Entry requirements
Have you already done NHS-funded training?
Why are there rules about funding?
The National Health Service (NHS) provides funding for training in the psychological professions. This is a significant investment.
The funding rules aim to ensure that:
- people complete their NHS funded training, and
- people have a suitable gap between each period of their NHS funded training
Each UK nation has its own funding rules. They review these regularly so the rules may change in the future.
Please see below for an overview of the current rules, and follow the relevant links for further details.
Rules for each UK nation
England
From April 2022 you need at least a 2 year gap between finishing your previous NHS-funded training in the psychological professions and starting NHS-funded clinical psychology training. This is an NHS England (NHSE) requirement.
This applies to anyone who starts NHS-funded training, regardless of how the training ends: pass, withdraw, fail, etc. And the end date used is the date of the exam board for that course, regardless of when/how you left.
- Please see the NHSE website for details of the requirements e.g. relevant dates, a list of psychological professions training, etc
Wales
You need at least a 2 year gap between finishing your Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology (CAAPs) training in Wales and starting NHS-funded clinical psychology training. This is a Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) requirement.
You may also need a 2 year gap between finishing other previous NHS-funded training in the psychological professions and starting NHS-funded clinical psychology training.
- Please see the Bangor University and South Wales entries in the Courses section as the implementation may vary between the courses
- Please see the NHSE website for details of the requirements e.g. a list of psychological professions training, etc
Scotland
Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS), formerly NHS Education for Scotland (NES), funds the following psychological training:
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (University of Edinburgh/NHS Scotland and University of Glasgow/NHS Scotland)
- MSc Psychological Therapies in Primary Care (Universities of Dundee & Stirling/NHS Scotland)
- MSc Applied Psychology for Children and Young People (University of Edinburgh/NHS Scotland)
- Stage 2 Health Psychology Training (NHS Scotland/British Psychological Society) - the date for this award is taken as end of the 2 year PSDS funded contract, rather than award of the qualification by the BPS
- Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Training (Human Development Scotland/NHS Scotland)
- Postgraduate certificates and diplomas in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) training to Accredited Practitioner or Supervisor level
- Family Based Treatment (FBT) training to Accredited Practitioner or Supervisor level
- Family Therapy (FT) Masters level Training
- Enhanced Psychological Practice Programme with Adults (EPP-A) or with Children, Young People and their Families (EPP-CYP) - (Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS))
Where a candidate has previously received, or is currently in receipt of funding for any of the above programmes, that candidate will normally not be eligible to receive funding for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology until a minimum of 18 months after the award for the previous training is recommended by a qualifying exam board (or by chair’s action after the qualifying exam board, or achieved by other recognised route).
Where a candidate has enrolled in, but not completed one of the identified programmes, funding would not be available for a period of 24 months after the exit date from the programme.
Please note that the 18 (or 24) month period is from the date of award of the previous training to the date of commencing the subsequent training.
- Please also see the University of Edinburgh and University of Glasgow entries in the Courses section
Still unsure?
Have you read all the information above? And followed all the relevant links?
If you're still unsure about your eligibility due to previous NHS-funded training you've done, please contact the relevant NHS commissioning body for more information:
Last updated:
7th September 2026