FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General Questions

Do I need to pay the certification fee as part of the submission or only in case of a successful certification?

The certification fee has to be paid before the submission of the application since it covers the work for the evaluation of the submission.

I have the transcripts of my modules, credits etc. only in my native language. Does the translation have to be done by an official translator or can this be done by me?

Please submit both a copy of the original transcript and an English translation. A legal translation is not required. However, you would need to sign a statement at the end of the FEPSAC Certificate Check-list stating that all information provided in the application is true, complete, and accurate.

I have been accredited in applied sport psychology by my national society of sport psychology. How can it be taken into account for the FEPSAC certification?

This depends on the criteria set by the national society of sport psychology.

If these are equal or higher than the FEPSAC certificate in applied sport psychology criteria, then you would only need to send us the proof of your certification. Given the European perspective of the FEPSAC certification you would need to additionally send us proof that you fulfil the criteria 4) culturally competent practice in sport and exercise psychology, 5) ethics, and 6) financial and membership requirements.

Below you find information on countries where you do not need to submit proof for certain criteria in case you are already certified by the national association. FEPSAC would be grateful if you would help us adding countries to this list.

Germany: Individuals who are certified by ASP do not need to submit proof regarding criterion criterion 1.
Finland: Individuals who are certified by SUPY do not need to submit proof regarding criterion 1.
Spain: Individuals who are certified by CNAP do not need to submit proof regarding criterion 1.
Switzerland: Individuals who are certified by SASP do not need to submit proof regarding criteria 1 and 2.
Switzerland: Individuals who are certified by SASP do not need to submit proof regarding criteria 1 and 2.
The Netherlands: Individuals who are certified by VSPN do not need to submit proof regarding criteria 1 and 2.
United Kingdom: Individuals who are certified by BASES do not need to submit proof regarding criterion 1.
AASP: If you are certified CMPC and your academic degree is in psychology, sport psychology or sport psychology you do not need to submit proof regarding criterion 1.

I’m a clinical psychologist working part time in sport psychology. I’m certificated by the EFPA as clinical psychologist. Do I have to complete the whole portfolio or do I have to report only on my background in sport psychology?

The FEPSAC certificate in applied sport psychology requires that applicants are qualified in sport psychology. For this reason, you would need to complete the whole portfolio even though you are certified by EFPA as a clinical psychologist.

Questions regarding Criterion 1: Higher education qualification

How do I have to proceed if I don’t have a master’s degree but only equivalent degrees without reference to ECTS?

Please submit the certificate of the equivalent degree. Please note that 1 ECTS counts for the workload of about 30 hours. Since the FEPSAC certification requires a minimum of 240 ECTS, the FEPSAC MC will decide on a one-to-one base whether the submitted degree qualifies for the higher education criterium.

I do not have a master’s degree or equivalent, but I have much more than 750 hours of specialization in sport psychology and more than 250h in supervised applied practice. Can this extensive experience in specialization compensate for the lack of a master’s degree?

FEPSAC considers scientific knowledge about sport psychology as a crucial part of the FEPSAC certificate in Applied Sport Psychology (also to be different from self-declared “mental coaches”). For this reason, the possession of a master’s degree cannot be compensated for.

I have a master’s in sociology and specialized afterwards in sport psychology counselling with complements to my initial qualification through further education in sport psychology and psychology. In that case, can my master’s in sociology be considered as an “equivalent degree”?

Criterion 1 (Higher education qualification) of the FEPSAC certificate in applied sport psychology requires that at least 60 ECTS be part of a master’s degree in sport science, psychology, or sport science. If your master’s degree in sociology (or any other subject) includes these 60 ECTS, then you would fulfil the criterion. Please further note, however, to fulfil criterion 2 (specialization in sport psychology) at least 30 of those 60 ECTS have to be in sport psychology.

Questions regarding Criterion 2: Specialization in sport psychology

The requirement for criterion 2 states that I need to provide further education in the areas complimentary to my qualification. Does that mean that if I have a master’s degree in psychology I need to provide proof of further education in the area of sport science or sport psychology?

