Independent practice of psychological activity

Psychological activity cannot be carried out solely based on completed studies in psychology and an entrepreneur registration. The legal framework in the Republic of Serbia simultaneously imposes professional, organisational, premises-related and ethical requirements. Additional rules apply where psychological work is performed within the social welfare or healthcare system.

Activities within the scope of psychological practice shall be performed in accordance with the Law on the Conditions for the Performance of Psychological Activity (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, Nos. 25/96 and 101/2005 – other law), unless otherwise regulated by a special law for certain areas. This Law regulates the conditions for the performance of psychological activity and supervision of the professional work of psychologists. The principal regulation is the Law on the Conditions for the Performance of Psychological Activity (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, Nos. 25/96 and 101/2005 – other law), while certain issues are regulated in greater detail by bylaws.

What Activities Are Covered by Psychological Practice?

Psychological activity includes individual and group psychological assessments, psychological treatments and counselling. The performance of psychological assessment, psychological treatment and counselling services that are not based on psychological science and professional practice is prohibited.

Psychological activity shall be carried out in accordance with the findings of contemporary psychological science, professional and doctrinal standards for the performance of psychological activity, and the Code of Ethics for Psychologists. The Psychological Society of Serbia adopts the Code of Ethics for Psychologists.

When personal data may harm an individual’s reputation and integrity, or are of a private nature, and when a psychologist becomes aware of them in the course of performing their professional activities, the personal data constitute professional secrecy.

The statutory definition of psychological activity is also relevant to how services are presented to the public. A psychologist should clearly distinguish the professional services they provide from content that may constitute a healthcare, social welfare, educational or other regulated activity.

Who May Perform Psychological Activities?

Pursuant to Article 5 of the Law on the Conditions for the Performance of Psychological Activity (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, Nos. 25/96 and 101/2005 – other law), activities within the scope of psychological practice may be performed by a graduate psychologist who has passed the professional examination and, for certain psychological activities, who also holds the appropriate specialisation.

The professional examination is taken upon completion of a one-year internship.

The Rulebook on Internship and the Manner of Taking the Professional Examination for Psychologists (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, No. 30/98) prescribes the internship programme, the manner of completing the internship, and the manner of taking the professional examination for psychologists.

A graduate psychologist may undertake specialisation after completing the internship and passing the professional examination. The psychological activities for which specialisation is required, and the types, programmes, and duration of specialisation, and the manner of taking the examination, are determined jointly by the minister responsible for health, the minister responsible for education, and the minister responsible for social welfare. Pursuant to the Rulebook on Specializations and Subspecializations of Healthcare Professionals and Healthcare Associates (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, Nos. 10/2013, 91/2013, 113/2013, 109/2014, 53/2018, 17/2021, 77/2022, 6/2023 and 93/2023), graduate psychologists may specialize in the field of medical psychology.

Registration of Psychological Activity

A person who independently performs psychological activity is, pursuant to Article 9 of the Law on the Conditions for the Performance of Psychological Activity (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, Nos. 25/96 and 101/2005 – other law), an entrepreneur. Such a person may commence operations and perform the activity if they are a graduate psychologist who has passed the professional examination and, for certain psychological activities, holds the appropriate specialisation, and if they meet the requirements prescribed by the Rulebook on Detailed Requirements for the Performance of Psychological Activity by Entrepreneurs (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, No. 30/98).

Pursuant to the Rulebook on Detailed Requirements for the Performance of Psychological Activity by Entrepreneurs (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, No. 30/98), an entrepreneur may commence operations and perform psychological activity if they have a room available for work with clients, which is soundproofed and thermally insulated and equipped with heating, electric lighting and a direct telephone line, as well as access to sanitary facilities with running hot and cold water.

The room intended for work with clients must also meet the following requirements:

It must have a floor area of at least 9 m²; where the entrepreneur performs group assessments or group counselling and therapeutic work, it must have a floor area of at least 25 m²;
The room must contain at least four chairs; where the entrepreneur performs group assessments or group counselling and therapeutic work, it must additionally contain one chair for each group member;
The windows in the room must be fitted with curtains or other window coverings.

Where the entrepreneur’s psychological activity involves the use of assessment instruments, the room for work with clients must contain a lockable cabinet with shelves for storing psychological assessment instruments and documentation. Where client records are maintained electronically, they must be appropriately protected.

Compliance with the requirements for the independent performance of psychological activity is determined by the ministry responsible for social welfare within seven days from the application being submitted.

It should be emphasised that an entrepreneur independently performing psychological activity must be registered in the Register of Business Entities – Entrepreneurs maintained by the Serbian Business Registers Agency, in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, Nos. 36/2011, 99/2011, 83/2014 – other law, 5/2015, 44/2018, 95/2018, 91/2019, 109/2021 and 19/2025) and the Act on the Registration Procedure with the Serbian Business Registers Agency (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, Nos. 99/2011, 83/2014, 31/2019 and 105/2021).

Advertising and Supervision

Under the Law on the Conditions for the Performance of Psychological Activity (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, Nos. 25/96 and 101/2005 – other law), advertising and promotion of professional procedures and methods used in the performance of psychological activity through the mass media are prohibited. The results of applying psychological procedures and methods may be presented at professional conferences and published in professional and scientific journals.

Accordingly, the content of websites, social media profiles and other marketing channels should be prepared with caution. It is advisable to limit public-facing information to business details, professional qualifications, a general description of the fields of practice and contact information, without promising outcomes, promoting particular methods, or using messages that may be considered advertising of professional procedures.

The ministry responsible for social welfare organises and supervises the professional work of psychologists, unless a special regulation provides otherwise for a particular field. Supervision may include on-site inspection, review of documentation, and verification of the professional procedures and methods applied.

Misdemeanour Liability

The Law on the Conditions for the Performance of Psychological Activity (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, Nos. 25/96 and 101/2005 – other law) provides for misdemeanour liability, inter alia, for:

Performing procedures that are not based on psychological science and professional practice;
Performing work without meeting the prescribed professional requirements;
Using assessment instruments without the necessary training;
Unlawful advertising and promotion of professional methods and procedu Independently performing psychological activity without meeting the prescribed requirements applicable to entrepreneurs.

Monetary fines are prescribed for entrepreneurs, and a protective measure prohibiting the activity for three months to one year may also be imposed.