Returning to Psychology Practice After a Break
Psychologists returning after a break need to meet the Psychology Board of Australia’s recency of practice standard. Under the current standard, that means 250 hours of practice as a registered or provisional psychologist in the previous five years, or completing a Board-approved program of study or supervised practice in that time. If you don’t meet it, the Board can require a period of supervised practice, and sometimes the national psychology exam, before you return. This article covers how the standard works, your registration options while you’re away, and what supervision involves when you come back.
The standard is under review. The Board consulted in 2026 on a revised version proposing 450 hours in the previous three years or 150 hours in the previous 12 months. Check the Board’s recency of practice page for the version in force when you apply.
What counts as practice
The Board defines practice broadly. It means any role, paid or unpaid, in which you use your skills and knowledge as a registered psychologist. That includes direct clinical work, and also management, administration, education, research, policy and supervision roles. Work that isn’t psychological in nature doesn’t count, even when a registered psychologist is doing it.
There’s no minimum per week and no requirement for continuity. You could practise an hour a week across five years or complete the 250 hours in a single block. A year off doesn’t affect your recency on its own, provided the five-year total is met.
Your registration while you’re away
How you hold your registration during a break affects how easily you can return. Keeping general registration means paying the full annual fee and meeting the CPD requirements, though you can return at short notice with appropriate professional indemnity insurance in place.
Non-practising registration costs significantly less. You stay on the public register and can still use the title psychologist, but you can’t practise, which includes supervision and other work that requires registration. If you let your registration lapse, you’re removed from the register and can’t use the protected title until you register again.
If you don’t meet the recency standard
You aren’t automatically eligible for registration or renewal if you haven’t met the standard. You’ll need to submit a Plan for professional development and re-entry to practice (form PLPD-76) to Ahpra, and the Board assesses each case individually. The length of your absence and any professional development you’ve done while away are both taken into account.
Where the gap is five years or more, you may need to hold provisional registration for a period and complete a return to practice program. That generally includes supervised practice and passing the national psychology exam. Practice overseas while you held registration or a licence counts toward recency. Practice in a country without registration isn’t automatically recognised and is assessed case by case.
Recency and competence are separate questions
Meeting the hours doesn’t by itself show that you’re current in the work you’re returning to. The Board expects you to assess your own readiness, identify any skills to refresh, and prepare for the role you’re going into. This matters most when you’re changing scope, for example moving from research, teaching or policy back into clinical work.
What supervision covers on return
Whether supervision is required by the Board or something you’ve chosen, it works best when it’s planned around your specific gaps. For many returning psychologists, those include changes to the regulatory framework, such as the Code of conduct for psychologists that replaced the APS Code of Ethics as the regulatory code on 1 December 2025. They also include current Medicare arrangements, assessment tools and treatment approaches that have moved on, and the practical side of documentation and risk assessment.
All of us lose some fluency in skills we haven’t used for a while. A few months of regular supervision gives you somewhere to check your thinking while that comes back. Supervision is also a psychological service under the Code, so it comes with informed consent, a written agreement and records like any other professional relationship. The clinical supervision guide covers what to look for in a supervisor.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours do I need to meet recency of practice as a psychologist?
Under the current standard, 250 hours of practice in the previous five years, or completion of a Board-approved program of study or supervised practice in that time. The Board consulted on a revised standard in 2026, so check the current version before you apply.
Does providing supervision count as practice for recency?
Yes. Supervision is psychological practice under the Board’s definition, as are teaching, research, policy and management roles that use your psychological knowledge.
What happens if I haven’t practised as a psychologist for five years?
The Board assesses your situation individually. You may need to hold provisional registration and complete a return to practice program, which generally includes supervised practice and the national psychology exam.
Can I use the title psychologist while I’m on a break?
Yes, if you hold general or non-practising registration. If your registration lapses, you can’t use the protected title until you’re registered again.
Can return to practice supervision be done online?
Supervision can be delivered by video, and many returning psychologists use it. If your return is under a plan the Board has approved, check that plan’s requirements for format and direct observation.
Supervision with Veronica
Veronica West is a registered psychologist and Board-approved supervisor providing supervision by telehealth across Australia. She works with provisional psychologists and with registered psychologists returning to clinical work after a break, and her supervision focuses on clinical reasoning, ethical decision-making and sustainable practice. You can read more on the supervision page or get in touch.