A complete guide to TGA professional pathways, eligibility criteria, and how to get started — for psychologists, nurses, midwives, bodyworkers, death doulas, and allied health professionals.
The short answer: All mental health professionals can train in psychedelic-assisted therapy in Australia. AHPRA-registered practitioners (psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health nurses, OTs) are eligible for primary therapist roles; other registered practitioners including PACFA/ACA counsellors, psychotherapists, bodyworkers, death doulas, and other allied health can train for secondary therapist roles within a registered-led dyad, under the TGA's May 2026 professional pathway guidance.
| Professional | Registration | Role in Dyad | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Psychologist | Psychology Board (AHPRA) | Primary therapist | ✅ Full |
| Mental Health Nurse / Midwife (mental health experience required) | Nursing & Midwifery Board (AHPRA) | Primary therapist | ✅ Full |
| Psychiatrist | Medical Board (AHPRA) | Authorised Prescriber | ✅ Full |
| GP / Doctor | Medical Board — general registration (AHPRA) | Primary therapist | ✅ Full |
| Occupational Therapist | OT Board (AHPRA) | Primary therapist | ✅ Full |
| Psychotherapist / Counsellor / Social Worker | None (self-regulated) | Secondary therapist | → Pathways available |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Worker | None required (explicitly named by TGA) | Secondary therapist | → Pathways available |
| Bodyworker / Somatic Practitioner | None (unregulated) | Secondary therapist | → Pathways available |
| Death Doula | None (unregulated) | Secondary therapist | → Pathways available |
| Other Allied Health (physio, speech path, dietitian, etc.) | Many AHPRA-registered | Secondary therapist only | → Secondary only |
The regulatory landscape for psychedelic-assisted therapy in Australia has shifted significantly since 2024. With MDMA and psilocybin now accessible via the TGA's Authorised Prescriber scheme, the question of who is qualified — and eligible — to train as a practitioner has become both more nuanced and more inclusive.
The TGA's targeted consultation on the AP scheme for psychedelics (which concluded in May 2026) established the professional pathways for psychedelic-assisted therapy training. The key eligibility requirements are:
Whether you're a psychologist, nurse, midwife, doctor, occupational therapist, bodyworker, death doula, or another allied health professional, this guide clarifies whether you can train and how to get started.
In the TGA regulatory framework, a dyad is the two-person treatment team that delivers MDMA-assisted or psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.
The dyad structure reflects both clinical and regulatory best practices. Medical oversight ensures patient safety and emergency response capability. Therapeutic expertise leverages specialised psychological skills for healing. Clear accountability assigns responsibility for oversight and therapy delivery. For training purposes, the dyad framework defines who can be trained, who they'll work with, and what competency looks like.
Clinical psychologists bring distinctive, highly transferable skills to psychedelic-assisted therapy. Existing competencies that transfer directly include psychological assessment and formulation, therapeutic alliance and relationship building, crisis management and de-escalation, evidence-based treatment design, trauma-informed care, and patient screening and informed consent processes.
Regulatory advantage: You already meet the TGA's National Board registration requirement and can serve as the primary therapist in the dyad with no additional professional credentialing.
While your psychology background qualifies you, formal training in psychedelic-specific competencies is essential: neuropharmacology of MDMA and psilocybin, dosing and safety profiles, psychedelic-specific therapeutic techniques, pre-treatment preparation and "set" optimisation, real-time in-session support during altered states, integration protocols, and adverse event recognition and management.
Psychiatrists seeking AP status for MDMA or psilocybin must demonstrate expertise in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy through one of two pathways:
The TGA directs psychiatrists to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists' Psychedelic Training Framework for Psychiatrists (June 2025), which addresses knowledge requirements, supervised practice standards, and competency assessment methodology.
Under the TGA's Authorised Prescriber scheme for MDMA and psilocybin, only psychiatrists can hold AP status — GPs and other medical practitioners cannot prescribe these medicines under the scheme. GPs who wish to participate in psychedelic-assisted therapy can do so as a primary therapist (given their AHPRA registration), working within a dyad led by an Authorised Prescriber psychiatrist. Some psychiatrists also train as primary therapists — this requires additional psychotherapy-specific training beyond standard psychiatric registration.
