Your Pathway to being a Sport and Exercise Psychology

Achieving full qualification as a sport and exercise psychologist, along with registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), necessitates choosing one of two distinct pathways post-acquisition of relevant undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications.

The first pathway which is is the one I took, involves completing the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Sport and Exercise Psychology Qualification (QSEP) at Stage two. This route demands a minimum of two years in supervised applied practice following qualification. To fulfill the requirements of this pathway, candidates must receive supervision from an HCPC registered sport and exercise psychologist who is additionally listed on the BPS Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS), a register acknowledging psychologists with distinct supervision expertise in particular domains of practice.

Alternatively, the second pathway culminates in achieving the status of a Sport and Exercise Psychologist accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES), via the Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route (SEPAR). This approach also mandates at least two years of ‘Supervised Experience’, guided by a mentor who is both accredited by BASES and registered with the HCPC. Additionally, a 'fast track' option (APEC) is available for those who qualify.

The reason that I chose the BPS route was the desire to work in other areas of performance psychology beyond sport. I now work with high-performance in sport, business and education and create an ethical profitable practice where clients achieve amazing results.