This article is adapted from "Norway National Tour" prepared by S. Nielsen, 2008, which appeared in Wedding, D., & Stevens, M. J. (Eds). (2009). Psychology: IUPsyS Global Resource (Edition 2009) [CD-ROM]. International Journal of Psychology, 44 (Suppl. 1).

History

In 1909, the first institute of psychology was established at the University of Oslo. The Norsk Psykologforening was constituted in 1934. In 1947, the first Nordic Meeting of Psychologists was held in Oslo. The Norsk Psykologforening became a member of the International Union of Psychological Science in 1950. In 1959, the National Assembly authorized the first university program for the educating and training of psychologists (at the University of Oslo). In 1969, a program was authorized for educating and training psychologists at the University of Bergen. In 1973, the National Assembly accepted a "Psychologists law". This law has now been included in a new "Law for Health Personnel" of 2001. Regulations to this law give psychologists (specialists in clinical psychology) the same rights and responsibility as psychiatrists within the mental health system. Beginning in 1975, specialists in clinical psychology as private practitioners have been reimbursed one hundred percent from National Health Insurance. In 1990, a program for educating and training psychologists was authorized for the University of Tromso, followed in 1995 with a program at the University of Trondheim.

Research

Psychological research takes place mainly at the four universities in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromso, mainly within the fields of clinical psychology, school psychology, cognitive and neurophysiological psychology as well as a number of other topics. Research on occupational and organizational psychology also takes place at institutes outside the universities. This also applies to gerontopsychology.

Training

All four universities in Norway offer a six-year program of generalist education for training psychologists (limited numbers totaling about two hundred per year today), as scientist practitioners. The training qualifies for licensure in Norway and all psychologists (protected title) must be licensed.

The Norsk Psykologforening is licensing specialists within the clinical, occupational and community fields of psvchology. The specialists are recognized by the authorities.

The Norsk Psykologforening established a formal code of ethics in 1959.

Publications

Journal of the Norwegian Psychological Association, 1964- , 12/year
Journal of School of Psychology, 1966- , 12/year
Journal of Scandinavian Psychology, 1959, 4/year