Establishment of the complete text of 20 articles, promulgated on August 13, 2002 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No.0910005984.
Amendment to Articles 8, 9, and 14, promulgated on April 29, 2003 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No.09200036491.
Amendment to Article 15, promulgated on January 13, 2006 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 09500003831.
Amendment to Articles 10, 11, 12, and 13, promulgated on March 2, 2007 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 09600014251.
Amendment to Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 20, promulgated on December 19, 2011, as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10000104931.
Amendment to Articles 1, 5, 9, 16, and 20, promulgated on August 6, 2013, as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10200066911.
Amendment to Articles 6, 7, 10, and 17, promulgated on November 20, 2013, as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10200097011.
Amendment to Articles 5, 6, 7, and 18, promulgated on October 7, 2016, as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10500065961.
Deletion of Articles 18 and 19 and replacement of Article 18 with Article 20, promulgated on March 24, 2017, as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10600015091.
Amendments to Articles 5, 10 and 17, promulgated on December 11, 2018 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10700098961.

The text of these Regulations is as follows:

Article 1

These Regulations are established as per Article 11, Paragraph 1 of the Professional and Technical Personnel Examinations Act.

Article 2

The Senior Professional and Technical Examinations for Psychologists (hereinafter the “Examinations”) are categorized as follows:

1. Clinical psychologist exam.

2. Counseling psychologist exam.

Article 3

The Examinations are administered annually and may held at other times when necessary.

Article 4

The Examinations are administered in written format.

Article 5

No candidate who is disqualified from practicing as a psychologist according to the Psychologists’ Act, or who is ineligible to take national examinations according to other laws or regulations may take the Examination.

Article 6

To qualify for the clinical psychologist examination, candidates must be R.O.C. citizens holding a master’s degree in clinical psychology from an institute, department, or division in clinical psychology or a master’s degree with a major in clinical psychology from a graduate program in psychological studies at a public or private university or independent college in the Republic of China or at a foreign university or independent college recognized by the R.O.C. Ministry of Education and must have completed an internship of at least one year.

The section “major in clinical psychology in a graduate program in psychological studies” in the preceding paragraph refers to the completion of at least 21 credits across seven or more courses. Courses must include: psychopathology (minimum three courses, nine credits), psychological assessment (minimum two courses, six credits), and psychotherapy (minimum two courses, six credits). A maximum of three credits will be counted per course. Candidates must pass all courses and obtain an official certifying document issued by the institute from which the candidates graduate. From January 1, 2016 onward, only course credits obtained during the course of graduate or post-graduate programs will be counted.

Candidates who graduated by December 31, 2015 may be eligible for the clinical psychologist examination if they have made up the required courses and credits at the institute they graduated from or at a different school and received a document issued by the institute they graduated from certifying the completion of such courses in clinical psychology.

The “internship” in the first paragraph refers to one held at a medical institution, a tobacco addiction and substance abuse rehabilitation center, a community mental health center, a psychotherapy institution, or any other institution designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Candidates must have completed the internship and received a document certifying they have passed the internship. For candidates who graduated before the promulgation and enforcement of the Psychologists’ Act, seniority in clinical psychology teaching or practice may be taken into account.

For candidates who entered an institute, department, or division set out in the first paragraph from June 30, 2011 onward, criteria for passing internship should be determined in accordance with the Enforcement Rules of the Psychologists’ Act.

Article 7

To qualify for the counseling psychologist examination, candidates must be R.O.C. citizens holding a master’s degree in counseling psychology from an institute, department, or division in counseling psychology, or a master’s degree with a major in counseling psychology from a graduate program in psychological studies at a public or private university or independent college in the Republic of China or at a foreign university or independent college recognized by the R.O.C. Ministry of Education, and must have completed an internship of at least one year.

From January 1, 2016 onward, the section “major in counseling psychology in a graduate program in psychological studies” in the preceding paragraph refers to the completion of at least one course for each of the following seven fields during a graduate or post-graduate program for a total of at least 21 credits. A maximum of three credits may be counted for each course. Candidates must pass all courses and obtain an official certifying document issued by the institute from which the candidates graduate.

