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General FAQs

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?

The following websites provide a comprehensive explanation of psychology and careers in psychology.

Refer to Ministry of Community Development and Sports (Singapore) for complete information about other careers in the community and social service sector in Singapore.

OFF-SHORE /DISTANCE LEARNING PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAMS

  • Are off-shore psychology programs accredited?
    A: by the Singapore Psychological Society (SPS)
    The Singapore Psychological Society does not and has not accredited any offshore psychology programs that are conducted in Singapore. Several local companies have falsely claimed that the Singapore Psychological Society accredits their offshore psychology programs. One such company was asked to publish a Notice of Apology to the SPS for falsely claiming that their offshore psychology programme is accredited by the SPS ( The Straits Times , January 31, 2001, page C25).B: by the Singapore Government
    The following are excerpts of a letter written by Dr. John Lim, Director, Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Singapore (“Check Courses before enrolling”, The Straits Times, Forum , January 21, 2000) 

    • “There is no government authority in Singapore which assesses or grants recognition to degrees”
    • “Foreign institutions offering courses and the institutions’ local agents are responsible for all aspects of their programmes. It is advisable for students interested in taking up such courses to find out as much as possible about the courses from the institutions, or agents, before enrolling in them”.

    For more information, refer to the:

    C: by the professional psychology bodies in the countries of the universities
    Some offshore psychology programs offered by Australian universities are fully accredited by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). You should ask the local companies conducting these offshore psychology programs about their APS accreditation status. Please ask the company to show you copies of the APS accreditation letters if they said that their offshore programme is accredited. However, you must make sure that the accreditation is for the offshore psychology programs. In certain cases, the psychology programme completed entirely in Australia is accredited by the APS but the corresponding offshore psychology programme conducted entirely in Singapore is not accredited by the APS.

    You may wish to check the APS list of accredited courses – Australian Psychological Society

    Off-shore psychology programs offered by British universities: Please check the list of courses accredited by the British Psychological Society http://www.bps.org.uk

  • Can I apply for SPS membership after I complete my off-shore psychology programme?
    The Singapore Psychological Society will accept offshore psychology degrees as qualifications for applying for SPS membership only if the offshore psychology programs are fully accredited by the appropriate professional psychology bodies (e.g., Australian Psychological Society, British Psychological Society).
  • Can I apply for admission to a Master or postgraduate programme with my off-shore psychology degree?
    You must check with the particular university to find out if they would accept your offshore psychology degree.
  • Would employers in Singapore recognize my off-shore psychology qualifications?
    Individual private sector employers in Singapore decide if they would recognize the offshore psychology qualifications. You must check with the individual employers.
  • Would government ministries or agencies in Singapore recognize my off-shore psychology qualifications?
    You must check with the particular government ministry or agency. Government ministries and agencies have their own criteria for evaluating offshore psychology qualifications.

ARE PSYCHOLOGY DEGREES THAT ARE COMPLETED OVERSEAS RECOGNISED BY THE SPS?

The Singapore Psychological Society will accept psychology degrees as qualifications for applying for SPS membership only if the psychology programs are fully accredited by the appropriate agencies.

HOW DO I BECOME A PSYCHOLOGIST IN SINGAPORE?

  • How do I apply for a license to practise as a psychologist in Singapore?
    At present, there is no official statutory regulation of the practice of psychology in Singapore. Therefore, it is not COMPULSORY for you to be licensed or registered with a government agency or professional board to practise as a psychologist.
    In the absence of governmental regulation of the practice of psychology, the Singapore Psychological Society has implemented a register of psychologists who are professional qualified and providing psychological services. The Singapore Register of Psychologists is to ensure that consumer interest is better served. Although psychologists providing psychological services are encouraged to apply to be listed on the Singapore Register of Psychologists , it is not a legal requirement to be listed on the Singapore Register of Psychologists in order to practise as a psychologist in Singapore.
  • How do I apply for a job as a psychologist?
    The Singapore Psychological Society regrets that it is not able to help individuals to secure employment as psychologists in Singapore or elsewhere. The SPS apologizes to the individuals who have written to the Society to ask for help in looking for jobs as psychologists. You may wish to check the Employment Bulletin on the SPS website, the Straits Times, or individual government ministry websites for job advertisements.
  • Must I join the SPS to practise as a psychologist in Singapore?
    You are encouraged to join the SPS if you are working as a psychologist in Singapore. The SPS is the only professional society for psychologists in Singapore.
  • Would employers in Singapore recognize my psychology qualifications?
    Individual private sector employers in Singapore decide if they would recognize the psychology qualifications. You must check with the individual employers
  • Would government ministries or agencies in Singapore recognize my psychology qualifications?
    You must check with the particular government ministry or agency. Government ministries and agencies have their own criteria for evaluating psychology qualifications.

For more information, refer to the:

MY SPS MEMBERSHIP HAS LAPSED. HOW DO I APPLY TO REINSTATE MY SPS MEMBERSHIP?

Individuals whose membership has lapsed may re-apply and will have an initial opportunity to reinstate their membership by paying their dues for the current year and the normal application fees. Membership will then be deemed to have commenced from the date of reinstatement.

Subsequent to this, further non-payment will require the lapsed member to pay dues for the period of lapsed membership as well as the current dues.

Members are advised it is their personal responsibility to update their postal addreses with the society so that a situation of lapsed membership does not arise. A termination of the membership will be effected following 2 consecutive years’ non-payment of membership dues.

(Procedures for reinstatement of membership was approved by the members at the SPS AGM on March 29, 2000).

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