National Requirements Lithuania

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• Psychology education

The education for psychologists in Lithuania follows the format of 3,5-4 years BA + 2 years MA.

Recognition of university education programmes as meeting EuroPsy requirements is undertaken in cooperation with the Lithuanian National Awarding Committee (NAC).

Lithuanian Ministry of Education legislated the training of psychologists based on a EuroPsy model (27 August 2015, Decree No. V-923). In Paragraph 2 of this document is explicitly stated that training of psychologists must comply with the EuroPsy standards. This document is the official document used for the accreditation of the Psychology training programs at the Universities since 2015. The structure of Bachelor and Masters programs are identical to the EuroPsy regulations.

• Programmes that meet EuroPsy requirements:

Recognised programmes exist at 5 universities. These programmes meet the EuroPsy requirements and are listed below:

• Supervised practice arrangements (for the EuroPsy Certificate)

The supervised practice implementation is in process. Lithuanian NAC in collaboration with Lithuanian Psychological Association prepared the detailed descriptions of the EuroPsy competencies in the fields of clinical and health, organizational, educational, and low psychology. This information is planned to be used during the training of supervisors and for the evaluation of psychologist in practice.

• Arrangements for training of supervisors

There are some training programs for the general skills of supervision organized under the universities (e.g. Vilnius University, Vytautas Magnus University). There is a number of EuroPsy psychologists who have formal training in supervision. EuroPsy supervision training development is in progress. We plan the short-term training for the skilled supervisors, aimed at presenting the EuroPsy competencies model.

• Recognition of Title

The title Psychologist is a legally recognized and protectedtitle for some areas of practice. Psychologists working in the medical health system have their licencing organised by the Ministry of Health. A Decree issued by the Lithuanian Ministry of Education requires from psychologists working in Education field to have BA and MA in psychology and undergo qualification re-recognition every 5 years (certainamount of CPD is required for re-recognition). To be granted a permit for economical activity as psychologist (from the Tax Inspection), one has to have BA and MA in psychology.

• Licence to Practice

There is a license or entry in a register needed for practising in some areas of practice. Psychologists working in the medical health system have their licencing organised by the Ministry of Health. There is a substantial move forward regarding the legal regulations of the psychologists in Lithuania. If the current version of the law will be approved by the parliament, psychology will become a licensed profession.

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

LPA organizes trainings and meetings, that meet EuroPsy CPD criteria. These meetings and trainings are marked with EuroPsy batch, so that EuroPsy psychologists know, that it will count as CPD, when they will apply for EuroPsy revalidation. External organizations can also apply for the EuroPsy batch to mark their organized training. The requirement is that the training should be led by a psychologist (minimum master degree) for the psychologists.