is published on a quarterly basis.
In order to publicise these and other activities, PSI provides an information
service for news media and the public through the External Relations Panel.
The Society has a number of Divisions and many other
areas of psychology are represented by interest groups. It also has
a number of committees and panels that undertake work on its behalf.
PSI also publishes the main Irish journal of professional psychology,
The Irish Journal of Psychology on a quarterly basis, as well
as its own 'house journal', the Irish Psychologist
(The IP), each month.
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How is the Society governed?
PSI is governed by its Council, which is composed of
elected and co-opted members of the Society.
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How do I obtain professional
indemnity insurance?
Insurance companies often request individuals in private practice to
be members of PSI in order to obtain professional indemnity insurance.
Psychologists seeking professional indemnity insurance may contact the
following companies:
Howden Insurance
Professional Indemnity can be provided to PSI members at very competitive rates through Howden Insurance.
Contact: +44 (0)113 251 5011
Psychologists Protection Society
Mr Sandy Murray, Administrator
Standalane House
Kincardine
Alloa
Clacks
Scotland FK10 4NX
Email: support@ppsweb.info
Tel: +44 1 259 730785
How do I make a
complaint against a member of PSI?
PSI takes very seriously any complaints about the professional
conduct of its members and has procedures for investigating complaints.
The procedures are designed to be fair to both the person making the complaint
and the psychologist against whom the complaint is made. (PSI cannot investigate
complaints about psychologists who are not members). PSI’s Board of
Professional Conduct is responsible for investigating these complaints.
In order to make a complaint about a psychologist, please
contact the PSI office or download the files below. You will be sent
a Formal Complaint Form which must be completed and signed (PSI only investigates
complaints that are made in writing and signed), a copy of the procedures
for investigating complaints and the rules of good practice which psychologists
must follow. Once completed, you return the forms to the PSI office
for the attention of the Chairperson of the Board of Professional Conduct.
Forms can be downloaded using the links below:
- Making a Formal Complaint Instructions
- Formal Complaint Form.
- Panel Hearing
- Coping with Complaints
- Advice to Psychologists
- Board of Professional Conduct
Articles of Association
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MEMBERSHIP
Why should I join PSI?
The Society is the learned and professional body for
the profession in Ireland, with the primary object of advancing psychology
as a pure and applied science in Ireland and elsewhere. PSI Members are
governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association and Code of Professional
Ethics of the Society. Membership brings with it many benefits.
- Option to join any of PSI numerous divisions (membership based on
qualification) and special interest groups to foster further interest
in different areas of psychology
- Members are governed and protected by The Society’s Code
of Ethics in carrying out their professional duties.
- Members have a number of Ancillary support services available to
them. Ancillary services are support services, professional and personal,
sourced by the PSI and available to all PSI members.
- Insurance companies often request individuals in private practice
to be members of PSI in order to obtain professional indemnity insurance.
- Representation – as the recognised professional body for
the profession in Ireland, the Society is regularly asked by Government
Departments to participate in and contribute to relevant fora.
- Members are entitled to substantially reduced fees at the PSI annual
conference.
- Members receive monthly issues of The Irish Psychologist –
the monthly magazine published in-house with psychology related features,
articles, events, advertisements and Society news.
- Members also receive a quarterly issue of The Irish Journal of
Psychology – the main academic Irish journal of professional
psychology
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How do I become
a member?
For further information, please visit the Membership
section of the site under About PSI
where application forms can be downloaded directly from Membership. Alternatively,
please send us an email to info@psihq.ie
and we can send you an application pack.
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How long does the application
process take?
All membership applications received by the Society
must be considered firstly by the Membership, Qualification, Registration
Committee (MQRC) and then by the Council of the Society. Both bodies usually
meet every four weeks, with meetings synchronised to allow for an efficient
yet meticulous application process. Therefore, the application process
for graduate membership can take up to six weeks (where all relevant documentation
is provided).
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What is involved in the
application procedure?
The Membership, Qualification, Registration Committee
scrutinises all new applications once a month. For MQRC meeting dates,
please contact the PSI office.
Once an application for membership is received in the
PSI office, the procedure is as follows:
- The application is checked to ensure that all relevant documentation
has been provided. Where documentation is incomplete, a notice will
be sent to the applicant, informing him/her of what is outstanding.
If an application is incomplete, it cannot be passed to MQRC and further
action on an application will not occur until the required documentation
is provided.
