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Admission to the Profession of Psychologist and the Acquisition of Certification for Independent Practice

  • Asociația Română de Psihologie Clinică
  • Apr 9
  • 6 min read

Updated: Apr 14

For many psychology students, the question ‘What comes after graduation?’ arises as early as the first years of study. University education provides the theoretical and methodological foundation necessary for understanding psychological processes; however, the practice of psychology as a profession in Romania entails the completion of a clearly regulated professional pathway. This pathway includes obtaining certification for independent practice, undertaking a period of professional supervision, and the continuous development of the competencies required for the exercise of the profession.



This article aims to provide a clear perspective on admission to the profession of psychologist and professional certification at the level of practitioner psychologist under supervision—the initial stage of specialization in clinical psychology.
This article aims to provide a clear perspective on admission to the profession of psychologist and professional certification at the level of practitioner psychologist under supervision—the initial stage of specialization in clinical psychology.

The activity of psychologists is regulated at the national level by the Colegiul Psihologilor din România (CPR), the institution responsible for establishing the organizational and professional framework for the practice of psychology with the right to independent practice (https://copsi.ro). The CPR ensures compliance with professional standards, evaluates the competencies of candidates, and monitors the professional development of psychologists throughout their careers.


  • Admission to the profession of psychologist is achieved exclusively through obtaining the certification for independent practice issued by the CPR, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable legislation


  • The certification or recognition of the right to independent practice in psychology, in any of the professional specialties, within the territory of Romania, is granted exclusively by the Colegiul Psihologilor din România


Graduates of undergraduate programs in psychology, as well as individuals holding equivalent qualifications recognized in accordance with the law, may apply for membership in the Colegiul Psihologilor din România and for the acquisition of certification for independent practice. For this purpose, candidates are required to follow the specific professional certification procedure established by the CPR.


The Commission for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (the Clinical Commission) establishes the certification procedures for the professional specialties of clinical psychology, psychological counseling, and psychotherapy. A psychologist certified by the Colegiul Psihologilor din România in the field of clinical psychology is referred to as a clinical psychologist.



Admission to the Profession of Psychologist




The first step in gaining admission to the profession of psychologist consists in fulfilling the educational and administrative criteria established by the Colegiul Psihologilor din România (CPR).


  • This includes holding a bachelor’s degree in psychology or an equivalent qualification obtained from an accredited higher education institution, either in Romania or abroad, recognized or deemed equivalent in accordance with the applicable legislation. This degree certifies the fundamental academic training in the field of psychology and constitutes the basis for entry into the profession.


  • The documents required for the professional certification file—Level I, practitioner psychologist under supervision, specialty in clinical psychology—can be consulted in Annex 1A (approved during the CPR Board meeting of 07.11.2021 and published in the Official Gazette on 19.11.2021), available in the section “Files / Content of Professional Files” (https://copsi.ro/index.php/depunere-dosare). The application for obtaining certification for independent practice can be downloaded from the CPR website, in the section “Files / Useful Documents for the Submission of Professional Files”.


  • The fee for obtaining certification for independent practice (https://copsi.ro/index.php/taxe-profesionale) is 300 RON and may be paid into the following bank accounts: RO46 RZBR 0000 0600 1635 0758 – Raiffeisen Bank, Brâncoveanu Branch, or RO50 BREL 0002 0001 6813 0100 – Libra Internet Bank. For certain categories of applicants, the fee is reduced to 150 RON; this reduction applies to individuals who can provide proof of disability status, former political prisoners, or recent graduates

  • The submission of the professional file to the Colegiul Psihologilor din România is carried out exclusively online. The file must be submitted in .pdf format, and all required documents must be included in a single continuous document, organized in a clear and legible manner. Compliance with this administrative requirement facilitates the evaluation and verification process. For the Bucharest territorial branch (as well as the territorial branches of Brăila, Buzău, Călărași, Ialomița, Tulcea, and Vrancea), the file must be sent to dosareprofesionalezona1@copsi.ro. For other territorial branches, files should be submitted according to region to dosareprofesionalezona2@copsi.ro or dosareprofesionalezona3@copsi.ro


