Hello!

Does anyone know where I could find out what the licensure requirements are here in Switzerland for psychologists/psychotherapists who relocate from abroad? I have an acquaintance who is considering a job offer here, and his wife is a practicing psychologist in the US, and they were wondering what she would need to do to be permitted to practice here (or if she would even be allowed).

Any websites or other resources that anyone knows of that we could check for that information?

Thanks so much!

Hi,
your friend might want to try these
federation of Swiss psychologists.
http://www.psychoscope.ch/

Vaud Ass of Psychologists http://www.psy-vd.ch/

Société Suisse de Psychologie SSP-SGP
http://www.ssp-sgp.ch

Association Suisse des Psychologues Cliniciennes et Cliniciens SVKP-ASPC
http://www.svkp.ch

Association Suisse de Psychologie de l’Enfance et de l’Adolescence SKJP-ASPEA
http://www.skjp.ch

Association Suisse de Psychologie du Sport ASPS
http://www.sportpsychologie.ch

Société Suisse de Psychologie Légale SSPL
http://www.rechtspsychologie.ch

Association Suisse des Neuropsychologues ASNP
http://www.neuropsy.ch

Société Suisse de Psychologie de la Circulation VfV-SPC
http://www.vfv-spc.ch

Association Romande de Conseil en Orientation Scolaire et Professionnelle ARCOSP

Société suisse de Psychologie du Travail et des Organisations SGAOP-SSPTO
http://www.sgaop.ch

Société Suisse de Psychologie de la Santé SSPsyS
http://www.healthpsychology.ch

Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Fachpsychologie in Berufs-, Studien- und Laufbahnberatung SGFBL
http://www.sgfbl.ch

Société Suisse pour l'approche et la Psychothérapie Centrées sur la Personne SGGT-SPCP
http://www.sggt-spcp.ch

jo

Hi, Jo:

Thanks so much for all the links. I will pass this info on to the parties concerned.

Regards,
~L

I'm a swiss psychologist trying to relocate abroad and I know how complicated this might be! If i can help her in any way, your friend can contact me by email (favrenat@hotmail.com - please mention "English Forum - Psychol in Switz" in the subject).

Hello,
I am a Canadian Psychologist (Master's level) currently in private practice in Calgary, Canada. I am considering a move to Berne and have been trying to locate information about registration requirements in Switzerland.

I am looking to provide counselling services to individuals, couples, children, and adolescents in English. I do speak French, but not well enough to provide counselling or understand the registration requirements on the websites!

Is anyone able to provide me with any information regarding the need for English speaking Psychologists in Berne and any translated information regarding registration requirements for Psychologists or Psychotherapists and the difference between the two.
Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you.

I had a colleague convert a UK PhD in Psychology and this is what I remember of the process:

There were two avenues that this person persued:

1. Insurance.
2. Registration for health insurance rebate.

1. To get professional insurance, you need to convince the insurance company that you are qualified. Usually to do this the quickest way is to get acceptance to the psych society. You will need at minimum a 4 year training in Psych to practice as a 'clinical' psychologist.

Psychotherapy is not the same profession.

You can apply to CRUS (council of universities) for a document which states whether your qualifications are recognised, and for what profession. This is not a difficult process but it helps if you have someone who understands the process and can write you a covering letter in German which describes your qualifications and what you are hoping to do with them...

2. Health insurance rebates - the law changed recently and to get health insurance coverage a psychologist has to be practicing under the supervision of a psychiatrist, so if you practice independently you won't get health insurance rebates and this will limit your clientele to people who can pay privately...

There is also a regulation regarding what you can call yourself in German. I can't remember what it was, I think it may have been that you can call yourself a 'clinical psychologist' but you can't call yourself a 'therapist'....unless you are fully recognised and working in the swiss health system...or something along those lines...