Compare pathways

Seven routes to becoming a psychologist

Clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, health, occupational, and sport and exercise psychology are each regulated by the HCPC and each has its own training route. Compare them here, then plan your own route to the next gate.

Plan my route See all deadlines

Clinical psychology
Qualify through a three-year Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy). Most places in England are salaried NHS trainee posts, applied for through the Clearing House.
Training
3-year DClinPsy²
How you apply
Clearing House, once a year²
2026 entry
6,236 applicants for 1,133 places²
18 Nov 2026: DClinPsy applications close¹
About clinical psychology
Counselling psychology
Qualify through an HCPC-approved professional doctorate in counselling psychology. The BPS Qualification in Counselling Psychology (QCoP) is not taking enrolments while it is reviewed.
Training
HCPC-approved doctorate²
BPS QCoP
Enrolments on hold¹
Funding
Usually paid by the trainee; check each course²
Rolling: Doctorate applications²
About counselling psychology
Educational psychology
In England, qualify through a three-year doctorate with tuition paid by the Department for Education, applied for centrally through the AEP. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own funded doctorates.
Training
3-year doctorate¹
Funded places (England, 2027)
239 across 12 providers¹
First-year bursary
£16,266 (£16,715 London)¹
11 Nov 2026: Educational psychology doctorate applications close (England)¹
About educational psychology
Forensic psychology
After GBC, complete a BPS-accredited MSc in Forensic Psychology (Stage 1), then Stage 2 through the BPS Qualification in Forensic Psychology (QFP) or an HCPC-approved doctorate, usually while employed in a trainee post.
Stage 1
BPS-accredited MSc¹
Stage 2 (QFP)
2 to 4 years supervised practice¹
QFP enrolment
Four deadlines a year¹
11 Jan 2027: BPS QFP enrolment deadline¹
About forensic psychology
Health psychology
After GBC, complete a BPS-accredited MSc in Health Psychology (Stage 1), then Stage 2 through the BPS Qualification in Health Psychology (QHP) or an HCPC-approved doctorate. NHS Scotland funds trainee posts.
Stage 1
BPS-accredited MSc¹
Stage 2
BPS QHP or HCPC-approved doctorate^1,2
Scotland
Salaried NES trainee posts³
About health psychology
Occupational psychology
After GBC, complete a BPS-accredited MSc (Stage 1), then the BPS Qualification in Occupational Psychology (QOP) with a Co-ordinating Supervisor. Many people work in business psychology without the protected title.
Stage 1
BPS-accredited MSc¹
Stage 2 (QOP)
2 to 4 years supervised practice¹
Big employers
DWP, MoJ, MoD and other government departments²
Rolling: BPS QOP enrolment¹
About occupational psychology
Sport and exercise psychology
Two HCPC-approved Stage 2 routes: the BPS Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP), which needs GBC and a BPS-accredited MSc, and the CASES SEPAR route, which suits many sport science graduates.
Stage 2 routes
BPS QSEP or CASES SEPAR^1,2
QSEP enrolment
Open all year¹
SEPAR
HCPC-approved³
Rolling: BPS QSEP enrolment¹
About sport and exercise psychology
Not sure which?
Pick a pathway and your stage and see your gates, your next deadline and a checklist.
Plan my route

Side by side

Gates, in order, for each pathway

A gate is a requirement you have to clear before the next step. Scroll sideways on a phone to see every column.

Gates, key facts and next dates for the seven UK practitioner psychology pathways
Pathway	Key facts	Gates, in order	Next date	Protected title
Clinical psychology	Training 3-year DClinPsy² How you apply Clearing House, once a year² 2026 entry 6,236 applicants for 1,133 places²	GBC⁴ Relevant experience⁵ DClinPsy application¹ Doctorate, then HCPC³	18 Nov 2026DClinPsy applications close¹	Clinical psychologist
Counselling psychology	Training HCPC-approved doctorate² BPS QCoP Enrolments on hold¹ Funding Usually paid by the trainee; check each course²	GBC⁴ Counselling skills and helping experience² Doctorate application² Doctorate, then HCPC²	No fixed dateDoctorate applications²	Counselling psychologist
Educational psychology	Training 3-year doctorate¹ Funded places (England, 2027) 239 across 12 providers¹ First-year bursary £16,266 (£16,715 London)¹	GBC⁴ Work with children and young people¹ Doctorate application¹ Doctorate, then HCPC¹	11 Nov 2026Educational psychology doctorate applications close (England)¹	Educational psychologist
Forensic psychology	Stage 1 BPS-accredited MSc¹ Stage 2 (QFP) 2 to 4 years supervised practice¹ QFP enrolment Four deadlines a year¹	GBC⁴ Accredited MSc (Stage 1)¹ Stage 2 enrolment^1,5 Supervised practice, then HCPC¹	11 Jan 2027BPS QFP enrolment deadline¹	Forensic psychologist
Health psychology	Stage 1 BPS-accredited MSc¹ Stage 2 BPS QHP or HCPC-approved doctorate^1,2 Scotland Salaried NES trainee posts³	GBC⁵ Accredited MSc (Stage 1)¹ Stage 2^1,2,3 Supervised practice, then HCPC⁴	Check the course page	Health psychologist
Occupational psychology	Stage 1 BPS-accredited MSc¹ Stage 2 (QOP) 2 to 4 years supervised practice¹ Big employers DWP, MoJ, MoD and other government departments²	GBC⁴ Accredited MSc (Stage 1)¹ Stage 2 (QOP)¹ HCPC registration³	No fixed dateBPS QOP enrolment¹	Occupational psychologist
Sport and exercise psychology	Stage 2 routes BPS QSEP or CASES SEPAR^1,2 QSEP enrolment Open all year¹ SEPAR HCPC-approved³	Psychology grounding^1,2 MSc in sport and exercise psychology^1,2 Stage 2^1,2 HCPC registration⁴	No fixed dateBPS QSEP enrolment¹	Sport and exercise psychologist

Routes are changing while the BPS reforms its Stage 2 qualifications, so check the linked sources before you commit. Last checked 5 Nov 2026.

Sources by pathway

Clinical psychology

Counselling psychology

Educational psychology

Forensic psychology

Health psychology

Occupational psychology

Sport and exercise psychology

Forensic psychology programmes Counselling and psychotherapy routes Career guides Official links

Seven routes to becoming a psychologist

The seven pathways

Clinical psychology

Counselling psychology

Educational psychology

Forensic psychology

Health psychology

Occupational psychology

Sport and exercise psychology

Not sure which?

Gates, in order, for each pathway

Sources by pathway

Clinical psychology

Counselling psychology

Educational psychology

Forensic psychology

Health psychology

Occupational psychology

Sport and exercise psychology