Registered nurses — including mental health nurses, general RNs, and midwives — bring critical, distinctive clinical skills to psychedelic-assisted therapy: real-time patient monitoring during acute drug effects, medical emergency recognition and clinical stabilisation, crisis de-escalation, medication management and adverse event protocols, continuity of care across preparation, dosing and integration phases, and therapeutic communication adapted for altered mental states.
The TGA's Recommendation #2 explicitly names the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia as meeting the dyad composition requirement — but with a specific qualifier: the practitioner must have mental health experience. This means general registered nurses and midwives without a mental health background do not automatically qualify as primary therapists. Mental health nurses, and midwives who have worked in perinatal mental health, trauma, or related areas, do qualify.
For midwives with mental health experience: the growing intersection of psychedelic-assisted therapy and perinatal mental health — including birth trauma, postnatal depression, and perinatal anxiety — makes this an increasingly relevant and emerging specialty area.
Your clinical background covers medical and monitoring components well. Specialised training is still needed in psychological and therapeutic aspects: patient psychological screening, therapeutic techniques for managing difficult experiences during dosing, integration work and psychological meaning-making, trauma-informed psychotherapy principles, and pharmacology from a therapeutic (not just adverse event) perspective.
OTs bring a unique, holistic perspective that differs from psychology or nursing: functional assessment and meaningful goal-setting, environmental design and optimisation of "set and setting," occupational and social role recovery planning, integration of therapeutic insights into daily living, cultural competency and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practices.
Rural and regional access: The TGA consultation noted improving access in rural and regional areas as a priority and cited workforce shortages as a concern. OTs are often present in underserved communities and, given their Recommendation #2 eligibility, are well-placed to contribute to expanding access where psychologists are less available.
Specialised training needed includes neuropharmacology and how MDMA/psilocybin create therapeutic neuroplasticity, psychedelic-specific therapeutic techniques, patient screening and psychological assessment, in-session support during acute psychedelic effects, psychological integration, and managing psychological crises during dosing.
Psychotherapists, counsellors, and social workers can train and deliver psychedelic-assisted therapy. The TGA framework requires that at least one therapist in the dyad holds AHPRA registration — but it explicitly permits additional practitioners, including those without AHPRA registration, to participate in therapy delivery at the AP psychiatrist's discretion.
In practice, this means you can:
The TGA notes that practitioners from self-regulated professions "may contribute to therapy delivery" but "are not subject to the same statutory regulatory framework" as registered practitioners. Alongside psychotherapists, counsellors, and social workers, the TGA consultation explicitly names Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers as permitted additional practitioners. The only structural requirement is that a National Board-registered practitioner holds overall clinical accountability. This is a governance distinction, not a barrier to training or practising.
Complete bridging programs for clinical psychology, nursing, or OT registration. Timeline: 1–4 years. Outcome: Full regulatory recognition, no role restrictions.
Partner with a registered psychologist, nurse, or OT. Serve as secondary team member contributing your therapy expertise. Timeline: Immediate, compatible with current credentials.
Become expert in pre-treatment preparation and post-treatment integration. Regulatory flexibility allows psychotherapists and counsellors to lead this work. Growing demand, unique specialisation.
The TGA consultation explicitly names Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers as permitted additional practitioners alongside psychotherapists, counsellors, and social workers. This is a significant and deliberate inclusion — recognising the importance of culturally safe care and the unique role these practitioners play in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through non-ordinary states and healing processes.
As with other non-registered additional practitioners, their involvement is subject to the AP psychiatrist's determination of their qualifications and experience for the specific clinical context.
Bodyworkers, somatic practitioners, massage therapists, and death doulas can train and participate in psychedelic-assisted therapy delivery as secondary therapists. The TGA framework requires at least one AHPRA-registered practitioner to hold clinical accountability — but it explicitly permits additional non-registered practitioners to contribute to therapy under the AP psychiatrist's governance.
