Professional title for a Practicing Psychologist:

Clinical Psychologist, Applied Health Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Forensic Psychologist

Criteria, Regulations and Procedures to obtain a License:

  1. In Hungary, if one acquires an M.A. diploma in psychology, he/she can work in the field of healthcare professions only under strict supervision of a psychologist being registered in the operational registry of healthcare professionals. For that reason, the psychologist having an M.A. diploma shall conclude an employment contract with a healthcare service provider who ensures the required supervision.
  2. A further requirement is that the psychologist having an M..A diploma shall carry on postgraduate psychology studies in the field of healthcare professions, or at least commence such studies within 2 years from entering into the employment relationship with the given employer. (see: comments in 60/2003 ESzCsM ministerial decree, under profession code 7107 – The students having commenced or having undertaken to commence post-graduate studies within 2 years and working at a healthcare service provider under strict supervision, they shall notify the competent authority that holds the operational permit of the employer (healthcare service provider) on the commencement of work and shall submit the required data to the authority).
  3. Summarizing the above, the psychologists having an M.A. diploma may work under supervision, as set out above, and shall – instead of being registered by ÁEEK – notify the competent authority issuing the operational permit of their employer. For the sake of clarity, besides the medical degrees, if one acquires a post-graduate diploma of clinical psychology, neuropsychology or applied health-psychology, he/she can be registered in the operational register of healthcare professionals, held by ÁEEK (to the basic register of healthcare professionals only the students having an M.A. diploma of medical studies are registered).
  4. Additional Note: An individual holding a license in clinical psychology, applied health psychology and psychotherapy as well as in forensic psychology can work as a supervision for post graduate MA students in clinical and health psychology and psychotherapy as well.

The license is covered all over Europe for hypno-psychotherapy, and in Hungary for diagnostic work and psychotherapy, counseling, telemedicine etc.

Licensing body

Any Supplemental Resources regarding procedures for Licensure:

Concerning the education and profession of psychologists The purpose of these questions is to clarify some questions relating to candidates with a master’s degree in Clinical and Health Psychology from the ELTE- university.

  1. Hungarian legislation provides that anyone working in health care with clinical psychology must be a specialist in clinical psychology or under/committed to enter specialization and work under supervision. What does the supervision entail in practice? Are there any guidelines or other official documents that explains the content of this supervision?

    According to Hungarian legislation a psychologist with M.A. diploma can work at a healthcare service provider if he/she is committed to start the specialist clinical psychologist education within 2 years. Further to that working at a healthcare service provider (full or at least half time job) is a substantial prerequisite of starting specialist education. It is the healthcare service provider’s responsibility to assign a properly educated senior staff member (specialist clinical psychologist) to provide supervision to the candidate at the workplace. The content of the supervision is not specified in any legal documents, neither for clinical psychology, nor for other healthcare professions. It is aimed at supporting the independently working psychologist by providing consultancy opportunities in different formats (individual consultation, case study discussion groups, etc.). According to the general regime within the field of Hungarian healthcare services the candidate, who already attends one of the specialized courses is provided with a supervisor, who has already a specialist diploma in the respective healthcare profession, and who has a valid registration as healthcare professional within the respective profession. As referred to above, the rules, content, conditions, etc. of supervision are not wet neither by law, nor by the professional rules of clinical psychology. According to this, the form of supervision may vary from case-by-case as it depends on the exact operational environment of the healthcare service provider. The healthcare service providers elaborate their own system for ensuring supervision for the candidates.

  2. Is it correct that the requirement of supervision is part of the employment regulation concerning healthcare establishments, and not part of the regulation of the psychologist’s profession? Does the requirement concern an organizational matter at the workplace, rather than a patient safety issue?

    To provide supervision for the psychologist is part of the employment regulation (organizational matter). However, it of course contributes to the professional development of the candidate. As mentioned above, the requirement of supervision is a general one that obliges all healthcare professions.

  3. Does the requirement of supervision also apply to the private sector? Can a candidate with an MA. .in Clinical and Health Psychology establish themselves in the private sector and diagnose and treat patients alone?