Applicants with a master’s degree in psychology must indicate at least 30 ECTS/ 750 hours of specialization in sport science and/ or sport psychology. Applicants with a master’s degree in sport science must indicate at least 30 ECTS/ 750 hours of specialization in psychology and/ or sport psychology. Please also see the table with exemplary content for each subject:

Sport science area	Sport psychology area	Psychology area
Introduction to sport sciences	Introduction to sport psychology	Introduction to psychology
Motor learning and motor control	Skill acquisition / Skill training	Cognitive psychology
Physiology	Attention	Social psychology
Training methodology and periodization	Motivation	Clinical psychology
Biomechanics	Team dynamics & Leadership	Assessment – Diagnosis
Nutrition	Stress/Anxiety and coping	Counseling and intervention
Sport medicine	Assessment – Diagnosis	Neurosciences
Teaching and training practice	Counselling & Intervention	Psychopathology
Sport sociology	Clinical issues	Educational psychology
Sport organization / Management	Ethics	Organizational psychology
Strength and conditioning	Career development	Developmental psychology

What is meant by accredited courses or workshops (i.e., the first sub-criterion of the second criterion)?

These include courses attended at a university. Workshops at a conference or online-seminars refer to the second sub-criterion “attending or presenting at a professional or scientific conference”. Please note that of the 750 hours only 150 hours can be fulfilled by the second sub-criterion.

As there are very few (or not any) postgraduate courses or workshops in my country, is there a list accessible to the public of such courses or workshops specializing in sport psychology in Europe?

First you should contact your national society of sport psychology. They probably have information about courses in your country. Furthermore, international postgraduate courses are regularly posted on our website (fepsac.com).

Questions regarding Criterion 3: Supervised applied practice

How do I document the hours of (supervised) applied practice I have done?

The document “FEPSAC Certificate Check-List” includes a table that you have to fill out for the third criterion. This table includes information about the dates, the duration, the place, the summary of the activity, etc.

Can I use applied practice done during my master’s degree?

No, the applied practice has to be done after completion of the first master degree.

Do I really need to hand over proof of 200 hours of documented applied practice and 50 hours of documented supervision/intervision? Or is a statement of a former supervisor sufficient?

The document “FEPSAC Certificate Check-List” includes a table which you have to fill out for the third criterion. Here, you would need to give more details about the applied practice. You can then add a signed statement of your former supervisor as additional evidence in the portfolio.

How many supervision and/ or intervision hours must I document?

At least 50 hours of supervision/intervision of documented practice took place with supervision/ intervision. From these 50 hours, a minimum of 20 hours were in individual supervision with an appropriate supervisor, a maximum of 20 hours were in group supervision with an appropriate supervisor, and a maximum of 10 hours in peer intervision. For example, you could have done a) all 50 hours in individual supervision, b) 30 hours in individual supervision and 20 hours in group supervision, or c) 30 hours in individual supervision, 10 hours in group supervision, and 10 hours in peer intervision.

Furthermore, it is recommended as many hours as possible of the 200 remaining hours have been taken place under supervision/ intervision.

How do you define the terms supervision and intervision?

Supervision takes place when someone in applied sport psychology is critically watched and directed by someone recognized as having extensive experience in applied practice in sport psychology who could e.g. have a background in (sport) psychology or clinical psychology. Intervision takes place when colleagues with a similar level of experience discuss cases and exchange ideas on applied practice.

The European Network of Young Specialists in Sport Psychology (ENYSSP) provides a possibility of intervision through the use of peer-consultation sessions. These take place about every six weeks with 5-8 people involved. More info on: http://www.enyssp.com/applied-department.

I work as a supervisor with beginners in applied sport psychology. Can I include this as applied practice?

The applied experience consists of applying theoretical and practical knowledge. Thus, supervising beginners in applied sport psychology cannot be included in applied practice. Please also note that in at least 50 hours of the 250 hours in documented applied practice you should be supervised yourself.

Questions regarding Criterion 4: Culturally competent practice in sport and exercise psychology

Can I take three elements from only one sub-criterion or do all three elements need to be from different sub-criteria?

You can take three elements from one sub-criterion. For example, it would be sufficient if you attended three international conferences.