South African Psychologists Be Warned

[NicoletteJ]

I have received a negative skills assessment from the Australian Psychological Society (APS). I am a registered Clinical Psychologist with the HPCSA and completed a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology through Stellenbosch University (graduating in 2004). APS need to recognize 6 years of study for a positive assessment. My 6th year was a full-time internship at an academic hospital and I completed my research thesis during the same year. APS are not recognizing this 6th year. I don't seem to be the first one encountering this problem - a colleague who did her Masters at UCT also received a negative assessment.

 

The frustration is that three colleagues who studied in the same year as me at Stellenbosch received a positive skills assessment when they applied a few years ago. APS don't regard this as relevant. They say it is "case by case."

 

This post is a warning to Psychologists in South Africa that without a PHD (or further studies in Australia following your Masters) you will not get a positive skills assessment (AUS$1000+ non-refundable). None of the agents I consulted (there have been quite a few) even indicated that this could be an issue which surprises me. If anyone is reading this with a Masters Degree who has recently had a positive skills assessment during this year, please be in touch. I'd love to know how you did it!

 

 

 

 

[ottg]

While not my field of expertise I noted APS mentions 6 years of study. That it is not necessarily a Phd, as they mentioned B deg plus Hon plus 2 years internship.

http://www.psychology.org.au/studentHQ/studying/study-pathways/

However, the new SOL List mentioned Psychologist (nec) and sounds like you must be registered which needs post grad: PsyB

https://www.migrationexpert.com.au/visa/psychologists_nec_jobs_australia.asp

Not sure how your Masters and this PsyB match. 

They also mentioned assessment through APS or Psychology Board of Australia for eligibility for registration.

Consider applying for reassessment and also contact the Psychology Board of Australia explaining your problem - you have nothing to loose

Also contact @MerlinZA

Edited June 19, 2017 by ottg
add contact name

[NicoletteJ]

13 hours ago, ottg said:

While not my field of expertise I noted APS mentions 6 years of study. That it is not necessarily a Phd, as they mentioned B deg plus Hon plus 2 years internship.

http://www.psychology.org.au/studentHQ/studying/study-pathways/

However, the new SOL List mentioned Psychologist (nec) and sounds like you must be registered which needs post grad: PsyB

https://www.migrationexpert.com.au/visa/psychologists_nec_jobs_australia.asp

Not sure how your Masters and this PsyB match. 

They also mentioned assessment through APS or Psychology Board of Australia for eligibility for registration.

Consider applying for reassessment and also contact the Psychology Board of Australia explaining your problem - you have nothing to loose

Also contact @MerlinZA

Thank you for this input @ottg. I have followed up with APS on this and I am awaiting their reply. Recently, they have changed their view of the Masters Degree in South Africa where they are seeing our 6th year internship as separate to our Masters Degree through the University (therefore only recognizing 5 years). A reassessment at this point is only going to cost me another AUS$1000 with the same outcome (I submitted a number of additional supporting letters and arguments before my final outcome). There are possible routes to take through a 457 and do supervised work as a "provisional psychologist" to get the accreditation for a positive skills assessment. It's not ideal for my particular circumstances though. I'd love to get input from a Psychologist getting a positive assessment through APS with only a Masters Degree during 2017! Years ago, there were no issues.

[NicoletteJ]

P.S. https://www.psychologycouncil.org.au/standards-and-guidelines/ advises of changes since March 2014 (which explains why my colleagues got positive skills assessments prior to this). They want 1000 supervised practice hours in your Masters Degree and do not count our full-time internship in these hours as it was not facilitated by the university (never mind that the internship was at an academic hospital affiliated with the university).

[Merridy]

Hi Nicolette, have you received a response from APS? I also received a negative skills assessment despite my agent feeling very confident of my acceptance. The reason provided was that only 5 out of my 6 years are recognised as they do not include the thesis completion or our internships. I have looked at other sites and many other psychologists from South Africa are having the same challenge. I am wondering if any psychologists without PhDs post 2014 have been successful? And if not perhaps all agents need to be informed that SA psychologists are not accepted without a PhD saving us a great deal of time and money! 

