English

The Norwegian Psychological Association (NPF) has over 7000 members (including students). This accounts for approximately 90 percent of the total number of registered professional psychologists in Norway. Our members have at least 6½ years university education and training in Psychology.

The Norwegian Psychological Association functions both as a trade union and an independent political body. As a trade union NPF safeguards its member’s financial, political and professional interests. As an independent political entity NPF involves itself in matters concerning a wide range of professional issues, such as national health policy, psychological services, science & educational policies.

Our main goals:

• To safeguard the professional and financial interests of our members in their role as Psychologists.
• To enhance the general population’s well being and quality of life by widely publicizing relevant psychological knowledge, and through policies relating to the implementation of clinical practice in all sectors on a national and regional level.
• To further develop psychological knowledge and different clinical interventions thereby promoting the population’s need for psychological assistance.
• To promote and maintain a high ethical standard among our members.
• To promote scientific research and professional development relevant to the population’s needs.
• To encourage cooperation and understanding between different professions, interest groups and stake holders that professional psychologists work together with.
• To organize the work of the association in such a way so as to enhance NPF’s mandate.

Membership benefits:

• Members subscribe to the monthly “Journal of the Norwegian Psychological Association” (Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening).
• Members are encouraged to participate in an extensive number of professional courses and seminars.
• Members are entitled to participate in regional professional boards and the association’s board of professional affairs.
• Members have an opportunity to influence the future of the psychological profession on an international, national and regional level.
• Members are offered beneficial loans and insurance policies.

The Norwegian Psychological Association is:

• An associated member of “Akademikerne”, the Norwegian trade union federation representing academic associations.
• An associated member of the European Federation of Professional Psychologists’ Association – EFPA.
• An associated member of the International Union of Psychological Sciences – IUPsyS.
• An associated member of the Committee of Nordic Psychological Associations.

Organization

The Norwegian Psychological Association is made up of 19 local chapters. Each chapter is geographically linked to one of Norway’s 19 counties.

Every three years the national convention of the Norwegian Psychological Association meets to elect a central executive council. The national convention also passes important recommendations and statutes that regulate the principles governing the work of the association’s elected executive council and administrative branch. The national convention is made up of delegates elected by the 19 local chapters of the Association.

All psychologists employed in any private or public organization in Norway, are obliged to elect a colleague that represents the interests of the NPF at their work place. The representative ensures that the rights and interests of psychologists employed in their organization are protected and safeguarded. Elected representatives work in close cooperation with members of NPF’s central administration on significant issues such as salary negotiations and financial settlements.