Clinical Training
On 10th May 2015 and 10th July 2016, two laws were passed by the Federal government regulating the recognition of clinical psychologists and educational therapists as mental health professionals. These laws describe the activities that clinical psychologists and educational therapists may carry out, with the aim of ensuring the best possible quality of these activities for patients.
Since January 2020, students have been required to have a licence and accreditation in order to legally practise as a clinical psychologist or clinical educational therapist.
Why become a clinician?
The title of “clinician” grants independent practice (prevention, support, care), the practice of psychotherapy and the supervision of other colleagues or assistants. Holding this title is not an obligation in itself, but rather depends on each individual’s career plan.
Students who have completed their Master’s in Psychology but do not wish to become clinicians may nevertheless work in the field as psychologists or educational therapists in multidisciplinary teams.
How do you become a clinician?
Any student registered from the 2017-2018 academic year in a faculty of psychology and/or education in the French Community of Belgium who wishes to use the title of “Clinical Psychologist” or “Clinical Educational Therapist” will require a licence and accreditation.
Licence
In order to practise a regulated healthcare profession, you need to be in possession of a licence to practise. This is issued by the Federal Public Health Service on the basis of a certificate issued by your university confirming that you have followed a course of study in clinical psychology/clinical orthopaedagogy that meets the legal requirements.
A licence will enable you to begin the process of obtaining the accreditation required to practise clinical psychology or clinical orthopaedagogy.
The conditions for obtaining a licence are detailed in the tabs dedicated to clinical psychology and clinical orthopaedagogy.
The licence does not have to be renewed but, in rare cases, it can be withdrawn (incapacity to practise).
Approval
Accreditation is authorisation to practise clinical psychology or orthopaedagogy under the title of Clinical Psychologist/Clinical Educational Therapist and therefore allows independent, unsupervised practice.
Accreditation ensures the professional skills and qualifications of the person wishing to practise as a Clinical Psychologist/Clinical Educational Therapist, and guarantees patients the quality of the training received.
Like a licence, accreditation is compulsory for psychologists or educational therapists wishing to practise as clinicians. They are considered to be healthcare professionals and are therefore required to comply with the specific laws that apply in this field, in particular the Law of 22nd August 2002 on patients’ rights and the law of 22nd April 2019 on the quality of healthcare practice.
Unless otherwise stipulated, approval entitles you to full exemption from VAT.
In the near future, accreditation will be compulsory to enable patients to benefit from financial assistance from social security (INAMI, “mutuelle” health insurance company). INAMI is associated with primary psychological care, as well as specialised psychological care, with services reimbursed under the framework defined by this scheme. The INAMI number is currently reserved for clinical psychologists who have signed an agreement with the INAMI.
It is issued by the Direction des agréments des prestataires de santé (Department for the Accreditation of Healthcare Providers) of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. It checks that the applicant:
- Holds a suitable qualification in the clinical field, attesting to training which, in the context of a full course of study, comprises at least five years of study or 300 credits as per the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), including a work placement in the field of clinical psychology or orthopaedagogy;
- Has completed a supervised professional practice placement of 1680 hours, representing a 6th year of training (which did not start until the 2022-2023 academic year).
Supervised Professional Practice
Supervised professional practice refers to a 1680-hour period of practice to be carried out after the Master’s at an approved placement service and under the supervision of an approved placement supervisor. This work placement is completely independent of those carried out as part of the Master’s degree and does not require registration at a university.
The hours may be spread over 5 different years and carried out in different departments, provided that a minimum of 840 hours are spent in the same department (equivalent to 21 weeks full-time) and that the training supervisor is approved in each location. If the trainee is doing their placement in several establishments, they must ensure that they are supervised by an approved placement supervisor.
Practice may be paid or unpaid, depending on the agreement signed with the placement supervisor. It can therefore be carried out on a voluntary, employed or self-employed basis.
During the work placement, the student will be required to draw up psychological records for the patients being monitored, documenting psychological diagnosis, patient follow-up and clinical functioning.
At present, there are a limited number of formally approved places and supervisors available.
The list of course supervisors can be downloaded here.
Title of “Psychologist”
Anyone wishing to use the title of “Psychologist” or a title containing the word “psychologist” must be registered with the Commission des psychologues, even if they have already obtained their licence and accreditation (Law of 8th November 1993 protecting the title of “Psychologist”).
By registering with the Commission des psychologues, psychologist are required to comply with the code of ethics (published in the Moniteur belge – Royal Decree of 2nd April 2014 – amended by the Royal Decree of 4th June 2018).
Through the Commission des psychologues, potential patients can view the list of people with this title.