The Objectives of the Society are to promote and advance the scientific study and professional practice of psychology for the benefit of the community; to promote the dissemination of psychological knowledge and education, locally, nationally and internationally; and to promote high standards and guide ethical practice in the teaching, research, professional training and practice of psychology.

By joining this learned and professional body for psychologists, you are investing in your professional study and professionalism. It reflects your aspiration to represent the highest possible standards and be networked with our professional and membership groups with similar interests that drive changes in your profession.

The Membership consists of Honorary Fellows, Fellows, Associate Fellows and Graduate Members.

Graduate Members – To qualify for election as a Graduate member a candidate shall have satisfied the Council one of the following conditions:

(i) a bachelor degree from an institution recognized by the Council at a minimum lower 2nd class honours level or a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 or equivalent with psychology as the major subject taking no less than 8 courses in different areas of psychology covering at least Research Methods in Psychology and 4 out of the 6 following fundamental areas: Biological / Physiological Psychology, Developmental /Child Psychology, Cognitive Psychology /Perception /Learning /Memory, Personality /Individual Differences, Social Psychology, and History of Psychology/Contemporary Issues in Psychology; or

(ii) a postgraduate qualification in psychology from an institution recognized by the Council covering the courses and fundamental areas of psychology as specified in (i) above; or

(iii)   such other qualification in psychology as the Council shall approve.

If applicants have completed an independent research project in psychology, or if they have completed an advanced, seminar-based course in psychology, they are also counted as fulfilling the area of “History of Psychology / Contemporary Issues in Psychology".

To be eligible for Hong Kong Psychological Society (HKPS) membership, only campus-based psychology programmes will be accepted. A "campus-based" psychology programme is defined as a Bachelor's or higher-level psychology degree programme where the teaching and learning activities are primarily conducted on campus, with the active presence and participation of both instructors and students from the same tertiary educational institution. As such, HKPS generally does not accept distance learning, self-taught, self-study, or online psychology programmes, or any programmes of a similar nature, for HKPS membership application.

Associate Fellows must be a Graduate Member or shall have satisfied the Council that s/he possesses the requirements for Graduate Membership and shall have satisfied the Council that s/he has complied with the following conditions:

1. a Master degree in Psychology; and
2. 3 years' full-time relevant post-qualification working experience.

Fellows must be Associate Fellows or has been eligible for associate fellowship for at least ten years at the time of their election, and have contributed in a significant manner to the advancement of psychology as a science or as a profession.

Honorary Fellows are elected from time to time at the Annual General Meeting on the recommendation of the Council.

(i) No professional qualification shall be required on the part of a candidate for election as an Affiliate provided that s/he has a long standing interest in psychology or that his or her professional occupation is normally with a genuine interest in psychology.

(ii) Members or Fellows of the Society no longer resident in Hong Kong may apply to be elected overseas affiliates with the same privileges, rights and duties as affiliates resident in Hong Kong while, recognising the impracticality for the Society of international surveillance, the Society will no longer be bound to seek an overseas affiliate’s adherence to its Code of Professional Conduct.

(iii) Affiliates are not Members of the Society, and shall not represent themselves as such.

All applicants shall attach to their Application Form an application fee $550 which shall be non-refundable, but which shall constitute a credit toward Membership or Affiliateship fee if the applicant is elected.

There is an Annual Subscription, which at present is as follows:

Subscriptions are payable in advance on 1 June each year. There is no pro-rata payment of annual subscription, except for transfer to a higher grade of membership.

Persons who consider themselves qualified to become members must complete an Application Form.

The applicants for membership must normally be proposed and seconded by two members of the Society who know the applicants personally and are prepared to provide information with regard to their qualifications for membership.

If the applicants for membership are unable to find a Proposer and Seconder, they should supply 2 relevant academic/professional references. The References of Member Form

After completion, the Application Form should be sent to the Chair of the Membership & Professional Standards Committee at the registered address of the Society given above.

