FAQ

Answer

1. The present HKICP’s proposal is standard-based and not based on membership of professional body.
2. Individuals who have completed local recognized CP training programme with adequate clinical training could make an application to become registered.
3. Individuals who have completed CP training programme from overseas countries accredited by recognized bodies; with adequate clinical training and license / registration to practice clinical psychology in the country where the degree is conferred could make an application to become registered.
4. The application will be processed based on all the information provided. Applicants are strongly advised to give as much details in their application as possible.

Answer

1. Bachelor degree in psychology is a requirement of basic training in psychology before the commencement of advanced professional clinical psychology training.
2. A list of existing local programmes recognized by HKICP as equivalent pre-requisite qualifications is included in the document: D08 - Membership Registration and Handling Policy (Appendix 1). Equivalent qualifications from historical local training programmes will also be considered (e.g., Post-graduate Certificate in Psychology conferred by the University of Hong Kong, Post-graduate Diploma in Psychology conferred by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Post-graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology conferred by the City University of Hong Kong / City Polytechnic of Hong Kong).
3. Graduates of clinical psychology training accredited by overseas professional bodies recognised by HKICP would normally be considered as able to fulfil this requirement.

Answer

1. English language proficiency is required as a registration criterion as it is the language generally used for professional exchange in Hong Kong. The standard required has taken reference from other health professionals in Hong Kong (e.g., Occupational Therapist).
2. Applicants can provide alternative proof other than IELTS. These may include other internationally recognised tests (e.g., TOEFL), or proof of completion of accredited clinical psychology post-graduate training programme which used English as the medium of instruction.

Answer

Part 4 of Education Standards illustrates the Body of Knowledge which is generally expected for practice of clinical psychology in Hong Kong. This involves teaching and supervision work in multidisciplinary setting(s). The description of body of knowledge is to enhance public understanding on the practice of clinical psychology, it is not a description of specific syllabus or course in the CP training programme.

Answer

1. Clinical training across age groups in various multidisciplinary settings are considered as the basic training required for practice of clinical psychology in HK.
2. Applicants with overseas accredited CP training qualification recognised by HKICP and have license to practice clinical psychology in the country where the degree is conferred, but without sufficient clinical training specifically for adult or child population may apply for waiving the training requirement on the use of local tests and sign an undertaking which states that the Applicants will provide psychological services within the boundaries of their competence and will not use the Cantonese psychological tests validated in Hong Kong for the specific population that has not been adequately covered in their training until they have received relevant education, training, or supervised experience.

Answer

1. Knowledge and training in local testing component is an important education standard for CP and requirement for recognition of training programme in Hong Kong. It is a requirement for applicants of alternative qualification assessment who would require remedial training.
2. Applicants who are non-Cantonese speaking may apply for waiving the training requirement on the use of local tests and sign an undertaking which states that the Applicants will provide psychological services within the boundaries of their competence and will not use the Cantonese psychological tests validated in Hong Kong.
3. Applicants with overseas accredited CP training qualification recognised by HKICP and have license to practice clinical psychology in the country where the degree is conferred, but without sufficient clinical training specifically for adult or child population may apply for waiving the training requirement on the use of local tests and sign an undertaking which states that the Applicants will provide psychological services within the boundaries of their competence and will not use the Cantonese psychological tests validated in Hong Kong for the specific population that has not been adequately covered in their training until they have received relevant education, training, or supervised experience.

Answer

1. A registrant must accumulate a minimum of 20 CPD points in a year in order to renew the membership with HKICP and remain as a Member of Register of Clinical Psychologists accredited by the Department of Health.
2. If a registrant obtains 10 or more CPD points but fails to comply with the 20 CPD points requirement in a year, he/she shall make up for the outstanding CPD points in the following year. Failure to do so will result in removal of his/her name from the register at the end of the second year.
3. If a registrant obtains less than 10 CPD points in a year, his/her name will be removed from the register at the end of that year.
4. A normal CPD year begins on 1st January. If the date of admission to the register falls on a day between 1st July to 31st December, the registrant is required to start accumulating CPD points on 1st January of the subsequent year. If the date of admission to the register falls on a day between 1st January to 30th June, the registrant is required to obtain a minimum of 10 CPD points for that year and starts his/her normal CPD year in the subsequent year.

Answer

1. Registrants who graduated after 31^st October 2019 are required to submit proof of supervised clinical practice for two consecutive years upon the first two annual membership renewals.
2. The above requirement applies to all registrants who graduated after 31^st October 2019 disregarding the date of application or registration for HKICP membership. Please refer to the following examples.
3. Example 1: a registrant, who graduated after 31^st October 2019 and entered the register as a HKICP member on 1^st March 2020, would be required to submit proof of supervised clinical practice for TWO consecutive years upon membership renewal by the end of February of 2021 and 2022, respectively.
4. Example 2: a registrant, who graduated after 31^st October 2019 and has 1-year post-qualification practice experience before registration, may submit proof of completing ONE year of supervised clinical practice when applying for HKICP membership or upon registration. Then when this registrant renew membership for the subsequent year, proof of another year of supervised practice is required (i.e., submission of proof of supervised clinical practice for ONE more year is required upon membership renewal in the subsequent year).
5. Example 3: a registrant, who graduated after 31^st October 2019 and has 2-or-more years of post-qualification practice experience before registration may submit proof of completing TWO years of supervised clinical practice when applying for HKICP membership or upon registration. For this registrant, submission of proof of supervised clinical practice after registration is NOT required upon membership renewal.

Answer

1. Though sanctions may have a punitive effect, they are not to be imposed to discipline or punish a registrant. The purpose of sanctions is to:
   1. protect the health, safety and wellbeing of the public;
   2. promote and maintain public confidence in the profession and HKICP Register; and
   3. promote and uphold professional standards for registrants.
2. There are different levels of disciplinary actions based on the severity of breach of conduct:
   1. Letter of Caution
      This is the lowest level of action by a disciplinary board. This sort of letter typically conveys that the behavior may not clearly be a violation, or may be a minor violation, but that the clinical psychologist who is a registrant of HKICP may want to be careful about such behavior. This may also be called an educational letter. This level of discipline need not be reported to HKICP disciplinary database.
   2. Reprimand
      This is the next level of disciplinary action and is suggestive that the behavior is problematic.
   3. Removal from the Register
      The clinical psychologist’s name will be removed from the Register for a specified period. In some cases, removal may be permanent. Toward the end of removal, the clinical psychologist may apply for reinstatement of name in the Register. Subject to the ruling, the clinical psychologist may need to meet certain terms and conditions as stipulated by the Panel, such as remedial training and/or Supervised Clinical Practice, etc.
   4. Proportionality
      When consideration is given to imposing sanctions upon a registrant, panel must consider all the sanctions available. Panels will consider sanctions in the order of increasing seriousness, starting with the least restrictive. Panels must have regard to the principle of proportionality when making decisions as the appropriate sanction.

The public shall be adequately informed of the outcome through the webpage of HKICP when the sanction imposed involves 2, 3 or 4 above (please refer to HKICP-ECI-PO-005 HKICP’s Policy on Handling of Complaints for details).

Answer

Please refer to the illustration of misconduct behaviors that contravening the code of ethics of Hong Kong Institute of Clinical Psychologists (HKICP-ECI-PO-001). The list below is by no means exhaustive.

• Not keeping adequate clinical notes and breaching client’s confidentiality;
• Unsatisfactory professional conduct;
• Failure to establish and maintain professional boundaries;
• Professional misconduct;
• Making public statement which is false, unfair, misleading, or likely to mislead, and/or not based on substantiated finding.