Additional Comment: September 4, 2025

We’ve noticed a number of repeated comments that misunderstand the intent of this petition, and we’d like to clarify:

This petition supports diversity, mobility, and access, but not at the expense of public safety or professional competence. We need more diversity in psychology, urgently. But eliminating the PhD requirement for psychologist registration is not the way to achieve that. In fact, it risks dismantling the profession entirely and does not address the real root causes of exclusion.

We fully support Master’s-level clinicians and psychological associates, many of whom are brilliant, deeply valued colleagues. This petition is not about dismissing their contributions but instead about maintaining multiple tiers of expertise, rather than collapsing them into one, and ensuring clients still have access to PhD-level providers when needed.

Addressing diversity in psychology requires meaningful upstream changes: more inclusive admission policies, more financial support for students in need, and the creation of accessible doctoral programs (like PsyDs) in order to integrate true equity. Simply removing high standards is a shortcut that solves nothing.

Lastly, we ask that people stop targeting the petition creators who are being unfairly harassed in this space. Bullying is not a form of meaningful dialogue. Constructive disagreement is welcome; personal attacks are not. We’ll remove any inappropriate or harmful comments to protect the safety of our members, particularly trainees.

Thanks to everyone who has engaged in thoughtful, respectful conversation. That’s what helps us move the profession forward.