Professional recognition · competent authority

Professional recognition with PsyKo

Swiss recognition bodies and professional qualification procedures.

Role of PsyKo

The Psychology Professions Commission (PsyKo) decides on the recognition of foreign university degrees in psychology and foreign postgraduate qualifications within the scope of the Psychology Professions Act (PsyG). Recognized foreign qualifications have the same legal effects in Switzerland as the corresponding Swiss qualifications.

Recognition of a foreign university degree in psychology can be relevant for use of the protected professional designation and for access to accredited postgraduate training. Cantonal authorities remain responsible for professional-practice licences, including licences for psychotherapy in private practice under one's own professional responsibility.

Main qualifications and fields

PsyKo recognition primarily concerns:

  • Foreign university degrees in psychology
  • Psychotherapy postgraduate qualifications
  • Child and adolescent psychology postgraduate qualifications
  • Clinical psychology postgraduate qualifications
  • Neuropsychology postgraduate qualifications
  • Health psychology postgraduate qualifications

The recognition of the university degree and the recognition of a postgraduate qualification are legally distinct procedures.

Official PsyKo resources

Questions about recognition or authority competence?

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Authority competence depends on the intended profession, the qualification and the applicable legal framework. This is independent legal guidance, not the authority's official website. Detailed content is in English; requests can be sent in EN, DE, FR, IT and ES.