it was revealed Friday in the House of Assembly.

Government announced it wants to set up a register of qualified practioners and introduce new regulations to govern the profession.

And phoney practitioners could face up to a year in jail plus a $10,000 fine if they pass fake quaifications or makes false statements to a proposed governing body.

Health and Family Services Minister Wayne Furbert, who tabled the Psychological Practioners Bill 1998, told the House the Island had not had problems with dodgy qualifications or unqualified practioners and: "This new bill will ensure we don't have any problems in the future.'' The explanatory note attached to the legislation said the bill follows the precendents established to ensure a high standard on engineering and surveying, for example.

But it added: "The main differences are that this bill places great emphasis on ensuring, for the protection of the public, that a practitioner's knowledge and skill are up to date and secondly, the bill provides that a certification is given only for a three-year period.'' The bill also aims to restrict the use of the description "psychologist'' in styles or titles to those registered with a governing council and who hold a valid registration certificate.

The new legislation is also designed to check on professional qualification -- including academic training, practical experience, up-to-date knowledge and skills, as well as general character.

The proposed Bermuda Psychologists Registration Council will also have the power to discipline members of the profession, with powers up to and including being able to strike members off for professional misconduct or for criminal convictions which carry a jail term.

The new Council will consist of a chairman and no fewer than four members of the profession and will have court-style powers to conduct hearings.