All relevant transcripts and other documents required on the Application Form and an application fee $550 must be enclosed with the Form. An application which is not supported by the required enclosures will not be processed. 

All applicants are required to sign a Declaration and an Undertakig to abide by the Society's Code of Professional Conduct

Persons who wish to become Affiliates can use the Membership Application Form stating the nature and duration of their interest in psychology and their professional standing and occupation.

An applicant for Divisional membership must be a Member of the Society. For application details, please go to the respective webpage:

Division of Clinical Psychology

Division of Educational Psychology 

Division of Industrial-Organisational Psychology

Division of Counselling Psychology

If you are a divisional member and would like to upgrade to Associate Fellow, please complete and submit the AF Application Form (no payment is required at this stage).  Please provide a certificate copy of your master's degree in psychology.  For the relevant work experience, please fill in the application form.  You may be asked to provide a documentary proof if needed.

The Clinical Division was founded in 1981. It consists of qualified Clinical Psychologists, who have obtained a Master’s or higher degree in Clinical Psychology and apply their specialist knowledge and skills in the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of psychological problems and promotion of better psychological well-being.

The Educational Division was founded in 1987. It consists of qualified Educational Psychologists who have obtained a Master’s or higher degree in Educational Psychology. The members are involved in research, teaching, and/or applying their specialist knowledge and skills in the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of problems arising as a function of the schooling of children and young people.

The Industrial-Organisational Division was founded in 2000. It consists of qualified Industrial-Organisational Psychologists who have obtained a Master’s or higher degree in Industrial-Organisational Psychology. The members are employed in private, public and academic sectors, and work in areas including organisational consultancy, organisational research, personnel selection, psychometric testing, job design, performance management and appraisal, change management, consumer behaviour, human factors, and training and development.

The Counselling Psychology Division was formally inaugurated in August 2006. It consists of qualified Counselling Psychologists who have obtained a Master’s or higher degree in Counselling Psychology. The members are employed in private, public and academic sectors to deliver psychologically-based interventions or programmes which are tailor-made to fit the needs of individuals, families, groups and organisations.

From time to time the Divisions arrange meetings, workshops and seminars, aiming at the continuous sharpening and updating of the professional knowledge and skills of the members. They also publish material relevant to the practice of their specialty and for the information of the general public.

The names and specialty of the members of the divisions are indicated in the published Register of the Society.

As a first step towards the statutory registration of psychologists in Hong Kong and to provide the general public with the means to identify qualified practitioners who are bound by the Society's Code of Professional Conduct to provide a safe, effective, reliable and accountable service, the Society has established a Professional Register of qualified psychologists in 1993. The Directory of Registered Psychologists can be viewed on the Society's webpage. The Registrar issues a Certificate of Registration to Registered Psychologists for public display at the place of practice of the member upon request. The membership of the Register must be renewed every year in order to ensure that the members are actively practising and enhancing their professional knowledge and skills. The current Admission Fee is $500 and the annual Membership Fee is $200 as from 1 June 2012. The Registrar issues a Certificate of Registration to Registered Psychologists to the member upon request.

An applicant for registration must be a Member of the Society, possess a higher degree in psychology obtained from an institution recognized by the Society, and have at least one year of post qualification experience in a discipline of psychology deemed acceptable to the Council. Psychologists who want to register with the Hong Kong Psychological Society should download the Application Form for Registered Psychologist  and send the completed Form with the necessary enclosures to the Registrar at the Society's registered address.

An applicant for registration must be a Member of the Society, possess a higher degree in psychology obtained from an institution recognized by the Society, and have at least one year of post qualification experience in a discipline of psychology deemed acceptable to the Council.

Psychologists who wish to have their names inscribed in the Register should download the Application Form for Registered Psychologist and send the completed Form with the necessary enclosures to the Registrar at the Society's registered address.

Membership Application

Reference for Membership Application