Mental Health Licensing & Regulation in China: 2025 Guide

Chinese Psychological Society (CPS) - 中国心理学会

• Website: http://www.cpsbeijing.org/
• Address: 16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
• Phone: +86-10-64850861
• Email: cps@psych.ac.cn
• Registration System: http://www.chinacpb.net/
• Established: 1955 (Registration system launched 2007)
• Function: Professional registration, standards setting, ethics oversight

CPS Registration Board Functions:

• Maintain register of clinical and counselling psychologists
• Set education and training standards
• Conduct professional examinations
• Handle ethics complaints and disciplinary matters
• Issue professional certificates
  

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE

1. REGISTERED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST (注册临床心理师)

Regulatory Authority: Chinese Psychological Society Registration System

Legal Status: Professional registration (non-statutory)

Scope of Practice:

• Psychological Assessment: Standardised psychological testing, personality assessment
• Psychological Intervention: Individual and group psychological counselling
• Crisis Intervention: Emergency psychological support
• Consultation: Professional consultation to healthcare teams
• Research: Clinical psychology research and evidence-based practice

Practice Settings:

• Medical institutions (hospitals, clinics)
• Mental health centres
• Private practice (with proper registration)
• Educational institutions
• Community health centres

Scope Restrictions:

• Cannot prescribe medication (unless also licensed medical doctor)
• Cannot diagnose mental disorders (medical diagnosis reserved for psychiatrists)
• Cannot provide psychotherapy without medical supervision in medical settings
• Must practice within registered competency areas
  

2. REGISTERED COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGIST (注册心理咨询师)

Regulatory Authority: Chinese Psychological Society Registration System

Legal Status: Professional registration (non-statutory)

Scope of Practice:

• Psychological Counselling: Individual, couple, family, and group counselling
• Psychological Support: Emotional support and guidance
• Life Coaching: Personal development and goal-setting support
• Educational Counselling: Academic and career guidance
• Community Services: Mental health promotion and prevention

Practice Settings:

• Counselling centres
• Educational institutions
• Community organisations
• Employee assistance programs
• Private practice

Scope Restrictions:

• Cannot provide psychotherapy (medical treatment)
• Cannot diagnose mental disorders
• Cannot prescribe medication
• Limited to psychological counselling and support services
  

3. PSYCHIATRIST (精神科医师)

Regulatory Authority: National Health Commission

Legal Status: Medical license required

Scope of Practice:

• Medical Diagnosis: Mental disorder diagnosis according to the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders (CCMD)
• Psychotherapy: Medical psychotherapy under medical supervision
• Medication Management: Prescription and monitoring of psychiatric medications
• Involuntary Treatment: Authority for involuntary psychiatric treatment
• Medical Certification: Mental health assessments for legal purposes

Education Requirements:

• Medical degree (MBBS equivalent)
• Psychiatric residency training
• National medical licensing examination
• Continuing medical education

4. PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELOR (心理咨询师)

Regulatory Status: No unified national regulation

Training Providers: Various training institutions and organisations

Scope: Basic psychological counselling and support services

Note: The national psychological counsellor certification was discontinued in 2017, leading to fragmented training and certification systems.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

CPS Registered Clinical Psychologist

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology, Applied Psychology, or related field
• Supervised Clinical Practice: Minimum 500 hours supervised clinical experience
• Professional Examination: Pass CPS clinical psychology examination
• Continuing Education: Annual CPD requirements

Core Curriculum Requirements:

• Psychological Assessment: Psychometric testing, diagnostic assessment
• Psychological Intervention: Evidence-based therapeutic approaches
• Research Methods: Statistics, research design, thesis requirement
• Professional Ethics: Ethical principles and professional conduct
• Psychopathology: Understanding of mental disorders and symptoms

Supervised Practice Requirements:

• Duration: Minimum 1 year supervised practice
• Settings: Approved clinical settings (hospitals, mental health centres)
• Supervision: Qualified registered clinical psychologists
• Case Load: Minimum number of supervised cases
• Competency Assessment: Regular evaluation and feedback
  

CPS Registered Counselling Psychologist

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Psychology or related field (Master's preferred)
• Supervised Counselling Practice: Minimum 300 hours supervised experience
• Professional Examination: Pass CPS counselling psychology examination
• Continuing Education: Annual CPD requirements

