Membership

The Division always welcomes new members. If you would like to join the Division please complete either a full membership form or an affiliate membership form. If you have any queries regarding membership of the Division, please contact the membership secretary Karen Keogh (karen.keogh@sjog.ie)

Full Membership

The current full membership fee of the Division of health psychology is 20euro. To become a full member of the Division of Health psychology, you must satisfy the criteria as set out below.

Affiliate Membership

If you are ineligible to become a full member of the Division of health psychology, you may be eligible to become an affiliate member.

1. Affiliate membership of the Division of Health Psychology is open to graduate PSI members or other subscribers of the Society who fulfil one of the following conditions:
(a) Currently studying a relevant postgraduate training course in the area of Health Psychology.
(b) Currently engaged in an area of work related to Health Psychology recognised for this purpose by the Division Committee.

Full Membership Criteria

Health Psychology is an area of applied psychology concerned with the behavioural and psychological aspects of the promotion, improvement, and maintenance of health. The full ambit of health psychology is represented in the Society's Guidelines for the Accreditation of Postgraduate Professional Training Courses in Health Psychology, which were ratified by Council in June 2001.

Membership of the Division of Health Psychology does not imply entitlement to consideration for employment to a post designated as 'Health Psychologist'. Such an entitlement will normally be based on the formal recognition for this purpose by the Society of a candidate's qualifications (for example, as described in the Minister for Health and Children's 2002 declaration on qualifications required for employment in the health services).

Accordingly, for graduate members of the Society who do not hold a postgraduate professional qualification in Health Psychology recognised by the Council of the Society, the following rules will determine eligibility for Full Membership of the Division of Health Psychology. The Division Committee reserves the right to amend these criteria from time to time.

1. The Division Committee shall recognise Graduate Members of the Society who hold a Statement of Equivalence/Validation of Non-National Qualifications for the Office of Psychologist in Community Care, Designated Area: Health Psychology, as eligible for Full Membership of the Division.

2. For a period of two years after the date of the establishment of the Division, the Division Committee will recognise the following 'grandparenting' arrangements:

2.1. Graduate Members of the Society who are determined by the Division Committee to meet the requirements for a Statement of Equivalence/Validation of Non-National Qualifications for the Office of Psychologist in Community Care, Designated Area: Health Psychology, shall be deemed eligible for Full Membership of the Division.

2.2. Graduate Members of the Society who are determined by the Division Committee to demonstrate competence with regard to Health Psychology in three of the following five areas shall be deemed eligible for Full Membership of the Division.

2.2.1. Competence in professional work. The ability to implement and maintain systems for professional standards in professional practice, to foster self-development, and to provide psychologically-informed advice and guidance to others, including non-psychologists.

2.2.2. Competence in consultancy. The use of health psychology knowledge and skills with two types of clients, in the systematic maintenance or improvement of human health and healthcare. Clients can be individuals (including health professionals) or groups/organisations.

2.2.3. Competence in research. The ability to conduct independent, empirical research of publishable quality, incorporating the critical review of the research literature, the collection and analysis of data, and the interpretation of results.

2.2.4. Competence in teaching/training. The use of a range of teaching methods with two types of students, one of which must be health professionals.

2.2.5. Other relevant competences. Other competences presented by an applicant will be considered by the Division Committee. The onus will be on the applicant to demonstrate the relevance of the competence(s) cited.

Documented evidence of each competence cited will be required. An application for Full Membership under these grandparenting arrangements will be independently evaluated by three appointees of the Division Committee. A majority decision will be required for the applicant to be deemed eligible for Full Membership.

2.3. In recognition of the fact that no postgraduate training course in health psychology existed in Ireland prior to 1994, Graduate Members of the Society who hold a doctoral level qualification in an area determined by the Division Committee to constitute Health Psychology, and who commenced study (i.e., were officially registered) for that doctorate prior to 1994, shall be deemed eligible for Full Membership of the Division. The determination of the relevance of doctoral research will be based on consideration of the subject matter referred to in the Society's Guidelines for the Accreditation of Postgraduate Professional Training Courses in Health Psychology.

Note: These grandparenting arrangements will be invoked for a period not exceeding two years after the date of the establishment of the Division (i.e., not after November, 2005).

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