[NicoletteJ]

Hi @Merridy

Apologies for the delay in responding (I didn't have notifications set). I'm sorry to hear about your negative skills assessment! We are in exactly the same situation and it is very frustrating to think that if we tried 3 years ago, we'd have positive outcomes. I still cannot understand how they can discredit our 6th year of studies and (in my case) 12 years of clinical experience doesn't count. I have written a formal complaint to APS about the situation and have asked them to be transparent with all future enquiries from South Africa. I think it's unethical to take over AUS$1000 when you know a South African Masters Degree is no longer seen as adequate for the APS. I have gone so far as to email Prof Alfred Allan on this (no reply as yet). I have emailed all immigration agents who I have had contact with to warn them. I do hope they will advise clients not to go ahead with a skills assessment if they "only" have a Masters Degree from South Africa. To think how hard we have worked to get this far! Australian Psychologists don't need more than a Masters Degree (in fact, an Honors Degree was adequate not so long ago). What are you doing now? Australia is no longer an option for immigration for me.

[DeeC]

I received a  positive APS assessment for 6 yrs of study (Educational Psych) in 2013 that was not accepted by AHPRA. No refund and limited information as to why this happened. Was told at one point my qualifications was assessed as comparable to 6 yrs, not equal (I won't comment on that!). Multiple letters and emails sent...limited movement. Had to work in what they call a 4+2 here...4yrs study recognised, 2 year internship - to be recognised as a General Psych; no specialisation. Presently the APS cannot assess qualifications for registration anymore  - that responsibility is now AHPRA's. After another review my internship was reduced to a year...still a pretty tough and painful process. If anyone receives different information, please keep us posted. I know major changes happened at AHPRA from 31 July 2013. I applied for registration Aug 2013...just missed having my qualifications accepted!

[NicoletteJ]

@DeeC a friend recently enquired about a skills assessment with the APS (making it clear that she did the standard Masters Degree in South Africa) and the only addition to their reply was that an internship is no longer counted as a year of study. They still encouraged her to submit an application ($1000) as it is "case by case." I don't regard that as transparency!

[DeeC]

Exactly NicoletteJ. I paid, got a positive outcome, and then AHPRA rejected the APS assessment. I didn't receive a refund and information was vague. Almost at the end of my process, but definitely a painful one!

 

[Helene]

Hi everyone. Thank you for the advice - I am very thankful for it as we are busy with the application process and I was just about to pay for the skills assessment. This is not good news though - I am extremely disappointed. I would like to find out if anyone of you managed to resolve this matter in the meanwhile and whether there are any changes to the criteria yet, please? 

[Merridy]

HI Helene,

 

Can you email me? merridy.boettiger@gmail.com - I can tell you more 

[Nelria]

Hi I am brand new to this forum, just read this thread and literally saw my whole immigration plan scatter.  Has anybody managed any further luck? positive skills? since last year?

 

I am in process of deciding to decline a job offer in NZ, due to re-opening chance to come to AUS directly, but just don't know what to expect from APA after reading this post?

[NicoletteJ]

Quote

 

@Nelria I have not heard of anyone getting a successful skills assessment in recent years without a Phd.

[F1veClaw]

We have had an acquaintance get a positive assessment with WITS as their varsity due to a loophole where WITS lists the internship on the academic record. The others who have applied from UJ, and UKZN have all been rejected (May 2018 - Now).

[NicoletteJ]

That is very lucky with WITS! I think it's ridiculous that our internship is not considered a year of studies as it's full-time training in an academic hospital while writing a thesis under supervision. APS is adamant about this and will not budge.

[F1veClaw]

40 minutes ago, NicoletteJ said:

That is very lucky with WITS! I think it's ridiculous that our internship is not considered a year of studies as it's full-time training in an academic hospital while writing a thesis under supervision. APS is adamant about this and will not budge.

