ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to outline the different pathways to becoming a Sport and Exercise Psychologist in places of practice with and without formal accreditation frameworks. Accreditation is a voluntary – yet strongly encouraged – step that aspiring practitioners should take to establish their competence to practice in an ethical manner, as well as demonstrate this assurance to their service-users, their peers, and the public. The primary objectives of this chapter are to impress upon the reader the value and benefits of becoming an accredited practitioner, and to support the reader in choosing the accreditation route best suited for their aspirations, geographical region, and local conditions. This chapter begins with an anecdote to illustrate the value of accreditation. Thereafter, it explains the typical requirements to become accredited spanning various jurisdictions and provides an overview of the realities of accreditation around the world. In developing this overview of current progress, we received commentaries from a sample of international colleagues representing 15 countries across four continents. Finally, the chapter concludes with guidance for the reader on acquiring accreditation via common, established routes as well as uncommon, emerging routes. The reader is invited to reflect on their own desired development towards becoming an independent ethical practitioner in sport and exercise psychology and use the guidance in this chapter to chart and plan that development – wherever they are based in the world.