1. Counseling and psychotherapy theory:

(1) Counseling and psychotherapy theory (research or independent study).

(2) Counseling theory (research or independent study).

(3) Psychotherapy theory (research or independent study).

(4) Counseling theory and technique (research or independent study).

2. Counseling and psychotherapy practice:

(1) Counseling and psychotherapy practice (research or independent study).

(2) Counseling and psychotherapy technique (research or independent study).

(3) Counseling technique (research or independent study).

(4) Counseling practice (research or independent study).

3. Counseling ethics and regulations:

(1) Counseling (professional) ethics and regulations (research or independent study).

(2) Counseling (professional) ethics (research or independent study).

(3) Counseling and psychotherapy (professional) ethics (research or independent study).

(4) Psychology and counseling professional ethics (research or independent study).

(5) Counseling ethics and professional development (research or independent study).

4. Mental health and abnormal psychology:

(1) Mental health (research or independent study).

(2) Abnormal psychology (research or independent study).

(3) Psychopathology (research or independent study).

(4) Health psychology (research or independent study).

(5) Community mental health (research or independent study).

5. Case study evaluation and psychological assessment:

(1) Psychological testing (assessment, evaluation, or diagnosis) (research or independent study).

(2) Psychological testing and assessment (research or independent study).

(3) Psychological evaluation and testing (research or independent study).

(4) Psychological testing and evaluation practice (research or independent study).

(5) Psychological testing theories and techniques (research or independent study).

6. Group counseling and psychotherapy:

(1) Group counseling theory and practice or group counseling theory and technique (research or independent study).

(2) Group counseling (research or independent study).

(3) Group psychotherapy (research or independent study).

7. Part-time counseling (course) internship: Part-time internship for relevant counseling courses during the graduate or post-graduate program.

Candidates who graduated by December 31, 2015 may be eligible for the counseling psychologist examination if they have made up the required courses and credits at the institute they graduated from or at a different school and received a document issued by the institute they graduated from certifying the completion of such courses in counseling psychology.

The “internship” in the first paragraph refers to one held at a medical institution, a psychological counseling institution, a university or college student counseling office, a community mental health center, or any other institution designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Candidates must have completed a minimum of 50 hours of one-on-one counseling and received a document certifying that they have passed the internship. For candidates who graduated before the promulgation and enforcement of the Psychologists’ Act, seniority in counseling psychology teaching or practice may be taken into account.

For candidates who entered an institute, department, or division set out in the first paragraph from June 30, 2011 onward, criteria for passing internship should be determined in accordance with the Enforcement Rules of the Psychologists’ Act.

Article 8

Clinical psychologist exam subjects:

1. Basics of clinical psychology

2. General introduction to clinical psychology (1) (including definitions, descriptions, and causes of delinquent behavior).

3. General introduction to clinical psychology (2) (including psychological assessment and psychotherapy).

4. Special topics in clinical psychology (1) (including psychological assessment, prevention, and management of suicidal ideation, psychological assessment and psychotherapy for violent behavior, psychological assessment and psychotherapy for substance abuse and dependence, and psychological assessment and psychotherapy for personality and adjustment disorders).

5. Special topics in clinical psychology (2) (including psychological assessment and psychotherapy for mental functioning deficits, psychological assessment and psychotherapy mental illness, and psychological assessment and psychotherapy for developmental disorders in children and teenagers).

6. Special topics in clinical psychology (3) (including psychological assessment and psychotherapy for eating disorders, psychological assessment and psychotherapy for psychoneurosis, and mental and physical response to stress and health behavior).

All subjects in the preceding paragraph consist of both essay and multiple-choice questions.

