Verification at PsyStandard
Verification is a point-in-time assessment that documents that a practitioner met defined standards at the time of assessment. The standards are grounded in evidence-informed criteria drawn from published research and co-designed with academic institutions, training organisations, and practitioners in the field.
The four-layer architecture
The framework operates across four sequential layers. A practitioner must complete each layer before proceeding to the next. L3 runs continuously after the badge is awarded and is what keeps the standard honest over time.
| Layer | Name | What it does |
| LO | Vibe check | 30-minute connection call. Assesses basic hygiene factors — punctuality, setting, communication, professional experience — before any formal review begins. |
| L1 | Credentials | Structured Typeform submission. Checks qualifications, training background, supervision arrangements, and accountability structure. The baseline every practitioner must pass. |
| L2 | Mock session | 60-minute observed practice session. Evaluates the practitioner as a person — relational quality, emotional maturity, safety awareness, integration literacy — scored across competency dimensions by two calibrated assessors. |
| L3 | Membership | Verified practitioners join the PsyStandard membership body. Membership requires ongoing CPD, named supervision, and annual review. It is the mechanism that keeps the badge valid after it is awarded. |
Verification is not a guarantee
While verification reduces risk, it does not eliminate it. A verified practitioner has demonstrated competence at the time of assessment against defined criteria. PsyStandard does not claim that verification predicts specific outcomes, that verified practitioners cannot cause harm, or that any practitioner’s practice is legal in any particular jurisdiction.
