Are all Psychologists Doctors (Dr)?
Some psychologists are entitled to use the title ‘Dr’ in front of their name because they have a post-graduate research degree such as a PhD or a professional training degree such as a DClinPsy.
Other psychologists qualified as applied psychologists before it became customary to award Doctoral level degrees and may have older qualifications which nonetheless confer entitlement to register and practice.
Thus the title ‘Dr’ may or may not have significance depending on the individual psychologist’s training and experience.
Complaints about psychologists and misuse of ‘psychologist’ titles
The HCPC can only take action on complaints about psychologists who are registered with it or about misuse of one of the protected titles. Likewise the BPS can only take action on complaints about its members or about people using the title Chartered Psychologist when they are not entitled to do so. The HPC and the BPS are not in a position to take action about people who call themselves ‘psychologist’ although they are not fully qualified or are not qualified at all.
