Associate psychologist training programme

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora are developing a range of initiatives to grow and develop the mental health and addictions workforce including the priorities identified in the Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Plan (2024). One area of focus that builds on the work of the past three years is the support for the growth of the psychology training pipeline. The Workforce plan includes the commitment to fund the salary of up to 80 clinical psychology interns in Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora provided and funded mental health and addiction services by 2027. This sits alongside our work to encourage increases in the university training places, which wants to see up to 30 more students enrolled by 2027. These achievements have laid a foundation for the next steps to improving equitable access to psychological support options for tāngata whai ora.

There are many psychology graduates who want to progress to a career in mental health but currently lack a clear pathway into the workforce. The associate psychologist training programme will provide an opportunity for psychology graduates to enter a training pathway that leads to a career as a registered health practitioner. This will assist mental health and addictions teams to expand the range of psychological support offered and increase access to regulated and supervised professionals.

The prerequisites for entry into training will be set by universities and will align with competencies established by the New Zealand Psychologists Board (NZPB). Training will equip graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary for the provision of low-to-moderate intensity psychological interventions. Associate Psychologists may assist but will not replace the role of existing psychologists in providing care for more complex tasks. This new role will expand the range of available psychological support, offer career opportunities and pave the way to more flexible pathways to advanced training in psychology.

Over 2025 and 2026 Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora will begin the task of preparing for sector specific aspects of employment such as the development of role descriptions, employer guidance, models of support/supervision, support for graduate entry to professional practice, developing a career framework and ongoing competency/professional development.

Key points - to be considered alongside the details being developed by the New Zealand Psychologists Board and tertiary providers.

• The Associate Psychologist will be a registered health practitioner.
• Supervision of Associate Psychologist's will be provided by registered psychologists. Models to support this will be developed for those working within health funded mental health and addiction services.
• As the title of the role is an subject to regulation the name of this registered workforce will be decided by the NZ Psychologists Board. In the interim Associate Psychologist is the working title.
• Associate Psychologist's will undertake 4 years (minimum) of study in psychology. This will include graduation from a bachelor’s degree (3 year minimum). The AP qualification will be a 120-point postgraduate diploma with placement.
• Tertiary providers will set the prerequisites required for entry to Associate Psychologist training. These will align with the competency requirements and scope of practice developed by the NZPB.
• The training will be inclusive of cultural competencies as defined by NZPB.
• Tertiary providers will consider how the Associate Psychologist qualification can lead into advanced training and further career opportunities in psychology.
• Associate Psychologist’s will be trained to contribute to the provision of low to moderate intensity psychological care. Associate Psychologists may assist, but not replace, the role of existing psychologists who focus on more complex care and tasks.
• It is intended that this role can be employed in Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora funded clinical teams that provide mental health and addictions care in both primary and specialist settings (including NGO’s).
• Teams will assess their requirement for this role and employ from existing clinical FTE where available.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora working with the tertiary education sector and the New Zealand Psychologists Board to support the development of a new associate psychologist training programme, which will help increase access to psychology services and expand the psychologist workforce in mental health and addiction services.

Thank you for taking the time to contribute to the consultation from the New Zealand Psychologists Board on the scope of practice and competencies for the Associate Psychologist (AP role). 

The consultation period closed 16 June 2025.

• Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Plan 2024-2027
• New associate psychology role to grow the mental health workforce - Beehive.govt.nz (external link)
• Auckland University of Technology to offer new psychology training - Beehive.govt.nz (external link)