Cap. 587 Art. 3Warrant. 

(1) No person can hold himself out to be a registered psychotherapist, or practice the profession of psychotherapy against remuneration, or hold himself out as being professionally qualified to do so, or assume the title, or designation of a registered psychotherapist, unless such person is the holder of a warrant issued under this Act:

Provided that no provision in this Act shall be applicable to, or in any manner affect, the practice of professions regulated under any other law and which are subject to regulation by any other regulatory Council or entity.

(2) Unless otherwise specified in the warrant, the warrant shall not entitle the holder thereof to practise the psychotherapy profession with specialisation.

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications Act and the regulations made thereunder, a person shall qualify to obtain a warrant if such person:-

(a) is a citizen of Malta or a citizen of the EU, or is otherwise entitled or authorised to work in Malta;

(b) is of good conduct and good moral character;

(c) has full legal capacity;

(d) has obtained, to the satisfaction of the Board, a bachelor’s degree in a natural, human, medical or social science issued by a higher education institution which the Minister may, on the advice of the Board, specify in regulations, or has obtained a bachelor’s degree together with a Propaedeutics Psychotherapy Programme of not less than two hundred and fifty (250) hours, or its equivalent of ten (10) ECTS, equivalent to a level 7 award issued by an accredited higher education institution; and

(e) has obtained, to the satisfaction of the Board, training in a specific psychotherapeutic modality for a period of not less than three thousand (3,000) hours, or its equivalent of one hundred and twenty (120) ECTS, which is equivalent to a Master’s degree issued by a higher education institution.

(4) The Minister may prescribe, in place of the minimum requirements established under the preceding provisions of this sub-article, other minimum requirements in terms of international or multinational treaties entered into by Malta, or with the provisions of any legislation brought into force by virtue of any such treaty or agreement.

(5) Without prejudice to the provisions of the Mutual

Recognition of Qualifications Act and the regulations made thereunder, where the duration of the training leading to a professional qualification is less than that, which is mentioned in paragraph (e) of sub-article (3), the Board may require the applicant to undertake an adaptation period not exceeding twice the shortfall. The Board may also submit the applicant to an ability test.

(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-article (3), in the case of a candidate who satisfies the requirements of paragraphs (a), (b) and

(c) of sub-article (3), but whose training does not fulfil the requirements of paragraphs (d) and (e) of sub-article (3), for any of the following reasons:

(a) the training covers substantially different matters, such that the knowledge, skills and competences acquired which are essential for pursuing the profession, differ from the requirements under paragraph (d) of sub-article (3);

(b) such training was of a shorter duration than that indicated in paragraph (e) of sub-article (3), the Board may admit the candidate to the respective list, as appropriate, provided that the candidate undertakes to fulfil any compensatory measures, that may be prescribed from time to time:

Provided that any decision shall be clearly justified and shall be communicated to the candidate in writing.

(7) Compensatory measures shall include an adaptation period of up to three (3) years, or alternatively depending on the candidate’s choice, an aptitude test in the subject or subjects in which a deficiency, compared to the prescribed requirements, has been identified.