This means you can:
Bodyworkers and somatic practitioners bring body-based awareness, nervous system regulation techniques, and hands-on grounding skills that are highly relevant during the preparation and integration phases — and increasingly valued within the session itself for managing somatic distress.
Death doulas bring a distinct and increasingly sought-after set of skills: holding space for existential distress, navigating fear of death and non-ordinary states, supporting meaning-making, and working at the threshold of profound experience. These skills map directly onto the emerging use of psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential distress in people facing life-threatening illness — one of the strongest evidence bases in the field.
Complete bridging programs for nursing, clinical psychology, or OT registration. Timeline: 1–4 years. Outcome: Full regulatory recognition, no role restrictions.
Partner with a registered psychologist, nurse, or OT as the primary therapist. Your body-based or end-of-life expertise complements their clinical oversight. Timeline: Immediate, compatible with current credentials.
Become expert in somatic preparation, breathwork-assisted integration, or end-of-life support. These are genuine specialisations in growing demand within psychedelic therapy clinics. Regulatory flexibility allows non-AHPRA practitioners to lead this work within a registered-led team.
The TGA's Recommendation #2 names four specific professional pathways eligible for the primary therapist role: clinical psychologists, medical practitioners (Medical Board general registration), nurses and midwives with mental health experience, and occupational therapists. Allied health professionals outside these four categories — including physiotherapists, speech pathologists, dietitians, podiatrists, and others — are not named as primary therapists, regardless of their AHPRA registration.
This means allied health professionals from these disciplines can train and participate in psychedelic-assisted therapy, but only in a secondary therapist role — the same pathway as psychotherapists, counsellors, and bodyworkers. The AP psychiatrist determines who contributes to their team, and allied health professionals with backgrounds in trauma, palliative care, or chronic pain are particularly relevant contributors.
If you're an allied health professional considering training, the most important step is to identify an AP psychiatrist and a named primary therapist in your area who are open to working with your skills in a secondary capacity. The diversity of practitioners contributing to psychedelic-assisted therapy reflects how broad the relevant skill set is — clinical governance sits with registered practitioners, but the therapeutic team can include a wide range of backgrounds.
The TGA deliberately doesn't prescribe a single competency standard. Instead, it places responsibility on the Authorised Prescriber psychiatrist to assess whether a therapist has adequate skills, training, and experience. This flexibility allows recognition of multiple valid training pathways and supervision arrangements tailored to individual clinicians.
Before committing to training, consider what role interests you (primary therapist, Authorised Prescriber, medical director?), whether you have 3+ years of clinical experience, whether an AP psychiatrist is accessible in your region, and what your career goals are. These questions determine your most efficient pathway.
Enrol in PIA's Part A: "Understanding Psychedelics" online course — 5 modules, self-paced over 4–6 weeks. Covers neuroscience, pharmacology, evidence base, therapeutic mechanisms, ethics, and regulatory framework. 4 APS-approved CPD hours. Clarifies whether psychedelic-assisted therapy aligns with your interests before a greater time investment.
Before applying to Part B, confirm: knowledge foundation (Part A completed or equivalent), 3+ years of current clinical practice, time availability for 5 consecutive days plus travel, access to an AP psychiatrist for post-training supervision, and current professional registration.
Part B is delivered in-person in Melbourne. Applications are open for the next confirmed intake, 8–12 February 2027 (apply here). Small cohort. 35 APS-approved CPD hours. Early bird rate: $4,295 AUD until 1 December 2026 (full price $4,695 AUD from 1 December 2026; excludes accommodation). Covers patient screening and consent, therapeutic preparation, in-session support, crisis management, integration, and case discussions.
After completing Part B, you need an AP psychiatrist supervision arrangement. If you already have an AP colleague, formalise the arrangement and plan your first co-therapy or supervised cases. If not, network through PIA's alumni community, contact PIA for mentorship recommendations, or search TGA's registry of Authorised Prescribers in your region.
