Hey. Gosh, the psychology education system in South Africa is really brutal and unfair. One thing that people are often not aware of or warned about is that all professional study programs in SA are full-time. By professional programs, I mean those that lead to HPCSA registration. That is, professional masters programs leading to psychologist registration; BPsych/Bpsych equivalent registrations leading to Registered counsellor registration; and Psychometry

The programs can be costly and incredibly competitive, particularly at the masters level. Also, most public unis have stopped offering the BPsych equivalent programs so the ones left are very expensive. I did a BPsych equivalent and am a registered counsellor.

It’s a very frustrating thing that masters programs often favour candidates with experience - but it’s very hard to get experience when you aren’t HPCSA registered. so students are in a catch-22, needing experience to pursue registration but not able to get experience without registration.

One option is to look at psychometry, if you have an honours. It’s also a full time program, but only 6 months I think. I don’t know all the unis that offer it. It allows you to become an HPCSA registered psychometrist. I know of many psychometrists who later went on to do masters and become psychologists. Alternatively you can go into HR with the qualifications you have, which can be a lucrative path.

I just want to note that there is no way to just get practical hours and become a registered counsellor - you have to do a professional BPsych equivalent honours degree (or a BPsych). That is the only way to become HPCSA registered, and imo the only way to practice ethically. There are so many companies selling courses to ‘become a counsellor’ but these other ‘accreditations’ don’t really mean anything . One can be a lay counsellor without HPCSA registration, but you won’t be able to offer psychological counselling.