RCI renames its clinical and rehabilitation psychology degrees
The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) has changed the names of its bachelor’s and master’s programmes in clinical psychology and rehabilitation psychology. The change, resolved at RCI’s 48th General Council meeting, was issued by office memorandum on 3 May 2026.
What happened
An RCI office memorandum dated 3 May 2026, addressed to all RCI-approved institutions concerned, records the General Council’s resolution on course nomenclature. B.Sc. Clinical Psychology becomes Bachelor in Clinical Psychology (B.Clin.Psy) and B.Sc. Rehabilitation Psychology becomes Bachelor in Rehabilitation Psychology (B.Rehab.Psy). M.A. Clinical Psychology becomes Master in Clinical Psychology (M.Clin.Psy) and M.A. Rehabilitation Psychology becomes Master in Rehabilitation Psychology (M.Rehab.Psy).
The memorandum states that the new names are effective from the initiation of the courses by RCI. It was copied to the Chairperson and Secretary of the UGC.
Separately, in February 2026 RCI invited comments on draft syllabi for B.Sc. Rehabilitation Psychology and M.A. Rehabilitation Psychology developed by an RCI expert committee.
The programmes being renamed are recent additions. RCI announced the launch of a B.Sc. Clinical Psychology (Hons) from the 2024–25 academic session, and issued a separate public notice on continuing its M.Phil. programmes in clinical psychology and rehabilitation psychology for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 sessions.
Why it matters
RCI regulates training in clinical and rehabilitation psychology for entry on its Central Rehabilitation Register. The renaming matters for how these qualifications appear on degree certificates, job advertisements and registration records.
Because the memorandum applies the new names from the start of the courses, students already enrolled should check with their institution how the title will appear on their own degree.
It also sits alongside the NCAHP framework. The NCAHP registration regulations list psychologists under their behavioural health category but expressly exclude "Clinical Psychologist covered under RCI for PWD". Students comparing programmes should check which regulator’s framework a given degree falls under.
What happens next
RCI’s circulars page did not show final rehabilitation psychology syllabi at the time of this update.
Sources
- Rehabilitation Council of IndiaOffice memorandum: change of nomenclature of courses in clinical psychology and rehabilitation psychology, 3 May 2026
- Rehabilitation Council of IndiaPublic notice inviting comments on draft rehabilitation psychology syllabi, February 2026
- Rehabilitation Council of IndiaCirculars and notifications