Mental Health Licensing & Regulation in Chile: 2025 Guide

In Chile, the regulation of mental health professionals varies by role. Psychiatrists are medically licensed, while the title 'Psychologist' is earned through a university degree, and 'Clinical Psychologist' requires a separate, voluntary accreditation.

This guide explains the requirements for each profession, how to verify a provider's credentials, and what to look for to ensure you receive qualified care.

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Executive Summary

Legal Framework and Regulatory Authority

Professional Associations and Organisations

Professional Psychology Regulation

Professional Categories and Practice Requirements

Educational Infrastructure and Professional Development

Research and Academic Development

Verification and Professional Standards

References and Official Sources

Executive Summary

Legal Framework and Regulatory Authority

Mental Health Legislation

Status: This law establishes a modern, rights-based framework for mental healthcare. It supersedes many aspects of the older, scattered decrees. It emphasises community-based care, informed consent, and the protection of patient rights, moving away from the old asylum-based model. It renders Decree 570 largely obsolete in practice, though Law 20.584 remains relevant.

Historical Development:

• 1856: First legislation ("Mad House Law") inspired by French law of 1838
• 1927: General Code for Organisation and Care Provision of Mental Health Services
• 2001: Decree 570 replaced 1927 code
• 2012: Law 20.584 established healthcare rights and duties
• 2021: Law No. 21.331, "On the Recognition and Protection of the Rights of Persons in Mental Health Care," was enacted in May 2021.

Current Regulatory Framework

• Official Title: Code for the Hospitalisation of the Mentally Ill and for the Appropriate Institutions
• Legal Status: Administrative presidential act, not parliamentary law (operates as code of practice)
• Scope: Regulates psychiatric hospitalisation, admission procedures, and treatment standards
• Authority: Establishes decision-making processes for mental health care

• Scope: Regulates the rights and duties of any person in healthcare actions
• Mental Health Provisions: Paragraph 8 addresses the rights of people with "mental or intellectual disability"
• Relationship: Complex relationship with Decree 570; both remain valid with overlapping jurisdictions
• Commission: Confirms role of National Commission for Protection of People with Mental Illness (CNPPAEM)

Law No. 21.331 (2021)

• Scope: Establishes a human rights-based framework for mental healthcare, shifting focus from institutionalisation to community-based care.
• Key Provisions: Mandates integration of mental health into the general health system, strengthens patient rights (informed consent), and strictly regulates involuntary hospitalisation.
• Impact on Previous Legislation: Explicitly repeals and replaces the older Decree 570, establishing a new legal standard for mental healthcare.

Professional Associations and Organisations

Chilean Psychological Association (Colegio de Psicólogos de Chile A.G.)

• Founded: Originally established in 1959, current form developed later
• Legal Status: Professional association (A.G. - Asociación Gremial)
• International Recognition: Observer member of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS)
• Membership: 3,218 members (as of IUPsyS records)

• Address: Román Díaz 935, Providencia, Santiago, Chile
• Phone: +56 9 4408 2074
• Email: secretario.general@colegiopsicologos.cl
• Website: https://www.colpsi.cl/ (Spanish language)

• President: Francisca Pesse Hermosilla
• Email: presidencia@colegiopsicologos.cl
• Secretary General: Raquel Torres
• Email: raqueltorres.psicologa@gmail.com
• IUPsyS Delegates: Marcelo Urra (marcelo.urra@colpsi.cl), Mariella Norambuena (mariellanorambuena@gmail.com)

Specialized Professional Organizations

Chilean Society of Clinical Psychology

• Website: www.sociedadchilenadepsicologiaclinica.cl
• Primary Function: Maintains register of accredited clinical psychologists
• Authority: Determines clinical psychology specialisation standards
• Public Sector Role: Registration required for practice in National Health Service
• Private Practice: Registration is not required for private clinical practice

Other Professional Organisations

Chilean Family Therapy Institute (Instituto Chileno de Terapia Familiar)

• Website: https://terapiafamiliar.cl/
• Focus: Family therapy and systemic interventions

Chilean Psychoanalytic Association (Asociación Psicoanalítica Chilena)

• Website: https://apch.cl/
• Focus: Psychoanalytic training and practice

Professional Psychology Regulation

Educational Requirements and Legal Framework

• Minimum Duration: 5-year undergraduate psychology program is required by Chilean law
• Degree Structure: First 4 years provide degree roughly equivalent to bachelor's level, 5th year provides professional training
• Professional Title: "Psychologist" title legally protected and requires completion of 5-year program
• Thesis Requirement: Applied research project is typically required for graduation

• Comprehensive Training: Includes clinical, educational, and occupational psychology
• Theoretical Foundations: Behaviourism, cognitive psychology, psychodynamic theory
• Practical Applications: Professional applications of theories to Chilean context
• Specialisation Options: Some universities offer specialised programs in 5th year

Accreditation and Quality Assurance

• No Compulsory Accreditation: Currently no mandatory accreditation of psychology courses
• Voluntary System: Accreditation body created in 1999 to evaluate psychology training
• Limited Participation: Only 7 of 42 psychology programs have completed the accreditation process
• Quality Concerns: Psychology perceived as "chalk and blackboard" discipline, considered easy to establish programs