We have a friend from UJ who has argued a lot, and their biggest issue was that their coursework and thesis was done in 1 year as per the requirements at the time.

 

I am lucky (and unlucky at the same time) because my Psych MA was not a HPCSA registered offering so I ended up in a different field which is on the list and ended up being very interesting with rewards outside of what I originally thought I wanted. I do however reminisce every and think I should do another MA to get registered until I think of having to be an intern haha!

[NicoletteJ]

@F1velkaw what field did you go into out of interest? So many students aren't getting into Masters and desperate for option 2 ideas. If you have the time, please share some details (inbox if you prefer).

 

The APS guy does not like me at all after the fuss I made LOL

[F1veClaw]

15 minutes ago, NicoletteJ said:

@F1velkaw what field did you go into out of interest? So many students aren't getting into Masters and desperate for option 2 ideas. If you have the time, please share some details (inbox if you prefer).

 

The APS guy does not like me at all after the fuss I made LOL

My MA was in Psych specialising in Health Promotion and Communication (through UKZN). It is SUPER niche in SA, and generally done by MD'd (not sure why, they are never taught how to design and evaluate interventions) so I moved into consulting (currently within a health / HIV setting but generally process improve & change/ data related). I think in the end it was a better fit for me, but the I/O psych still seems interesting although I have no desire to do any psychometric and the more 'relaxed' life of not chasing targets for CCE will always have a draw.

 

[NicoletteJ]

Thanks so much for sharing this info @F1velkaw

[F1veClaw]

No problem @NicoletteJ. It is gutting to see that this is a problem over a small technicality and the 'case by case' basis seems not very fair.

[Bonny]

I am not in this field, but really dismayed to hear of the problems you are all experiencing. It is crushingly unfair, and very short-sighted, given that Australia is deperately needs mental health professionals. I don’t know what else to say!

[NicoletteJ]

Thanks @Bonny

 it is ridiculous!

[Henry]

On 8/1/2018 at 12:46 PM, F1velkaw said:

We have had an acquaintance get a positive assessment with WITS as their varsity due to a loophole where WITS lists the internship on the academic record. The others who have applied from UJ, and UKZN have all been rejected (May 2018 - Now).

 

Hi Everyone 

 

I studied at Rhodes and currently considering applying to the APS for a skills assessment. Like WITS, Rhodes also listed the internship on our academic transcript. Was wondering whether this might make it worthwhile applying? And if any one knows someone from Rhodes or WITS that got a positive skill assessment,  I would love to hear from you.

[Rachie]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone with a psychology qualification from South Africa received any positive APS assessment lately (late 2018)? It was devastating when l stumbled through this conversation as l was at the verge of sending my application to APS for assessment. I am registered with HPCSA as an Industrial Psychologist, have a Masters from Wits with internship not on the academic transcript. I am stuck not sure whether to try and risk loosing AU$1000 or just drop my OZ dream. 

[NicoletteJ]

6 minutes ago, Rachie said:

Hi everyone,

Has anyone with a psychology qualification from South Africa received any positive APS assessment lately (late 2018)? It was devastating when l stumbled through this conversation as l was at the verge of sending my application to APS for assessment. I am registered with HPCSA as an Industrial Psychologist, have a Masters from Wits with internship not on the academic transcript. I am stuck not sure whether to try and risk loosing AU$1000 or just drop my OZ dream. 

Hoping that you hear of a positive outcome. Personally I would not risk it if your internship is not on your transcript. If you only have 5 years they will say it is not enough. I spent/wasted $10 000 PLUS the IELTS costs. I still think that APS are being unethical by taking the assessment money from South African psychologists knowing that their 5 years is inadequate. The "case by case basis" reply they give you before paying is not true if you only have 5 years on your transcript. Psychologists who applied a few years ago were fine but now the rules have changed.