Please check out the comprehensive range of membership benefits and resources provided by the NZCCP.

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES FOR THE NZCCP

Psychologists may be affiliated with the College in the following ways. 

1. STUDENT MEMBER: Any student who is enrolled in a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology or a Doctor of Clinical Psychology course at a New Zealand university may apply to become a Student Member. Student membership is free of charge. To apply please go to NZCCP Student Membership application

2. ASSOCIATE MEMBER: There are two pathways by which a qualified clinical psychologist may join the NZCCP as an Associate Member:

• Upon newly qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist: Once a student has passed all academic requirements prescribed by their course for the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology or a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and has gained full registration they are eligible to become an Associate Member of the College. The qualification must be completed at an approved NZ institution. For overseas applicants the completed qualification must be first deemed equivalent by the NZCCP Board Of Membership and Professional Standards (BOMPS).
• As an experienced Clinical Psychologist: If a clinical psychologist holds an overseas qualification in clinical psychology and/or is unable to meet the supervision report requirement for Full Membership they may be invited to join the NZCCP as an Associate Member for a year prior to consideration for Full Membership. In this circumstance, if the clinical psychologist is required to have membership of a professional association by an employer or other agency, the NZCCP undertakes to provide a letter explaining the reasons for their current Associate Member status.

Follow this link for more information about the requirements and the application forms for joining the NZCCP as an Associate member.

• Associate members are required to have a New Zealand Post-graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology or a Doctor of Clinical Psychology, or an equivalent overseas qualification, and must have NZ Registration as a Psychologist in the Clinical Vocational Scope of Practice.
• Associate members are required to undertake a one year period of clinical practice closely supervised by a NZ registered Clinical Psychologist who belongs to a professional body themselves, has their own supervision in place and has experience of or a commitment to training in supervision. The supervision must be on individual (one on one) basis. 
• The membership fee for an Associate member is usually half the Full member fee. The maximum period an Associate can retain this reduced rate is two years, after which they will be levied at Full member rate irrespective of whether they have advanced to full membership or not.  

3. FULL MEMBER: Full members of the NZCCP must satisfy all the criteria to become an Associate Member and have a satisfactory NZCCP supervision report from an NZCCP approved supervisor (as described above) based on 12 months of clinical practice within the last three years. This report must be based on at least 20 contact sessions.

The intention of this one-year period of post-graduate supervision is to encourage and monitor the continuing development of skills in applying psychological principles, theory and knowledge to the client presenting for assistance with emotional, psychological, and behavioural difficulties. For overseas applicants the intention of the supervised year is for the purpose of assisting the applicant to generalise existing skills to the NZ setting.  The overseas applicants must demonstrate that they have been supervised by a NZ registered clinical psychologist for 12 months in the last 3 year period. 

Where an applicant for Member or Associate Member has undertaken supervision after qualifying as a clinical psychologist, but before applying for membership, the BOMPS may recognise all or part of this supervision as contributing to the supervision requirements if they are within the last three years.  

Follow this link for more information about the requirements and the application forms for joining the NZCCP as a Full member.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NZCCP MEMBERSHIP PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE NZCCP MEMBERS' HANDBOOK (2022)

For Overseas Applicants: 

1. The NZCCP membership application process requires 2 references from NZ psychologists who’ve known the applicant for 6 months or more. However this requirement is flexible for people who have recently arrived from overseas and may not know any NZ psychologists. If this is you and you have any queries about this please contact Caroline at office@nzccp.co.nz
2. Equivalence of qualifications earned outside of NZ is determined on a case by case basis. Being registered in the clinical scope with the NZ Psychologists Board is necessary, but NOT sufficient for admission to NZCCP. (The NZ Psychologist Board criteria are competency based, NZCCP criteria are qualification based). Please download and complete the NZCCP Qualifications Overseas form here and submit this with your application. 

Professional Indemnity: Members of the College can purchase membership of the Medical Protection Society (MPS), which provides access to legal advice and representation in the event of a hearing. Even working for organisations such as District Health Boards or the Department of Corrections does not mean they will protect you in the event of malpractice complaints. You have enduring coverage for events that happened in the entire time you paid MPS fees so in the case of a retroactive complaint many years after your retirement, for instance, you will be entitled to representation. Student members of the NZCCP are entitled to be covered by the MPS scheme at no cost. More information about MPS professional indemnity

To apply please complete and send the relevant application form to NZCCP at office@nzccp.co.nz

• Medical Protection Society (MPS) membership application form for NZCCP Full or Associate Members
• Medical Protection Society (MPS) Membership Application form for NZCCP Student Members

NZCCP also warmly invites members of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA) to enjoy many of the member benefits of NZCCP as part of the mutually supportive relationship between our two associations.  In addition to this, membership of NZCCP will be seamlessly extended to members of ACPA who come to live and practise in New Zealand. ACPA members can join NZCCP by simply submitting certified evidence of their membership of ACPA and receive the same level of membership as enjoyed with the ACPA, plus the added benefits of NZCCP membership.