Core Curriculum Requirements:

• Counselling Theory: Major counselling approaches and techniques
• Communication Skills: Active listening, empathy, rapport building
• Ethics and Professional Practice: Ethical guidelines and boundaries
• Cultural Competency: Understanding of Chinese cultural context
• Crisis Intervention: Basic crisis counselling skills

OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Social Workers (社会工作师)

• Regulatory Authority: Ministry of Civil Affairs
• Registration: National social worker registration system
• Scope: Psychosocial support, case management, community work
• Website: http://www.mca.gov.cn/

Marriage and Family Counsellors (婚姻家庭咨询师)

• Regulatory Status: Professional certification (non-statutory)
• Training Providers: Various professional organisations
• Scope: Marriage counselling, family therapy, relationship guidance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Counsellors

• Regulatory Status: Industry-specific certification
• Scope: Workplace mental health, stress management, crisis intervention
• Providers: Corporate training organisations

VERIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC

CPS Registration Verification

• Visit CPS registration system: http://www.chinacpb.net/
• Access public register search function
• Search by name or registration number
• Verify current registration status and level
• Check registration category and any restrictions

Information Available:

• Full name and registration number
• Registration category (clinical/counselling)
• Registration level (assistant/standard/senior)
• Registration status (active/inactive/suspended)
• Date of registration and expiry
• Registered practice location

Government Verification

• Medical Institution Licensing: Check with the local health commission
• Professional Complaints: Report to CPS ethics committee or health authorities
• Legal Issues: Contact local health administration departments
  

DISCIPLINARY FRAMEWORK

CPS Ethics Committee

Functions:

• Investigate complaints against registered psychologists
• Determine professional misconduct
• Impose sanctions according to ethics code
• Maintain public confidence in profession

Types of Misconduct:

• Breach of professional ethics code
• Incompetent or negligent practice
• Criminal conviction affecting practice
• Breach of registration conditions
• Unprofessional conduct or behaviour

Sanctions Available:

• Warning: Formal written warning
• Conditions: Additional training, supervision requirements
• Suspension: Temporary removal from register (3 months to 2 years)
• Removal: Permanent removal from register
• Costs: Payment of investigation and hearing costs
  

Complaint Procedures

Filing Complaints:

• Submit a written complaint to CPS Ethics Committee
• Provide detailed information and supporting evidence
• Investigation by ethics committee
• Hearing process with due process rights
• Decision and appeal procedures

Government Oversight:

• Health commissions can investigate medical malpractice
• Public security can investigate criminal matters
• Civil courts handle professional liability cases
  

PROTECTED TITLES AND LEGAL STATUS

CPS Protected Titles

• "注册临床心理师" (Registered Clinical Psychologist)
• "注册心理咨询师" (Registered Counselling Psychologist)

Legal Protection:

• Professional registration provides credibility
• Misuse of titles may result in professional sanctions
• No criminal penalties for unauthorised use (non-statutory system)

Unprotected Titles

• "心理师" (Psychologist) - general term
• "心理咨询师" (Psychological Counsellor) - widely used
• "心理治疗师" (Psychotherapist) - medical context only

RED FLAGS FOR PUBLIC

Warning Signs:

• Practitioner not found in CPS register (for registered services)
• Claims to prescribe medication (unless a medical doctor)
• Promises to cure mental illness through counselling alone
• Refuses to provide registration number or credentials
• No clear complaint procedure available
• Practices outside registered competency areas
• Charges excessive fees without clear service description

Verification Steps:

• Check CPS registration system online
• Verify protected title usage
• Confirm practice location and scope
• Ask about complaint procedures
• Verify qualifications and training
• Check professional indemnity insurance
  

SOURCES AND VERIFICATION

National Health Commission

Chinese Psychological Society (CPS)

This guide reflects China's dual-track system for mental health professional regulation, governed by the Mental Health Law of 2013. The system relies on state licensing for medical psychotherapy and a national professional registration system for psychologists through the Chinese Psychological Society (CPS) since 2007. Registration requires a university degree and supervised practice, with the CPS providing professional standards and disciplinary authority. Verify current registration status with the Chinese Psychological Society (CPS) and medical credentials with the National Health Commission for the most up-to-date information.