In contrast to other preclinical disciplines medical psychology recently introduced into the qualification regulations is still quite transparent. The contact between research workers and teachers is still very close. Consequently medical psychologists have succeeded in establishing a "double track" connection between the fulfilling of the requirements of the Mainz test procedure and the independent form of instruction open to experiment. An attempt has been made to specify the aim of the study and to determine this from fields of application in practice and from psychological competence. The objects and basic knowledge defined by the Mainz requirements are consequently the less, even if better controlled, part of the aim of instruction. Changes and hopes and disappointments in the course of instruction in recent years are reported and finally three characteristic instruction contents are presented in detail for illustration.