Undergraduates

The NZPsS is a professional association for psychologists and is New Zealand’s largest community of psychologists. Members have a postgraduate degree in psychology and most are registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board. We also have a large number of postgraduate students subscribers who are currently studying psychology.

Members can access a range of benefits and services to support them in their roles as practitioners, educators, and researchers. Our postgraduate student subscribers also enjoy a range of services, benefits, and discounts.

Psychology is the scientific study of human thought, behaviour, emotion, personality, development, motivation, and experience. It comprises a body of knowledge informed by research that supports professional practice, where psychological skills and knowledge are applied in a wide range of areas and settings.

Most universities and the Open Polytech offer undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degress or both in psychology. See the full list of options. 

The NZ Qualifications Authority also has a searchable database of quality-assured qualifications available in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Psychologists are professionally trained in the ways people think, feel, behave, and learn.They are employed in a wide variety of fields in Aotearoa New Zealand, both in the public and private sectors.To work as a psychologist, you need to be registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board and work under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act.

Psychologists work in a range of settings, including the following:

Universities

Aotearoa New Zealand has a number of universities and the Open Polytech that employ psychologists to teach courses in psychology. 

Public sector

Public sector employers of psychologists include Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, the Department of Corrections psychological service, Learning Support within the Ministry of Education, social welfare agencies such as Oranga Tamariki, and the Ministry of Defence and the NZ Police.

Careers New Zealand, a government-funded information service, provides general information on working conditions and salaries.

Private practice

Many psychologists in private practice provide services on an individual basis or as part of a group practice with other psychologists or other health professionals.

Industrial/organisational psychology

Larger organisations may employ psychologists in human resource management positions. Recruitment for these positions is often through commercial employment agencies. Psychologists may operate independently in a consulting capacity. For more information go see the Institute of Organisational Psychology.

Community and voluntary sector

Some psychologists work for community and voluntary welfare organisations. To find out what those roles might include, search the Tahatū database for community psychologist roles.

It is sometimes difficult to see a pathway for yourself when you are studying. Make use of the career services at your university and talk with your psychology lecturers about your interest in a psychology career.

If you are a Stage 3 student, you might like to contact the local branch of the New Zealand Psychological Society in your area to meet with psychologists and find out more about what they do.

Watch videos from psychologists discussing their early career.

You will need an undergraduate degree, followed by a Masters degree or postgraduate diploma in psychology, then 1500 hours of closely supervised practice prior to being registered by the New Zealand Psychologists Board. This can take from six to eight years.

The New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS) is a voluntary professional association for psychologists. It offers many professional development, collegial, and other benefits that support the clinical practice of members. 

The New Zealand Psychologists Board (NZPB) is the body that registers psychologists to practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. You must be registered with the NZPB to use the title ‘psychologist’ and to work in Aotearoa New Zealand.

You can join as an NZPsS student subscriber as soon as you become a postgraduate student in psychology. It’s easy to join and, even better, it's free!

As a postgraduate student, you can become a student subscriber. 

When you join you will:

• become part of a vibrant community
• be able to network with other students and professional psychologists and build contacts to assist your future career
• get discounted professional practice books
• attend discounted workshops and seminars and access online professional development
• publish in our magazine Psychology Aotearoa
• attend the annual conference at a discounted rate
• attend monthly online hui with other student subscribers.

What’s not to like?

 ​See the full benefits of being a student subscriber.