Special Education Services: A Manual of Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

These guidelines relate to the use of psychological tests and the training of persons in testing and assessment practices. The guidelines focus on distinctions among levels of tests and their related restrictions; test user's qualifications and responsibilities; and restrictions for the purchase of tests. The guidelines are a summary of the B.C. College of Psychologists' Guidelines for Educational and Psychological Testing: A Report of the Educational Policy Advisory Committee (May, 1994). The ministry is grateful to the College for the permission to use its document.

Standards for testing are set by the American Psychological Association and Canadian Psychological Association. Revised significantly from the 1985 version, the 1999 Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing has more in-depth background material in each chapter, a greater number of standards, and a significantly expanded glossary and index.

Level A Tests
These are tests which can be adequately administered, scored and interpreted with the aid of the manual, a familiarity with the client population, orientation to the kind of setting within which the testing is done, and a general knowledge of measurement principles and of the limitations of test interpretations. This category includes most interest inventories, group or individual, and multiple-choice tests that employ a simple metric as the main avenue of interpretation (e.g., occupational clusters).

Administration of test (Training standards)
No training beyond advanced level course (senior undergraduate or graduate) in testing from an accredited college or university, or equivalent training under the direction of a qualified supervisor or consultant.

Interpretation of test
Minimum Training Standard: no training beyond advanced level course (senior undergraduate or graduate) in testing from an accredited college or university, or equivalent training under the direction of a qualified supervisor or consultant.

Best Practice: minimum standard plus regular consultation for quality assurance with someone who has Level B or Level C training.

Purchaser eligibility
Depends on publisher, but generally no restrictions except that the test must be ordered by the employee of the company directly responsible for administration of the tests or an individual qualified to purchase Level B or Level C tests.

Level B Tests
These are tests that require specific training for administration, scoring and interpretation. These tests are more complex than Level A tests and require sophisticated understanding of psychometric principles, the traits being measured, the client population and clinical issues involved in the setting within which the testing is done. This category would generally include most individual or group tests of achievement or interest, screening inventories and personnel tests.

Administration of test (Training standards)
Advanced level (senior undergraduate or graduate) course in testing from an accredited college or university, or equivalent training under the direction of a qualified supervisor or consultant. Minimum preparation includes training in psychometric principles (reliability, validity, test construction) and supervised experience in administering, scoring and interpreting tests.

Interpretation of test
Minimum Training Standard: advanced level (senior undergraduate or graduate) course in testing from an accredited college or university, or equivalent training under the direction of a qualified supervisor or consultant including training in psychometric principles (reliability, validity, test construction), and direct supervised experience in administering, scoring and interpreting tests.

Best Practice: minimum standard plus regular consultation/supervision for quality assurance with someone with Level C qualifications.

Purchaser eligibility
These tests are available to individuals meeting the above training standards and to agencies where qualified test users are employed.

Level C Tests
Tests that require advanced (graduate level) training for interpretation in the specific professional field to which the tests apply (e.g., clinical psychology, counselling psychology, school psychology, industrial/organizational psychology). Some of these tests may also require this level of training for competent administration and scoring. These tests are more complex than Level A and B tests. They require an in-depth understanding of psychometric principles, the traits and constructs being measured, the client population, and the clinical issues involved in the setting within which the testing is done. In addition, these tests require a high degree of professional skill and judgement for their interpretation. This group would generally include any aptitude or language or personality or clinical diagnostic test, group or individual.

Administration of test (Training standards)
In situations where a person qualified to use the test closely and regularly supervises the person administering the test, some of these tests can be administered by someone with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in psychology or a related discipline. Academic or supervised clinical experience must include:

• training in the theoretical constructs underlying the specific test instruments;
• training in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of these instruments;
• training in psychometric principles; and
• direct supervision of administration and (if appropriate) scoring.

Interpretation of Test
Minimum Training Standard: a minimum of a master's degree in psychology or a related discipline and registration as a psychologist, or certification by the provincial school psychologists' association. Academic and supervised clinical experience must include:

• training in the theoretical constructs underlying the specific test instruments;
• training in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of these instruments;
• training in psychometric principles; and
• supervised administration, scoring and interpretation of these instruments.

Best Practice: minimum standard plus ongoing consultation/supervision for quality assurance with someone with Level C qualifications.

Purchaser Eligibility
These tests are restricted to individuals who meet the training standards above and who are members of qualified professional organizations and to agencies who have Level C qualified test users overseeing the testing program.

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