    A psychologist with an M.A. diploma obtained at Clinical and Health Psychology specialization can start working in a private practice as well, if the above described conditions are met. Private sector healthcare service providers are also part of the Hungarian healthcare system; the Healthcare Act is applicable to any healthcare activity, irrespective of financial matters. All the enlisted activities can be done by the psychologist with the MA diploma if employed by a validly and lawfully operating healthcare service provider but a person entitled to do supervision should be assigned in these cases as well.

  4. Given the requirement on supervision, please explain the extent of responsibility and independence of the candidate with a master degree in clinical and health psychology within the health care services. Please specify whether they can work independently and alone, or only in collaboration with other health personnel. Can they determine a diagnosis alone, or must they consult or have approval from other health personnel, for instance a doctor?

    A psychologist with M.A. degree can do the same activities as a specialist clinical psychologist if he/she has a supervisor (specialist clinical psychologist); if he/she is having a full or at least half time employment at a lawfully and validly operating healthcare service provider and the candidate has committed his/herself to start the specialist clinical psychologist’s education within 2 years, or already attends such specialized course. Such candidates can work as employees at a healthcare service provider under supervision. They can work independently to the extent it is allowed in the hierarchy of an employment.

  5. What are the requirements to enter practice under supervision and commit to a post- degree specialization as clinical psychologist in Hungary, besides a master degree in psychology? Is there for instance a language requirement?

    The requirements of specialist clinical psychologist’s education (post-degree specialization) are as follows: to work in the healthcare system; the healthcare service provider shall provide supervision for the candidate; the candidate shall have the knowledge (that’s included in the BA/MA curriculum) in certain diagnostic methods (MAWI, MMPI, Rorschach). No language requirements are in place according to our knowledge.

  6. According to the Internet pages of the ELTE University, acceptance into the English MA program Clinical and Health Psychology is closed for Hungarian citizens. What is the reason for this?

    According to our best knowledge the reason for this solution is merely technical and it is related to the application procedure and other administrative issues which are different in case of Hungarian and non-Hungarian citizens.

  7. Are there any aptitude tests before the titles psychologist or clinical psychologist are granted?

    This question falls rather within the competency of ELTE, but according to our knowledge no prior aptitude tests are taken before the certificate/diploma is provided. When someone starts working at a workplace it may be a requirement of the employer to pass a labor suitability test. It would even raise ethical concerns to introduce an aptitude test during the education and not before entering the health care system.

  8. Are there any differences in the qualifications of a clinical psychologist and a psychologist? If yes, please specify. Are there any differences in the activities they perform and if they can carry them out alone?

    As we have described, in Hungary, the clinical specialist can work independently without a supervisor and is licensed by the Medical Board (ENKK). He/She may apply for further vocational training, such as vocational training in psychotherapy, which is an upper level professional training course in our country. At the same time, it is obligatory for a clinical specialist to regularly undergo further training to maintain his/her license. Furthermore, also a clinical specialist has to have supervision in psychotherapy (such as hypnosis or relaxation psychotherapy) before acquiring the upper level diploma therein. However, he/she can already lead basic psychotherapy, such as crisis intervention, autogain training, life coaching or counseling on the basis of his/her clinical specialist diploma. The MA psychologist can work in the field of healthcare only under supervision and has to start his/her post graduate qualification within 2 years if he/she wants to work in the healthcare system. Until graduating as a clinical specialist, under supervision he/she can do the same activities as a clinical specialist.

Reciprocity of Licenses:

There is a registration procedure in Europe and in Hungary as well, if someone has an M.A. diploma or any other degree in Psychology. The official registration procedure is led by “Oktatási Hivatal” (Education Office) in Hungary. In the USA the State’s Medical Board gives the license, and examines the diplomas and the efficacy. A Hungarian clinical psychologist can apply for a medical license in the USA, if she/he has a PhD in the field. In other cases more postgraduate courses should be taken.

Temporary/Short-Term Licenses (which are often needed for psychologists doing humanitarian work in foreign countries):

Generally humanitarian work is allowed with an M.A. psychology degree quite easily.

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