Becoming an IPA Society

The IPA has grown organically since its inception by welcoming new societies from around the world into our network. Societies joining the IPA begin their journey as study groups – groups of members living and working within the same locale, where there is no existing IPA society – and by working though the IPA’s structured development plan, will eventually be approved by the IPA to operate autonomously as a ‘component society’. This process can be broken down into the following three stages:


Study Groups

  • A study Group is the first developmental stage of an IPA Society and training institute. A Study Group does not have autonomy over its own training programme until such time as it is ready for Provisional Society status.
  • A Study Group must have at least 4 IPA Members (or applicants who are eligible to be assessed under the IPA’s Equivalency Criteria) who live close enough to each other to be able to form a cohesive working group.
  • Applications for Study Group status should be submitted to the IPA via the International New Groups Committee (ING) - a list of the information required for application can be found in the Procedural code here.
  • If an application is successful a Site Visiting Committee will be sent to assess the group for Study Group status – the IPA will pay for this initial visit. The Site Visit Committee may recommend Study Group status to the IPA Board, who will make the final decision on the establishment of a Study Group.
  • A Sponsoring Committee comprising two IPA members will be appointed to each new Study Group. The Sponsoring Committee will visit the group at least 2 times a year and keep in contact in-between visits. The role of the Sponsoring Committee is to support the group with all stages of development (helping to set up procedures, rules, legal registration and beginning to build a training programme). The Study Group will be expected to fund the visits of the Sponsoring Committee (financial support from the IPA for a percentage of the cost is possible in certain exceptional circumstances).

Provisional Societies

  • A Provisional Society is authorised to train and qualify persons for the practice of psychoanalysis and conduct all its own affairs, but continues to have the support of the IPA through a 2 person Liaison Committee which visits the group at least once a year to support all aspects of the group’s work and assist the group towards the final stage of development.
  • A Study Group is eligible to apply for Provisional Society status after being a Study Group for 4 years. It must have 10 IPA Members, 4 of whom must be Training Analysts, and have graduated at least one candidate through its training programme. The applicant Study Group must be incorporated as a not for profit Membership organisation if at all possible within the laws of its territory. The application for change of status must have the support of its Sponsoring Committee.
  • The group will be asked to supply documents in support of its application (the requirements for application can be found here). The Sponsoring Committee will be asked to provide a report of recommendation.
  • Assuming the application and recommendation from the Sponsors meets the IPA policy the ING will make a recommendation to the IPA Board to consider the change of status. If approved the status will be ratified at the next IPA Business Meeting.
  • In some circumstances it is possible for a group to apply for Provisional Society status without first becoming a Study Group. This process is handled by the Applicant Societies Committee (a Sub-Committee of ING) the procedures for which can be found here.

Component Societies

  • A Component Society has complete autonomy over all of its affairs.
  • After 4 years as a Provisional Society (2 years in exceptional circumstances) a group is eligible to apply for Component Society status with the support of its Liaison Committee .
  • The Provisional Society will be asked to supply documents in support of its application (the requirements for application can be found here). The Liaison Committee will be asked to provide a report of recommendation.
  • Assuming the application and recommendation from the Liaisons meets the IPA policy the ING will make a recommendation to the IPA Board to consider the change of status. If approved the status will be ratified at the next IPA Business Meeting.

For more information on the development from Study Group to Component Society please see the ING Committee page or contact [email protected] or [email protected]