How to Join the DHP

The Membership Committee

The BPS Admissions Committee will consider applications for Division of Health Psychology membership and Applications for Chartered Status. They will be advised on decisions representatives from the DHP Membership sub-committee: Dr. Sheila Bonas, Dr. Anna van Wersch and Dr Andy Keen.

We now have over 1,000 members of the Division, and membership continues to grow in parallel with the development of Health Psychology as a discipline.

All members are eligible for reduced rates at the Annual Division of Health Psychology Conferences, and receive a copy of our quarterly publication, Health Psychology Update which serves as a forum for discussion of professional and academic issues related to Health Psychology. The DHP Continuing Professional Development Committee orgainise and publicise CPD activities for Members. Click here for more information on CPD.

How do I become a member of the Division of Health Psychology?

If you are a member of the British Psychological Society you are eligible to become a Member of the Division of Health Psychology.

There are three grades of membership:

Full - This grade of Divisional membership is for candidates who are qualified in Health Psychology and eligible for Chartered Status on the basis of their training. In order to become a Chartered Health Psychologist, it is essential to be a Full Member of the Division of Health Psychology (see below).
In Training - This grade of Divisional membership is for candidates who are enrolled on a Society accredited postgraduate training course or are undergoing a period of supervised practice which will count towards Full Membership of the Division. This includes those on MSc or Stage two training courses. For this grade of membership you must have graduate or full membership of the BPS.
General - This grade of Divisional membership is for any member of the Society who is not eligible for Full or In Training membership of the Division. This includes undergraduate student members, members of other divisions, graduate members of the BPS not in training or affiliate members of the British Psychological Society.

Applications for Divisional Membership are processed by the BPS. The links above will take you to the appropriate forms. As part of your membership you will receive Health Psychology Update - a quarterly publication that includes articles, book reviews, news, book reviews and a student page.

If you are not sure which type of membership you are eligible to apply for then Click here to go to the BPS site which should lead you through the relevant questions. Alternatively you can write to:

Admissions
The British Psychological Society
St Andrews House
Leicester
LE1 7DR
U.K.

Or telephone: 0116 254 9568

Criteria for Full membership of the DHP and Registration as a Chartered Health Psychologist

Full Membership of the DHP
Candidates with the Graduate Basis for Registration will be required to undertake either a postgraduate qualification in health psychology accredited by the Society or the Society’s Stage 1 Qualification in Health Psychology. Upon successful completion of the training course or the Stage 1 Qualification, candidates will be required to undertake the Society’s Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology or a course accredited by the Society as providing exemption from this qualification.

NB Grandparenting routes closed on 1st September 2007.

If you have any queries regarding membership of the Society or the DHP, please email applications@bps.org.uk or telephone the Society's Admissions Team on 0116 252 9525.

Click here for more information on training.

If you want to apply for Chartered Status with the BPS as well as Full Membership of the DHP you can apply for both together on the same form. Click here to downloaded the form from the BPS website.

To become Chartered with the British Psychological Society as a Health Psychologist it is necessary to:

Be eligible for full membership of the BPS Division of Health Psychology (see above ), AND

Fulfil the BPS requirements for Chartered Status. This requires you to be a member of the Society and:

Have Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR); and
Have successfully completed a Society accredited postgraduate professional training course together with such additional period of directly supervised practice as may be required and have thereby achieved eligibility for full membership of one of the Society's Professional Divisions.
Have been judged fit to practise Psychology without supervision.

Click here to go to the BPS pages with more information on Grades of BPS Membership and Chartered Status.