The Council of Ministers adopted a draft law on the profession of psychologist and the professional self-government of psychologists

The Council of Ministers has adopted a draft law on the profession of psychologist and the professional self-government of psychologists. The draft, submitted by the Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy, comprehensively regulates the principles of the profession of psychologist, as well as the organization and functioning of the professional self-government of this group.

The purpose of the law is primarily to ensure the quality of psychological services and to allow only qualified individuals to provide them. The new law is intended to guarantee the safety of patients and meet the needs of the professional community of psychologists, who have been calling for the establishment of a self-governing body for years.

- The profession of psychologist has a very important social significance. As a profession of public trust, it should be practiced only by people who have the appropriate training and follow the rules of professional ethics," the project's justification emphasizes.

The new regulations will replace the law of June 8, 2001, which, although formally in force, was never implemented in practice due to numerous legal and legislative flaws.

Key Solutions

The new law regulates:

• The rules for obtaining the right to practice as a psychologist,
• The organization and operation of the self-government of psychologists,
• Issues of disciplinary responsibility of practitioners of the profession.

According to the draft, a psychologist will be able to become a person who:

• Graduated with a bachelor's or master's degree in psychology and obtained a master's degree, or
• She completed a unified master's degree in psychology and also earned a master's degree.

The project aims to eliminate from the market those who provide psychological services without the required qualifications. This is intended to protect patients from incompetent practitioners who may cause harm and harm the prestige of the psychological profession.

The law does not take away existing vested rights, but makes registration in the register of psychologists mandatory.

Psychologists will be required to observe professional secrecy - both with regard to information obtained from the patient and psychological records kept.

Professional self-government of psychologists

The new regulations also introduce detailed arrangements for the organization of the professional self-government of psychologists, which will:

• Represented the professional community,
• Ensured compliance with labor standards,
• established rules of professional ethics,
• conducted disciplinary proceedings against members of the profession.

The Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy will supervise the local government.

Source: KPRM