  • Following the registration of the file, the candidate will receive an invitation to attend the professional certification interview, conducted—within the clinical field—by the Commission for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy


  • In preparation for the interview, applicants are expected to be familiar with the provisions of the Code of Ethics for the profession of psychologist with the right to independent practice (https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/267043) and the Code of Disciplinary Procedure (https://www.copsi.ro/images/Cod_procedura_disciplinara_CPR_2018.pdf). These documents define the ethical principles, professional responsibilities, and rules of conduct that psychologists are required to observe in their professional activity.



Certification of the Right to Independent Practice in Clinical Psychology / Practitioner Clinical Psychologist under Supervision




  • Following the acquisition of certification for independent practice—the formal process through which a psychologist obtains the right to practice the profession independently in Romania—the individual is automatically registered in the Single Register of Psychologists (R.U.P., Part I – Certifications for Independent Practice). The RUP code remains the same regardless of the applied commission or associated specializations


  • The psychologist is required to identify a supervisor in clinical psychology from the public register of the Colegiul Psihologilor din România (Register of Supervisors): https://copsi.ro/index.php/arhiva/6397-arhiva-registre. A professional supervision contract is then concluded with the selected supervisor. The supervision period represents an essential stage in the professional development of the clinical psychologist, as it facilitates the transition from academic training to professional practice



In order to accumulate the necessary professional experience, practitioner psychologists under supervision may also participate in volunteer programs, based on a volunteer contract concluded in accordance with the applicable legislation.


  • Within the professional certification system, several levels or stages reflect the psychologist’s degree of experience and competence:


  1. Practitioner Psychologist – under Supervision

  2. Practitioner Psychologist – autonomous practice

  3. Specialist Psychologist

  4. Principal Psychologist


Each of these levels requires the accumulation of relevant professional experience and the evaluation of competencies by the Colegiul Psihologilor din România.


  • Consultation of the best practice guidelines developed by the CPR provides an in-depth understanding of professional standards and the competencies required in clinical psychology, psychotherapy, and psychological counseling.


These resources offer detailed guidance regarding professional standards, assessment tools, and intervention methods used in clinical psychology




References




  • Norms regarding the professional certification of psychologists with the right to independent practice (07 November 2021). Colegiul Psihologilor din România (COPSI). Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, No. 1104, 19 November 2021.






Frequently Asked Questions for Students Interested in Clinical Psychology




  1. Can I become a clinical psychologist with only a bachelor’s degree?


No. Admission to the profession requires the completion of undergraduate studies in psychology and, in most cases, relevant master’s studies in the specialization for which certification is sought, namely clinical psychology. After completing their studies, graduates must submit their application file in order to obtain certification for independent practice from the Colegiul Psihologilor din România.



  1. What does the interview for admission to the profession involve?


The interview organized by the Colegiul Psihologilor din România aims to assess:


- the candidate’s professional training

- their understanding of the responsibilities associated with the profession

- their knowledge of the ethical principles governing the profession


It is recommended that candidates familiarize themselves with CPR regulations and the Code of Ethics for the profession of psychologist prior to attending the interview.



  1. How can students prepare during their studies for a career in the clinical field?


Students can undertake several beneficial activities during their studies, such as:


- participating in clinical internships

- becoming familiar with psychological assessment instruments

- attending conferences and workshops

- engaging in research projects or volunteering in the field of mental health



  1. Is it possible to obtain certifications in multiple specializations within the clinical field?


Yes. Separate application files must be submitted for each specialization within an applied commission, specifically for the specializations of clinical psychology, psychological counseling, and psychotherapy within the Commission for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy.



  1. What is the validity of the certification for independent practice?


According to current legislation, the certification is valid for life, provided that professional activity is not suspended and the annual membership fee is duly paid.

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