Your three pathways — pursuing AHPRA registration, contributing within a multidisciplinary team, or specialising in integration and somatic support — are outlined in detail under Part 2. The immediate practical step for all three is the same: enrol in Part A to build foundational knowledge and signal your professional seriousness to potential registered partners or supervisors.
For a step-by-step overview of the whole journey — from eligibility through to practising in a treating team — see our guide on how to become a psychedelic therapist in Australia.
Yes, but arrangements are flexible. The TGA requires the AP psychiatrist to be physically present during medicine administration — so you and the AP must be in the same location for dosing sessions. Preparation and integration sessions can often be delivered remotely where clinically appropriate.
In rural and regional areas, solutions include telehealth for non-dosing components, itinerant AP psychiatrists travelling to multiple clinics, and multidisciplinary teams pooling resources. Before enrolling in training, identify whether an AP psychiatrist operates (or plans to operate) in your region.
CPD is expected, but formal pathways are still developing. No National Board yet specifies a dedicated CPD pathway for psychedelics. Professional colleges (RANZCP, Psychology Board) are developing frameworks, expected 2026–2027. In the meantime: engage with your professional college for updates, subscribe to PIA's alumni network, attend conferences, and participate in peer consultation with other trained practitioners.
Case-by-case; full registration is strongly preferred. PIA and most organisations require participants to be fully registered licensed practitioners. Provisionally registered clinicians may be considered depending on circumstances, but close supervision arrangements and employer support from a qualified AP psychiatrist are usually required. Contact PIA directly to discuss your situation before applying.
Partially. Medicine administration and immediate post-dosing support must be in-person, as must real-time monitoring and crisis response. Pre-treatment preparation sessions and integration and meaning-making sessions (after acute effects resolve) can be remote where clinically appropriate. Telehealth for some components improves access, especially in rural areas.
Your experience is a genuine asset — years of clinical practice build foundational skills, and trauma-informed care, therapeutic relationship, and crisis management competencies transfer directly. However, this experience must be supplemented with psychedelic-specific competence through formal training, clinical trial participation, or supervised practice with an experienced AP clinician. Training organisations typically expect 3+ years of current clinical experience as a baseline.
Research opportunities are available and valued. Many psychedelic research trials in Australia are recruiting trained research therapists. Clinical trial participation counts toward competency demonstration for AP requirements, and training is often provided by research teams. Investigate trial opportunities via the NHMRC Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) and discuss training requirements directly with research teams.
Yes, and it's a TGA priority. The TGA specifically recognised rural and regional workforce gaps and recommended flexibility — telehealth components for preparation and integration, itinerant AP psychiatrists, mentorship arrangements without constant co-location, and multidisciplinary teams to distribute workload. If you're based in rural or regional Australia, network with other trained clinicians in your area, contact PIA about mentorship or supervision options, and consider forming a local multidisciplinary team.
| Program | Format | Duration | CPD Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A: Understanding Psychedelics | Online, self-paced | 4–6 weeks, 5 modules | 4 hours |
| Part B: 5-Day Clinical Skills Intensive | In-person, Melbourne VIC | 8–12 February 2027 | 35 hours (APS-approved) |
If you're a licensed mental health professional interested in psychedelic-assisted therapy, you're likely eligible to train. The question isn't "Can I do this?" but "What's my most efficient pathway?"
For most registered clinicians:
Talk to us about the best pathway for your professional background and goals. Applications for the Melbourne intake (8–12 February 2027) are open now.
Therapeutic Goods Administration (2026). Targeted consultation: Authorised Prescriber scheme for psychedelics — including Recommendation #2 on therapy dyad composition. consultations.tga.gov.au/medicines-regulation-division/targeted-consultation-ap-scheme-for-psychedelics/
AHPRA — Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Health practitioner registration. ahpra.gov.au
RANZCP (2025). Psychedelic training framework for psychiatrists. ranzcp.org
Psychology Board of Australia. Professional standards & CPD. psychology.org.au
Reiff, C. M., et al. (2020). Psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in psychiatric illness. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 26(4), 377–401.
Feduccia, A. A., & Mithoefer, M. C. (2018). MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 84, 221–228.