Article 9

Counseling psychologist exam subjects:

1. Basics of counseling psychology

2. Counseling and psychotherapy theory.

3. Practice and professional ethics for counseling and psychotherapy.

4. Mental health and abnormal psychology.

5. Case study evaluation and psychological assessment.

6. Group counseling and psychotherapy.

All subjects in the preceding paragraph consist of both essay and multiple-choice questions.

Article 10

Candidates who passed Level 3 Civil Service Senior Examination for Clinical Psychologists before the promulgation and enforcement of the Psychologists’ Act may apply for a full exemption from the clinical psychologist examination.

Candidates who have passed the Civil Service Senior Examination for Clinical Psychologists in the preceding paragraph refer to those who have passed the clinical psychology subject, the qualification examination for clinical psychologists, or the 2001 Level Three Civil Service Senior Examination for Clinical Psychologists and received the qualification certificates of the respective examinations.

Applications for an exam exemption in the first paragraph will be reviewed by a committee established by the Ministry of Examination (MOEX). Results of the review shall be approved by the MOEX and reported to the Examination Yuan for record.

The effective date of the qualification certificate of the Examinations for applicants who are granted a full examination exemption should be the date following the effective date of the applicant’s qualification certificate of the civil service examination. For applicants whose civil service qualification certificates took effect before the enforcement of the Psychologists’ Act, the newly issued qualification certificates shall be retroactive to November 23, 2001.

The first paragraph remains effective until December 31, 2021.

Article 11

When registering, candidates should submit the following documents and fees by mail:

1. Registration form.

2. Proof of exam eligibility.

3. Copy of citizen identification card. Overseas Chinese should submit their Overseas Chinese Identity Certificate issued by the Overseas Community Affairs Council, or submit their valid R.O.C. passport with approval from an overseas embassy or consulate, representative office, economic and cultural office, or other agency authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (hereinafter “Overseas Missions”) proving them to be R.O.C. nationals residing in a foreign country.

4. A 2.5-cm by 3.5-cm close-up photograph showing the head and top of the shoulders. Head coverings should not be worn and the photo should be taken within one year.

5. Registration fee.

Documents and fees for online registrations should be submitted in accordance with guidelines found in the Examination Information Pack and on the MOEX registration website.

Article 12

Candidates who apply for a full examination exemption in accordance with Article 10 should submit the following documents and fees.

1. Exemption application form.

2. Proof of exam eligibility.

3. Copy of citizen identification card. Overseas Chinese should submit their Overseas Chinese Identity Certificate issued by the Overseas Community Affairs Council or submit their valid R.O.C. passport with approval from an Overseas Mission proving them to be R.O.C. nationals residing in a foreign country.

4. A 2.5-cm by 3.5-cm close-up photograph showing the head and top of the shoulders. Head coverings should not be worn and the photo should be taken within one year.

5. Exemption application fee.

Applications for a full examination exemption may be submitted by mail at any appropriate time.

Article 13

For submissions of overseas documents including diplomas, certificates of degree, academic transcripts, credit verifications, a copy of regulations, or other relevant verification documents, originals must be provided together with mandarin translations and copies of verification from overseas missions or from a domestic public notary.

Original copies of the abovementioned documents may be replaced with copies that have been verified to be identical to the original by both a local public notary and an Overseas Mission.

Article 14

The passing score for the Examination is 60 across all exam subjects.

The passing score in the preceding paragraph is defined as the average score across all exam subjects.

Exam takers who receive a grade of zero on any one of the exam subjects will not pass. Absence from an exam session will result in a grade of zero for that exam.

Article 15 (Deleted)

Article 16

Foreign candidates who meet eligibility requirements set out in Articles 6 or 7, and who do not meet conditions set out in Article 5 may take the Examination.

Article 17

Examination results shall be reported by the MOEX to the Examination Yuan for the issuance of qualification certificates. The Ministry of Health and Welfare shall be duly informed in writing. Applicants who are granted a full examination exemption shall be deemed as passing candidates.

Article 18

These Regulations shall come into effect upon promulgation.

In case of any discrepancy between the English version and the Chinese version, the latter shall prevail.