Why is this important?
From Tuesday 30 June 2026, it will be a requirement for all Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioners (MHWP) to be on an approved register. The BPS Wider Psychological Workforce (WPW) Register is one of the approved routes available to meet this requirement.
What are the benefits of registration?
Registration formally recognises the scope of the MHWP role, helping to protect and define it. It also ensures consistent standards of practice across NHS-commissioned services and provides assurance to the public and employers that practitioners meet agreed training, supervision and practice requirements.
The BPS WPW Register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
What does PSA accreditation mean for practitioners?
This accreditation confirms that practitioners on the WPW Register meet robust quality standards and provides confidence to employers and the public.
Plus, registrants on the BPS PSA-accredited register can use the exclusive PSA Quality Mark which immediately highlights their commitment and credibility in the profession to clients and employers.
To join the WPW Register, MHWPs must also be an Associate member of the BPS.
Why register with the BPS?
By joining and registering with the BPS, MHWPs can become part of the UK’s largest professional psychology community in under three weeks. Our short application time means that you can be covered quickly and with minimal disruption to your role.
Being part of the BPS can also help support your credibility with employers and services and provide enhanced networking and development opportunities.
Membership also provides:
- Immediate professional recognition – Use of the AMBPsS designation, which shows membership of the society and can enhance your CV by highlighting commitment to the profession.
- Discounted access to CPD and publications -Develop knowledge and meet CPD commitments for less, with a discount of up to 40% off a range of BPS Learn courses and 25% off Routledge books, including Building a Career as a Psychological Practitioner, which offers practical advice for those working in the wider psychological professions.
- Accessing the EBSCO Psychology & Behavioral Sciences collection and BPS publications – A range of trusted research and content to support evidence-based practice and hone your knowledge.
- Developing a professional network – Possibility to join a range of specialist member networks and online communities where you can make new contacts, share ideas and access additional professional resources.
- The latest professional insights – Free print, online and app access to our official magazine, The Psychologist, providing the latest thought leadership, news, reviews and more.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioners who register before the deadline will also get free access to the on-demand webinar, The ethics of technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in psychology. This webinar can help provide a better understanding on how AI can help support delivering behavioural interventions.
How much does it cost to register with the BPS as a MHWP?
MHWPs can join the BPS and the WPW register for £120 a year. That’s just £10 a month if you pay by monthly direct debit.
This is split by £54 per year for Associate membership of the BPS and £66 per year for entry on the Wider Psychological Workforce Register.
There is also a £35 one-off application fee for joining the society.
How long does it take to register?
We have a dedicated team ready to process your application and once all evidence is submitted, we can process an application in two to three weeks approximately.
What are the requirements to join the Wider Psychological Workforce Register with the BPS?
To join the register, you’ll need to:
- Meet the training requirements for your specific role. The society is the sole accrediting body for the training courses for the MHWP programmes. You can find an accredited course through our accredited course search.
- Meet the practice requirements for your role.
- Meet the supervision requirements for your role.
- Be a member of the BPS (you can apply to join as an Associate member of the society and the register at the same time).
To continue working in NHS-commissioned healthcare, practitioners will need to be on an approved register, by no later than Tuesday 30 June 2026.
However, please check with employers to confirm any internal requirements and dates as these may differ.
Further information about the registration process is available in the video below.
How to apply?
Existing BPS members can directly apply for the register on our website.
Non-BPS members will need to join the society as an Associate member. This can be done at the same time, and the applications will be processed and approved together.
You can register in three simple steps:
- Visit the Associate membership page and start your application.
We recommend you get everything, including your academic transcript and supervision confirmation form, ready beforehand - Select and complete the WPW register section, ensuring you submit your application as a combination (Associate membership and WPW registration)
- Pay your application and registration fees.
Remember, the deadline for Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioners (MHWP) to be registered with the British Psychological Society is Tuesday 30 June 2026.
Please allow enough time to get the application submitted ahead of the deadline. We recommend submitting by Tuesday 9 June. If you have questions about the application process, please email our membership team.
