As a provisional psychologist, you must pass the National Psychology Exam in order to attain general registration. Preparing for the exam can be stressful, and it helps to work with an organisation like COPP who can help you appropriately prepare for it.

To help you on your way, we’ve answered some commonly asked questions about the exam.

How long is the exam?

The exam is 3.5 hours long and consists of 150 multiple choice questions.

What is covered in the exam?

The exam covers four domains of psychological practice:

• ethics (including applied ethical and professional reasoning)
• assessment (including methods and approaches)
• intervention (including intervention selection and implementation), and
• communication (including communication and reporting skills).

When does the exam take place?

National Psychology Exam sittings occur four times a year (February, May, August, and November).  You will need to book in to one of these exam sittings. You will also need to create an account via the Exam Portal to book and pay for your exam.

Where do I find documentation about the exam?

You can find a Candidate Manual on the Board’s website. The manual contains essential information on topics such as booking and payment information, the exam’s structure, how to prepare for it, and what to do before and after the exam

What should I read before the exam?

A recommended readings list is available online, which contains all of the resources recommended to cover the exam curriculum. However, this list is not exhaustive and exam candidates are encouraged to read widely and source a variety of materials as part of their exam study.

The Board also provides a full FAQ resource and Guideline documentation, which you should familiarise yourself with.

Where can I get additional support?

COPP’s 5+1 and 4+2 internship programs include outstanding supports and resources for National Psychology Exam preparation. These include a library of exam curriculum readings, e-learning modules and exam preparation groups.

Talk to us today to find out about our comprehensive Psychologist Registration Programs, including our 5+1 program and our bespoke 4+2 completion program.