In February 2007, the government published a white paper on the future of regulation, 'Trust, Assurance and Safety - The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century'. The white paper indicated that applied psychologists would be regulated by HPC. Standard one of our standards of education and training ('SET 1') sets out the threshold level of entry to the Register in the professions the HPC regulates. This is articulated a threshold academic level. Every time HPC opens a new part of the Register, it needs to determine the threshold level of qualification for entry to the new profession, following consultation, and add this to the standards. BASES will be responding. BASES is keen to hear the views of all those with an interest in this area before we make a final decision.

The documents are @ http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutus/consultations/index.asp?id=49 and http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutus/consultations/index.asp?id=48

Do you think the standards are at a threshold level for safe and effective practice? Do you think any additional standards are necessary? Do you think there are any standards which should be reworded? Please forward any comments to Dr Claire Hitchings (chitchings@bases.org.uk) by 7 January 2008.