BPS Accreditation

Louise Deeley is a Chartered Sport Psychologist with The British Psychological Society (BPS). At present, Louise isn't taking on students to supervise for the BPS accreditation process but may do in the future, so please bookmark this page.

Legal protection of title 'Sport Psychologist'

This information is taken from the BASES website and relates to the fact that you cannot call yourself a 'Sport Psychologist' unless you are registered with the Health Professions Council so beware of any imitations!

'Members with an interest in psychology should be aware that the title Sport and Exercise Psychologist is legally protected through the Health Professions Council. It may only be used by practitioners registered with the Health Professions Council.

The title is concerned with practitioner psychologists. The use of 'psychologist' as a descriptor of a teaching role in a university (e.g. lecturer in sport and exercise psychology) should not be of concern. However, if this person started to advertise their services as a practitioner to the public then this would become an infringement.

The protected title is Sport and Exercise Psychologist. Manipulation of the English language could be a means of stepping round the HPC framework. For example, Football Performance Consultant or Sports Stress Manager would be perfectly legal. But a title which implies a person is a practitioner psychologist would be illegal (e.g. Sport Scientist (Psychology)). BASES would emphasise strongly that members run a risk of prosecution if they describe themselves in a way that could mislead the public. Furthermore, the BASES code of conduct guides members on competence, professional and personal conduct (see sections 6 and 7 of the BASES Code of Conduct).

The HPC advice about misuse is as follows:

Misuse of titles

A person commits an offence if they use a protected title if they are not registered with us. It is also an offence to intend to deceive by implying that you are a member of one of the professions that we regulate. An example of this is if someone states that they provide psychology services when they are not on our register.

Misuse may be subject to prosecution and a fine of up to £5,000'

For more information on the BPS and how you can apply for chartership as a Sport Psychologist, click here