EP training in Wales
What’s involved
Training to be an EP is usually a three year commitment. You’ll train full time for three years and will then have to commit to working as an Educational Psychologist in England or Wales. Trainees have a different placement every year which are decided at the start of the course. Two of these three placements must be for a Welsh local authority, so expect to travel or even move over the three years.
Year 1
The first year of training has the highest amount of studying at university, and you can expect lectures, seminars, project work and student-led teaching. You’ll also have some a work-based placement in the first year as well and a number of ‘investigative visits’ to different types of educational settings and EP services.
Years 2 and 3
In year two and three of training, more of your time will be spent on placement as a Trainee Educational Psychologist (TEP). In recent years, delivery of Educational Psychology services has changed dramatically and while many TEPs work in a Local Authority for years 2 and 3, you may have your work placement with a Social Enterprise or a charity. Each year long placement undertaken on the Cardiff course happens in a different Local Authority.
What you need to get on a course
To apply for an EP training course, you need to have one of the following:
- A psychology degree
- A conversion course
- A psychology based Masters degree
The important thing is that your previous Degree or Masters qualification needs to provide Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership to the British Psychological Society.
You’ll also need to provide evidence of experience working with children, young people or families in:
- Educational (e.g. school, college)
- Health (e.g. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
- Care (e.g. Children’s social work)
- Community settings (e.g. Children’s centres)
Having at least 1 year of full time work experience in any of the above fields is essential and it would be important to demonstrate how you have applied psychology to real world issues in order to improve outcomes for children and their families.
Funding
EP training in Wales is fully funded. Fees are covered and a bursary is provided for every year you are on the course. The current bursary level (for 2016-2019 trainees) is £12,600 per year.
Where training happens
There is 1 university in Wales that trains EPs:
