Psychologist CV Example
Updated 7 July 2026
A strong psychologist CV must evidence your HCPC registration, doctoral training, and competence in specific therapeutic modalities. UK recruiters look for quantified clinical outcomes, MDT consultation experience, and a clear statement of your protected title and specialism.
Psychologist CV examples
Trainee Clinical Psychologist
entryLeads with doctoral training and HCPC registration, quantifies placement caseloads, and names specific therapeutic modalities.
Clinical Psychologist (Band 7)
midShows HCPC registration, quantified clinical outcomes, named therapeutic modalities (CBT, DBT, CAT), and MDT consultation experience at Band 7 level.
Consultant Clinical Psychologist (Band 8a)
seniorDemonstrates leadership at Band 8a, clinical supervision delivery, service development, strategic MDT consultation, and a strong publication record.
How to write a psychologist CV
Format and structure
UK psychologist CVs run two to three pages in reverse-chronological order. Open with a personal statement (2-3 sentences), contact details, and your HCPC registration status. Follow with Experience, Education, Professional Registration & Certifications, and Research & Publications. No photo, no date of birth.
Personal statement
State your HCPC-protected title (Clinical, Counselling, Forensic, Educational, Occupational, Health, or Sport & Exercise Psychologist), your specialism (adult mental health, CAMHS, neuropsychology, learning disabilities, older adults), years of post-qualification experience, and your NHS band if applicable. Name 2-3 core therapeutic modalities (CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, family systemic, CAT) and one standout strength (complex formulation, MDT leadership, research).
Experience
Each role should show the full psychological-assessment cycle: clinical interview, psychometric testing, formulation, intervention, and outcome evaluation. Quantify your caseload (clients per week), therapy completion rates, and measured symptom-reduction outcomes (CORE-OM, PHQ-9, GAD-7, RCADS). Evidence MDT working through joint formulation, case discussion, and consultation to other professionals. At Band 7 and above, highlight clinical supervision delivered to trainees and assistant psychologists.
Skills
List your therapeutic modalities specifically (CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, family systemic, CAT, ACT, EMDR) rather than saying "therapy". Include psychometric tools (WAIS-IV, WMS-IV, ADOS-2, ACE-III), outcome measures, risk assessment, safeguarding, and clinical supervision.
Education
State your doctorate clearly: Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy / ClinPsyD) for clinical psychologists, or the equivalent HCPC-approved doctorate for your specialism. Include your doctoral thesis title and any relevant placements. List your BPS-accredited undergraduate degree and confirm it conferred Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).
Research and publications
The doctorate is research-based, and evidence-based practice is valued. List your doctoral thesis, peer-reviewed publications, service evaluations, and audits. Trainees and early-career applicants should include their thesis and any conference presentations. Use full citations with DOI links where available.
Personal statement examples
HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist with six years post-qualification experience in adult mental health and personality disorder services. Competent in CBT, DBT, and CAT, with a strong track record in complex case formulation, MDT consultation, and evidence-based outcome measurement. Working at NHS Band 7.
Experienced psychologist with a passion for helping people. Skilled in therapy and assessment. Looking for a role where I can use my skills to make a difference and continue my professional development.
Writing your experience
Show impact, not duties
Psychology CVs must evidence the scientist-practitioner model: quantify clinical caseloads, therapy completion rates, and measured outcomes. Each bullet should follow the pattern: action + context + measurable result.
| Weak (duty-focused) | Strong (outcome-focused) |
|---|---|
| Responsible for delivering CBT to clients with anxiety and depression. | Delivered individual CBT to 15 clients per week with moderate to severe depression and anxiety, achieving 68% reliable improvement on CORE-OM at discharge. |
| Conducted psychological assessments and wrote reports. | Conducted comprehensive psychological assessments including clinical interview, psychometric testing (WAIS-IV, WMS-IV), and formulation, producing detailed reports for MDT care planning and CPA reviews. |
| Provided supervision to trainee psychologists. | Provided weekly clinical supervision to 2 trainee clinical psychologists, supporting complex case formulation, risk management, and reflective practice. |
Action verbs for psychologists
Assessed, formulated, delivered, facilitated, supervised, consulted, evaluated, designed, implemented, presented, contributed, led, chaired, designed, published.
Evidence MDT working
Clinical psychologists rarely work in isolation. Show joint formulation, case discussion, and consultation to community psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, social workers, occupational therapists, and education professionals. At senior levels, evidence strategic MDT leadership and service development.
Key skills & ATS keywords
Hard skills
Soft skills
ATS keywords
Education & certifications
Doctoral qualification
The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy / ClinPsyD / Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology) is mandatory for UK clinical psychology practice. State the degree title, awarding university, and years attended. Include your doctoral thesis title and a brief note of your placements (adult mental health, CAMHS, older adults, learning disabilities, neuropsychology, health psychology). Confirm the doctorate was BPS-accredited and HCPC-approved.
For other specialisms, state the exact route: forensic psychologists need an HCPC-approved MSc in forensic psychology plus supervised practice (BPS Stage 2 / QFP) or an accredited doctorate; educational psychologists need a BPS-accredited doctorate in educational psychology.
Undergraduate degree
List your BPS-accredited undergraduate degree (BSc Psychology, First Class Honours or 2:1) and confirm it conferred Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). If you completed a conversion MSc to gain GBC, state that clearly.
Professional certifications
List HCPC registration with your registration number and dates (e.g. "Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) | 2017 to Present"). State your BPS standing: Chartered Member (CPsychol) or Graduate Member (GBC). Include any accreditation from BABCP (for CBT), specialist training certificates (ADOS-2, ADI-R, TF-CBT, DBT), and mandatory safeguarding Level 3.
Research and publications
The doctorate is research-based. List your doctoral thesis, peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, service evaluations, and audits. Use full citations with DOI links. Trainees should include their thesis even if not yet published.
Common mistakes to avoid
Using the bare term "Psychologist" without stating your HCPC-protected title and specialism.
State your exact protected title (Clinical Psychologist, Educational Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist) and specialism (adult mental health, CAMHS, neuropsychology) in the personal statement and role titles. Only use a protected title if you hold HCPC registration for that specialism.
Listing duties instead of quantified clinical outcomes ("responsible for delivering therapy").
Show caseload size, therapy completion rates, and measured symptom-reduction outcomes: "Delivered individual CBT to 15 clients per week, achieving 68% reliable improvement on CORE-OM at discharge."
Saying "therapy" without naming your therapeutic modalities.
Clinical psychologists are trained in CBT plus at least one other major approach. List the models you are competent in: CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, family systemic, CAT, ACT, EMDR. Include any accreditation (e.g. BABCP-accredited CBT).
Omitting HCPC registration or burying it at the end of the CV.
State HCPC registration explicitly near the top of the CV, ideally in the Professional Registration section or as the first achievement: "Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) | 2017 to Present". It has been mandatory since 2013 and is a hard filter for most roles.
Failing to evidence MDT working and consultation to other services.
Show joint formulation, case discussion, and consultation to community psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, social workers, occupational therapists, and education professionals. At senior levels, evidence strategic MDT leadership and service development.
Not including a research or publications section, or omitting the doctoral thesis.
The doctorate is research-based, and evidence-based practice is valued. List your doctoral thesis, peer-reviewed publications, service evaluations, and audits. Trainees should include their thesis title and any conference presentations.
Junior vs senior: what changes
| Aspect | Junior | Senior |
|---|---|---|
| Personal statement | Leads with doctoral training, HCPC registration, and placement experience. Emphasises core therapeutic modalities (CBT, psychodynamic) and commitment to evidence-based practice. | Leads with years of post-qualification experience, specialist clinical area (e.g. personality disorder, CAMHS intensive support), and leadership responsibilities (clinical supervision, service development, strategic MDT consultation). References NHS band (8a, 8b, 8c). |
| Clinical outcomes | Quantifies placement caseloads (8-12 clients per week) and therapy completion rates. Includes outcome measures from placements (CORE-OM, PHQ-9, GAD-7) with modest effect sizes. | Quantifies larger caseloads (12-18 clients per week) with complex presentations. Shows stronger outcome metrics (70%+ therapy completion, 50%+ reliable improvement) and longer-term follow-up data. Includes outcomes from service development projects and RCTs. |
| Therapeutic modalities | Lists 2-3 core modalities from doctoral training (CBT, psychodynamic, family systemic). May include specialist training workshops (DBT skills, TF-CBT intro). | Lists 3-5 modalities with advanced competence and accreditation (BABCP-accredited CBT, DBT intensive training, ADOS-2 reliability). Shows breadth across individual, group, and family work. |
| MDT working | Attends MDT meetings, presents assessment findings, and contributes to case discussions. Consults to other professionals under supervision. | Chairs MDT formulation meetings, leads strategic service development, and provides consultation to multi-agency teams (health, social care, education, criminal justice). Supervises other psychologists and MDT colleagues. |
| Research and publications | Lists doctoral thesis, any service evaluations or audits from placements, and conference presentations. May have one peer-reviewed publication from thesis. | Lists doctoral thesis plus 3-6 peer-reviewed publications, service evaluations, and audits. May include RCTs, systematic reviews, or book chapters. Often supervises research by trainees or junior colleagues. |
| Clinical supervision | Receives weekly clinical supervision from qualified psychologists. May co-supervise assistant psychologists under guidance. | Provides weekly clinical supervision to 2-5 trainee and qualified psychologists, assistant psychologists, and other MDT professionals. May deliver group supervision or reflective practice sessions. |