- Once an application has been considered and approved by MQRC, the
application must be ratified by Council. Following the Council meeting,
the applicant will receive a letter of acceptance for the relevant
membership category along with a Prescribed Declaration.
- In order to activate PSI membership and be added to the Society’s
mailing list, a new member must sign and return the Prescribed Declaration,
confirming that he/she will abide by the Code of Ethics of the Society.
Any outstanding membership fees for the year must also be returned
with the Prescribed Declaration. Membership will date from the day
that the signed Prescribed Declaration and the fee are received in
the PSI office.
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Do I have to send an application
fee with my membership application?
Yes. A scrutiny fee is payable for each membership application.
The scrutiny fees are as follows:
| Student Subscribership |
€25 (No further fee is due on acceptance of
membership. ) |
| Graduate Membership |
€100 (If an application is accepted, this is
deducted from the first year’s membership fees) |
| Graduate Membership |
€60 (If in first three years post graduation or in full-time
postgraduate study) |
| Registered Membership |
€150 (This is a once-off fee. Fee for
subsequent year of Registered Membership is €55 p.a. ) |
| Associate Fellowship |
€150 (Once-off fee) |
| Fellowship |
€150 (Once-off fee) |
| Lapsed Membership |
Scrutiny fee is dependent on the type of
membership which has lapsed, e.g. a lapsed Student Subscriber pays
€40, a lapsed Graduate Member €100 etc. |
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Are there different
levels of membership within the Society?
Student
Subscribership
Student Subscribership is a category of membership of PSI which is available
only to registered students on approved third-level Degree or Diploma
courses in Psychology.
Applicants are requested to note that acceptance of
a candidate for Student Subscribership of the Society does not automatically
confer eligibility for Graduate Membership of that Society. As a Student
Subscriber, you will receive access to a monthly bulletin (The Irish
Psychologist), a quarterly scientific journal (The Irish Journal of
Psychology) and regular details of Psychology news, lectures, meetings
(e.g. The Annual Congress of Students of Psychology in Ireland) and
social events. Reductions in fees to the PSI Annual Conference and other
meetings are also available to Student Subscribers.
Student Subscribership is available only to people
who are not eligible for Graduate Membership: You cannot be a Student
Subscriber if you possess an honours degree or equivalent in Psychology
from a recognised institution. If you are unsure of your eligibility,
please provide full details of any qualifications in Psychology which
you have already obtained. To apply, please download the application
form here or email at info@psihq.ie
for an application pack.
Student Subscriber Application Form
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Graduate Membership
The minimum qualification for Graduate Membership is an honours degree
recognised by the Council in which psychology is a main subject or a
post-graduate award in psychology recognised by the Council or such
equivalent qualification as the Council may from time to time determine.
Applications for Graduate Membership from outside the
State shall be considered by Council on an individual basis.
Full time post-graduate students are eligible for a
reduced rate. Please ses the Graduate Member form for more details.
Graduate Membership of the Society is not a professional
qualification and cannot be cited as such. To apply, please download
the application form here
or email info@psihq.ie for an application
pack.
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Registered
Membership
With effect from 1st June 2009, an entrant to the register must be a Graduate Member of the Society, and must hold
(i) an accredited postgraduate professional qualification in psychology or equivalent and four years experience inclusive of any time spent undertaking the postgraduate qualification;
or
(ii) a research doctoral degree in psychology in which the thesis was clearly on a psychological topic and both a research supervisor and an examiner were identifiable as psychologists.
Those whose names are included on the Register shall use the designation Registered Psychologist of the Psychological Society of Ireland, or use after their name the abbreviation Reg. Psychol., Ps.S.I. in any appropriate professional context including personal notices or advertisements.
If you are not a member of PSI, you can apply for Graduate
Membership and Registered Membership at the same time. The application
for Graduate Membership will be considered first. Once passed, the application
for Registered Membership will then be scrutinised by the Membership,
Qualifications, and Registration Committee. Those whose names are included
on the Register shall use the designation Registered Psychologist of
the Psychological Society of Ireland, or use after their name the abbreviation
Reg. Psychol. , Ps.S.I. in any appropriate professional context including
personal notices or advertisements. To apply for Registered Membership,
please download the application form here
or email at info@psihq.ie for an
application pack. When applying for Registered Membership you will be
required to provide evidence of qualifications as well as supervisor’s
reports which must be signed by the relevant supervisor.
