A European Framework for Psychologists' Training

FORMAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS - NETHERLANDS

The title. The disappearance of the general title of psychologist in 1993 led the NIP to deposit the label of 'NIP Psychologist' under the law on trade marks. NIP members are eligible to this title when they have obtained the "doctorandus" degree in psychology (equivalent to an MA) and have had a minimum of nine months practical experience. The label of NIP Psychologist as an indicator of and academically trained and qualified psychologist has rapidly gained acceptance both within the profession, with various agencies, and even with the general public.

The law. The protection of the title of psychologist was regulated in 1971 as part of the Law on Scientific Education. During a period of deregulation the Ministry of Education decided to have the title abolished. Despite fierce opposition from the NIP this happened in 1993 with the introduction of the Law on Higher Education and Scientific Research. The new law only upholds the title of 'doctorandus' (Master of Arts/Science) for anyone with a completed university study. The curricula for most programs of study have a nominal duration of four years, although students usually take longer. Outside the area of health care there are no legal restrictions on labelling oneself as a psychologist and practicing as such. Gross forms of malpractice are a criminal offence, but only under general terms of law that hold for all members of the society. These terms make it difficult to demonstrate malpractice. In the field of health there is a general title Health Care Psychologist that can be obtained via internships and supervised training. The same goes for the title of Psychotherapist. A specialist title of Clinical Psychologist is foreseen in a recent law on health care professions (Wet BIG) that will require longer training. In practice the qualification NIP Psychologist (granted to NIP members with a Master's degree and nine months of professional experience) is becoming a general title for all qualified psychologists.

Specialist education and training. Under a new law psychologists working in institutions for Health Care have a protected title, which is obtained through professional training programs after university study. A specialist title [Clinical Psychologist] is foreseen in the law, the terms of which are currently being negotiated with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. However, access to this professional field is severely restricted as a trainee is virtually required to go through an internship in a health care institution, and only a very limited number of training positions (well below replacement rate) are made available. In other professional fields, such as educational and organisational psychology professional training is less clearly defined and usually of shorter duration. There are a number of initiatives in various fields to arrive at regulations for recognition based on professional training and experience. The NIP plays a co-ordinating role in these activities through its "Central College for Post-University Training".

Post-university professional training is not well regulated. In the division of health care of the NIP, standards for training programs have been drawn up in co-operative efforts including professors of clinical psychology of various university departments. Advanced academic courses as well as supervision on the job are part of such arrangements. Nevertheless, standards of professional training are quite high as the current members of the profession who control the access of newcomers tend to be quite anxious to maintain strict standards. The diplomas awarded for the various training programs are much sought after, since most institutions will only employ qualified psychologists. Also, insurance companies tend to pay only for the services of psychotherapists and clinical psychologists with recognised post- university training and experience.

In other fields of psychology the self-regulation by groups of professionals is less well developed. For example, in the field of training there is a register with prescribed standards of qualification. However, as yet there are no general standards for qualification as a work- and organisation psychologist. Since many years the NIP has maintained a register of clinical psychologists, the entry to which was carefully guarded by a committee, that examined the professional and experiential qualifications of candidates. Although presently there is a state of flux, it is to be expected that a differentiated set of registers will emerge for various fields of practice and, perhaps, various qualifications (such as a Certificate in Psychodiagnostics).

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