Regulated professions
In the UK, some mental health professions are legally regulated and require registration to use a protected title.
About the PSA
The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) oversees 10 UK healthcare professional regulators to make sure they are protecting the public.
These regulators ensure professionals meet specific standards for training, conduct, and competence. Key professions include doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, pharmacists, opticians, chiropractors, osteopaths, social workers, and various Allied Health Professionals (AHPs).
Explore regulated professions and protected titles below.
Psychiatrist
Regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC)
Becoming a psychiatrist in the UK requires a medical degree (5-6 years), a two-year foundation program, three years of core psychiatry training, and three years of higher specialist training. Candidates must register with the General Medical Council, pass the MRCPsych exams, and choose a specialty like Forensic or Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
- Requires a medical degree plus specialist training in psychiatry
- Diagnoses mental illnesses, may provide therapy
- Can prescribe medication
Mental Health Nurse (MHN)
Regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
To become a mental health nurse in the UK, you must complete an NMC-accredited degree (BSc) in Mental Health Nursing or a degree apprenticeship.
- Requires a Nursing degree with mental health specialism
- Provides care and treatment to individuals with mental health conditions
- Can only prescribe medication as an independent prescriber after completing a recognised prescribing course
Occupational Health Nurse (OHN)
Regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
You must train and register as an adult, child, learning disability, or mental health nurse or registered midwife. You can go straight into an occupational health nurse role after registration.
- Requires a Nursing degree with optional additional qualifications in occupational health.
- OHNs advise working people and organisations of the impact of work on health and wellbeing.
- Can only prescribe medication as an independent prescriber after completing a recognised prescribing course.
Psychologist
Regulated by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Clinical Psychologist
- Requires a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)
- Provides assessment, diagnosis, and psychological therapies
- Does not prescribe medication
Counselling Psychologist
- Requires a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology
- Focuses on talking therapies, relationships, and emotional difficulties
- Does not prescribe medication
Educational Psychologist
- Requires a Doctorate in Educational Psychology
- Specialises in supporting children and young people in schools, working with learning, behavioural, and emotional issues
- Does not prescribe medication
Forensic Psychologist
- Requires a Master's or Doctorate in Educational Psychology
- Works in prisons, probation, or criminal justice settings to assess risk, provides rehabilitation, and contributes to legal processes
- Does not prescribe medication
Health Psychologist
- Requires a Master's or Doctorate in Health Psychology
- Focuses on how psychological factors affect health and illness, working in health promotion, public health, and behaviour change
- Does not prescribe medication
Occupational Psychologist
- Requires a Master's degree in Occupational Health Psychology
- Applies psychology to the workplace (e.g., productivity, wellbeing), usually working in business, HR, consultancy, or government settings
- Does not prescribe medication
Sport and Exercise Psychologist
- Requires a Master's degree in Sports and Exercise Psychology
- Works with athletes and clients to improve performance and wellbeing, may also support mental health through exercise interventions
- Does not prescribe medication
Practitioner Psychologist
- Requires a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)
- Umbrella term used for HCPC-registered psychology specialties (e.g., clinical, forensic)
- Protected title under law
- Does not prescribe medication
Creative Arts Therapist
Regulated by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
To become a creative arts therapist (art, music, or drama), you will need a bachelor’s degree in a related field, followed by an accredited Master’s degree in the specific therapy modality. The training requires supervised clinical internships, followed by registration with HCPC.
Art Therapist / Art Psychotherapist
- Requires a Master's level course in Art Therapy or Art Psychotherapy
- Uses visual art media (e.g. drawing, painting, sculpture) within a therapeutic relationship
- Aimed at helping clients express thoughts and feelings that may be hard to articulate in words
- Does not prescribe medication
Dramatherapist
- Requires a Master's level course in Dramatherapy
- Uses drama, storytelling, movement, and role play therapeutically to encourage self-expression, emotional processing, and personal insight
- Does not prescribe medication
Music Therapist
- Requires a Master's level course in Music Therapy
- Uses music (playing, listening, improvising) as the medium for therapy to suppors emotional expression, communication, and psychological healing
- Does not prescribe medication