In addition to the above categories of membership,
Graduate Members may apply for Associate Fellowship. Associate Fellowship
is not a category of membership but rather may be cited as a professional
qualification while the Associate Fellow is a member of the Society.
If a member has been an Associate Fellow for at least three consecutive
years, he/she may be eligible for Fellowship of PSI. Fellowship may
be cited as a professional qualification while the Fellow is a member
of the Society.
Please see below for further details.
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Associate
Fellowship
An applicant for Associate Fellowship must be a Graduate Member of the
Society and shall in addition satisfy the Council that he/she is professionally
competent and has at least four years relevant wholetime experience,
or an equivalent period part-time, in work in the area of psychology.
An application for Associate Fellowship must be signed
by two Fellows or Associate Fellows who may be required to attest that
the applicant meets the requirements for Associate Fellowship. A list
of current Associate Fellows and Fellows is available in the Members
Section of the site.
Associate Fellowship may be cited as a professional
qualification while the Associate Fellow is a member of the Society
and the prescribed abbreviations to indicate Associate Fellowship are
A.F.Ps.S.I.
Once a member has been an Associate Fellow of the Society for a period
of not less than three consecutive years, he/she is eligible to apply/be
nominated for Fellowship of the Society. To apply, please download the
application form here
or email at info@psihq.ie for an
application pack.
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Fellowship
If a member has been an Associate Fellow for at least three consecutive
years, he/she may be eligible for Fellowship of PSI.
An applicant/nominee for Fellowship shall in addition
satisfy the Council that he/she has
At least ten years professional experience in psychology,
and either (a) has made a substantial contribution to the Society (b)
he/she possesses superior knowledge and skills, or (c) he/she has made
an important contribution to the advancement of psychological knowledge,
or (d) he/she has made an important contribution to the advancement
of the practice of psychology.
Nominations for Fellowship may be made to Council,
where two Fellows or Associate Fellows are of the opinion that another
Associate Fellow fulfils the conditions set out above. The Council may
admit to Fellowship such eligible applicants or nominees as it deems
fit. To apply, please download the application form here
or email at info@psihq.ie for an
application pack.
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Fees
When are membership
fees due?
PSI membership fees are due in January each year. The membership
year runs from January 1st to December 31st . Invoices will be issued
to members in November each year. Fees are normally due by 31st March
each year. Members shall cease to be members if their fees are three
months overdue and will have to reapply for membership.
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Are reduced fees
available?
In certain circumstances, a reduced fee can apply. Anyone
wishing to be considered for a reduced fee must apply for same in writing.
In order to qualify for a reduced fee, some proof of income is required.
Employment – If you are in employment, a P45 or
P60 relating to the last tax year must be produced as proof of income.
If that is not available, a letter from your employer stating the
normal hours worked per week and earnings for last tax year will suffice.
Self employment - If you are self-employed,
details of the nature of self-employment, i.e. is it private practice,
singly or with others, referrals received from whom. Again, proof
of income is required, i.e. a copy of certified tax-return outlining
net income for the last tax year.
Unemployed - If you are not working, you
are required to provide proof of same. If on a career break or unpaid
leave from an employer, a letter from your employer to this effect is
required. If previously self-employed and now not working, tax return
to show no declared income for that year or a letter from your accountant
to that effect will suffice.
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Working in Ireland
If I
have obtained my qualifications abroad, what do I need to do in order
to work in Ireland ?
Applicants holding qualifications gained outside of the
Republic of Ireland (including those gained in Northern Ireland and the
United Kingdom) must apply directly to the Department of Health and Children
for validation of their qualification.
The contact details for the Department are:
validation_unit@health.irlgov.ie
Tel: +353 (01) 635 4580.
or Tel +353 (01) 635 4726
PSI has been requested by the Department of Health and Children to scrutinise
applications for statements of equivalence from individuals who trained
outside of Ireland. This includes applicants who hold qualifications recognised
or accredited by other psychological societies including the British Psychological
Society. The Minister for Health and Children is the designated authority
with the responsibility for validating non-national qualifications under
EU Directive 89/48. The Society, following scrutiny of a non-national
application, will advise the Department of Health and Children in relation
to the application. The final decision regarding an application for validation
rests with the Department of Health and Children. All enquiries and applications must be made to the Department of Health and Children.
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