About Licensure

Registration with the Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM) is MANDATORY for all psychologists and counsellors in Jamaica.

Licensure is offered in 5 categories:

Clinical

Counselling

Applied-Social

Educational or School Psychology

Professional Counsellor

Within each category, psychologists and counsellors may be licensed at the Masters or Doctoral levels. Certification will also include a notation regarding the qualification for conducting psychological assessments. Please see our Scope of Practice for specific details of this.

Please remember to date and sign the end of the infamous conduct guidelines when submitting your application for licensure.

All applications (including renewal) should be submitted directly to CPSM at info@cpsmja.org

You may also email jalicensureinfo@gmail.com if there are any queries about licensure.

Download Documents

First-time Registrants

New applicants have TWO (2) years until CEUs are due (for example if you registered for the first time in 2021/2022, then your CEUs will be due in 2023/2024).

New applicants: $4000 JMD

Use the New Applicant checklist to ensure all required documents are submitted to the CPSM:

Download new applicant documents:

  1. Registration form A

  2. Supervised experience log

      3. Key for supervised experience log

      4. Infamous guidelines

Please remember to date and sign the end of the infamous conduct guidelines when submitting your application for licensure.

Payment and submission of documents should be made directly to the CPSM.

Contact CPSM at:  info@cpsmja.org or Tel No:-(876)-754-8341.

For Renewals

18 CEUs are required. These  MUST include two (2) for Trauma and two (2) for Ethics.

Of the 18 CEUs required, nine (9) must be discipline-specific, and the remaining nine (9) can be flexible (discipline/non-discipline specific). CEUs are due at EVERY renewal (licensure expires March 31 annually).

Download required documents:

  1. Registration renewal form

  2. CEUs report form – All renewals require submission of copies of CE certificates

  3. Renewal Guidlines CPSM
  4. Credit Hour Schedule
Payment and submission of documents should be made directly to the CPSM.

Contact CPSM at:  info@cpsmja.org or Tel No: (876)-754-8341. 

LICENSURE FAQs

What are the requirements for initial licensure for psychologists in Jamaica

Applicants for licensure must have a qualifying doctoral or masters degree, from a college or institution of higher education that is accredited by the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) or an international accrediting agency recognized by a country’s governing body for education (eg. the United States Department of Education). 

 

Provide proof of supervision post-degree conferment (2,500 hours for doctoral level; 2,500 hours for Masters level applicants) which may include pre-doctoral internship hours and Masters practicum hours.

Further information for first time applicants can be found in the Scope of Practice or our New Applicants page

How do I find out if an educational institution is accredited by a regionally accrediting agency

You can find out about locally based programs by checking the accreditation database of the Univeristy Council of Jamaica (UCJ). For international institutions you may search accreditation databases provided by the local department of education. You may also inquire from the institution the degree was obtained. 

As a foreign national, do I need licensure in Jamaica, even though I am licensed in another country?

Foreign nationals seeking to practice psychology in Jamaica who have already met the requirements for licensure in a country outside of Jamaica will be required to obtain at least 500 supervised hours (supervision by a licensed local practitioner) in order to acquire cultural understanding and relevance in the application of psychological principles. See the Scope of Practice for further information.

Can I practice even though I still need more hours to meet the requirements?

You may practice as an individual in the process of completing hours with supervision. Requirements apply in the requisite category for licensure indicating “Supervised Practice” (eg. “Associate Psychologist [Supervised Practice]”). Once hours are achieved, you should apply for an upgrade to the relevant category (eg. “Licensed Associate Counselling Psychologist”).

Where do I submit all licensure documentation?

All applications (including renewal) should be submitted directly to CPSM at info@cpsmja.org

Where can I obtain supervised professional experience?
You may obtain supervised professional experience in any of the following:
  • In an official practicum/internship placement overseen by an approved supervisor of your graduate programme.
  • With a Certified Clinical Supervisor  
  • With a licensed practitioner who has had over 5 years of experience working in their respective field (Scope of Practice: 5.0 Supervision requirements)
How many hours of continuing education units (CEUs) do I need to accrue in order to renew my license?

18 CEUs are required. These MUST include two (2) for Trauma and two (2) for Ethics. 

Of the 18 CEUs required, nine (9) must be discipline-specific, and the remaining nine (9) can be flexible (discipline/non-discipline specific).

What if I relocate to another country, can I still see my clients in Jamaica virtually?
Yes. Once licensed to practice in Jamaica, you may continue to see clients in Jamaica. However, we encourage you to adhere to ethical guidelines regarding the practice of teletherapy. See teletherapy guidelines for further information. Practitioners should confirm if their malpractice insurance covers cross-country services.
As a foreign practitioner, if my client visits or relocates to Jamaica, may I continue to provide therapy virtually?

If a client is travelling or temporarily relocating (no more than 3 months in Jamaica) with the intention of continuing therapeutic services when they return to their country of residence, it is permissible that the client be seen via teletherapy (continuum of care), and that the practitioner identifies and contact locally based practices and resources available should the client be in crisis and need emergency services. 

If your client is permanently relocating, it is recommended that they be referred to a local practitioner or that you obtain a license to practice in Jamaica.