• Expected Changes: More accreditation anticipated as legislation develops
• Health Sector Reform: Chilean law changing to regulate health sector practices
• Individual Licensing: Future legislation may require individual psychologist accreditation
• Professional Standards: Enhanced quality assurance and professional standards expected

Professional Categories and Practice Requirements

General Psychology Practice

• Educational Qualification: 5-year university psychology degree
• Professional Title: Legal authorisation to use the "Psychologist" title
• Practice Authorisation: General psychology practice permitted upon graduation
• Professional Association: Membership in Chilean Psychological Association recommended

Clinical Psychology Specialisation

• Specialisation Status: Clinical psychologist accreditation is voluntary
• Public Sector Requirement: Public institutions require clinical accreditation when hiring psychologists
• Training Duration: Additional 2-3 years specialised training with hands-on supervision after a licensing degree
• Registration Authority: Chilean Society of Clinical Psychology maintains a register of accredited clinical psychologists

• National Health Service: Only registered clinical psychologists can practice in public health system
• Private Practice: Anyone with a psychology degree can practice privately, regardless of clinical registration
• Professional Recognition: Clinical accreditation provides enhanced professional standing and opportunities

Educational Infrastructure and Professional Development

University Psychology Programs

• 1946: Psychology was first taught as independent discipline at Universidad de Chile
• 1957: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile established psychology program
• 1981: Chilean law allowed the creation of private educational institutions
• Current Status: 42 universities offering undergraduate psychology degrees (40 established after 1981)

• Student Numbers: 86 psychology students (1980) → 3,593 students (2000)
• Academic Staff: Universidad de Chile had 160 academic staff in 1970 (number not exceeded since)
• Political Impact: Military coup in 1973 reduced academic staff from 160 to 40; many remained exiled for 20 years

• Master's Programs: 15 universities offer Master's degree programs
• Doctoral Programs: 2 universities offer doctoral programs
• International Training: Graduate training often undertaken abroad (USA, Spain, Belgium, France, Russia, Mexico, Brazil)

Professional Practice Distribution

• Clinical Psychology: More than 50% of graduates (private practice and national health system)
• Occupational Psychology: Approximately 33% of graduates
• Educational Psychology: Approximately 10% of graduates
• Emerging Areas: Health psychology, community psychology, political psychology

• Career Transitions: Many clinical psychology graduates retrain as occupational psychologists due to market requirements
• Occupational Growth: Substantial growth in occupational psychology over recent decades
• Company Awareness: Chilean companies are generally aware of the need to employ psychologists in selection and training
• Strategic Roles: Increasing strategic roles in organisational development

Research and Academic Development

Research Focus Areas

• Primary Focus: Educational psychology dominates published research
• Current Projects: Language acquisition, talent evaluation, cognitive development through gaming, disability, teacher performance assessment
• Academic Links: Many practitioners linked to academia, reflecting predominance in Chilean research
• National Impact: Teaching performance assessment project will directly impact school children's education

• Research Interests: Stereotypes and discrimination, prevention of social and domestic violence, community organisation development
• Funding: Some projects partly funded by the British Council and the Chilean government
• Ethnic Minorities: Research focus on improving inter-group attitudes toward native ethnic minorities

• Emerging Research: Facilitation of change through psychotherapy, user satisfaction with public health systems
• Government Relations: Strong relations with the national government in health psychology area
• Postgraduate Development: Postgraduate courses in health psychology established

Academic Publications

• Number: Three peer-reviewed psychology journals published in Chile
• Research Focus: Published research mainly related to educational psychology
• International Participation: Increasing Chilean psychologists participation in international journals

Verification and Professional Standards

Professional Verification Systems

Primary Verification: National Registry of Individual Health Providers

• Authority: The Superintendence of Health (Superintendencia de Salud).
• Verification Method: The public can verify the credentials of any psychologist through the official online National Registry. This is the sole definitive source for confirming a professional's legal right to practice.
• Website: https://www.superdesalud.gob.cl/

• Authority: Chilean Society of Clinical Psychology maintains register
• Verification: Public can verify clinical psychologist's registration status
• Requirements: Completion of specialised clinical training and supervision
• Scope: Required for national health service practice, optional for private practice

• Educational Verification: University degree verification through educational institutions
• Professional Association: Membership verification through Chilean Psychological Association
• Title Protection: Legal protection of the "Psychologist" title through educational requirements

Professional Ethics and Standards

• Professional Ethics: Code of ethics maintained by Chilean Psychological Association
• Clinical Standards: Specialised ethical standards for clinical psychology practice
• Confidentiality: Patient confidentiality is protected by professional association's code of ethics
• Professional Conduct: Standards for professional behaviour and practice

References and Official Sources

Mental health legislation in Chile. (2014, November 1). International Psychiatry, PMC. Psychology in Chile. (2006, October 18). British Psychological Society

Chile. International Union of Psychological Science

Chilean Psychological Association

National Registry of Individual Health Providers

Chilean Psychoanalytic Association (Asociación Psicoanalítica Chilena)