Registry regulation won’t be in force until 2021

Anyone can claim to be a psychologist regardless of training

The healthcare regulator says it does not know when a register of psychologists will be established, despite the Department of Health saying the process of regulating a profession would usually be completed within the time spent on it so far — meaning it could be 2021 at the earliest before it comes into effect.

As it stands, anyone can call themselves a psychologist regardless of their level of education or training, prompting fears that vulnerable and unsuspecting members of the public could seek help from people with no qualifications.