Psychology Act of 2009 (RA 10029) Explained

After some years of waiting we finally have a law, which will regulate the practice of psychology and psychometrics here in the Philippines. Congress recently passed the Psychology Act of 2009 in recognition of the important roles played by psychologists and psychometricians in our country as well as the need to protect the public from inexperienced and untrained individuals from offering psychological services.

What will follow is a list of the important provisions of the Psychology Act of 2009 which are broken down into their important components for easy understanding.

What is meant by “psychology”?

It is the scientific study of the human behavior. This involves the application of scientific methods to inquire into the:

• biological
• cognitive
• affective
• developmental
• personality
• social
• cultural
• individual

difference dimensions of human behavior.

What is meant by “practice of psychology”?

Consists of the delivery of psychology services that involve application of psychological principles and procedures for the purpose of understanding, predicting and growth and functioning.

The delivery of psychological services includes, but is not limited to:

1. psychological interventions:

• psychological counseling
• psychotherapy
• psychosocial support
• coaching
• psychological debriefing
• group processes
• all other psychological interventions that involve the application of psychological principles to impress psychological functioning of individuals, families, groups and organizations

2. psychological assessment: gathering and integration of psychological-related data for the purpose of making psychological evaluation, accomplished through a variety of tools, including:

• individual tests
• projective tests
• clinical interview
• other psychological assessment tools

for the purpose of assessing diverse psychological functions including:

• cognitive abilities
• aptitudes
• personality characteristics
• attitudes
• values
• interests
• emotions
• motivations

in support of:

• psychological counseling
• psychotherapy
• and other psychological interventions

3. psychological programs:

• development
• planning
• implementation
• monitoring
• evaluation

of psychological treatment for individuals and/or groups

What are the requirements in order for a person to be called a “psychologist”?

He or she must be:

1. natural person
2. duly registered
3. holds a:

• valid certificate of registration
• valid professional identification card as professional psychologist (the card must be issued by the Regulatory Board of Psychology and the Processional Regulatory Commission

What are the requirements in order for a person to be called a “psychometrician”?

He or she must be:

1. natural person
2. duly registered
3. holds a:

• valid certificate of registration
• valid professional identification card as professional psychometrician (the card must be issued by the Regulatory Board of Psychology and the Processional Regulatory Commission

A “psychometrician” is allowed to perform what functions?

A psychometrician is allowed to perform the following:

1. administer and score:

• objective personality tests
• structured personality tests

excluding:

• projective tests
• other higher level forms of psychological tests

2. interpret results of these tests and preparing a report on these results

3. conduct preparatory intake interviews of clients for psychological intervention sessions

Who are required to take the psychology and psychometrics licensure examination?

All applications for registration to practice psychology and psychometrics shall be required to pass a licensure examination for psychologists and psychometricians to be conducted by the board in such places and dates, and subject to such requirements prescribed by the Commission.

What are the requirements to take the licensure exam for psychologists?

The following are the requirements that a person must show to the Board before he or she can take the licensure exam for psychologists:

1. The applicant must be a Filipino citizen, a permanent resident or a citizen of a foreign country which extends to the Philippines relative to the practice of the profession
2. He or she must hold at least a master’s degree in psychology conferred in by an education institution in the Philippines or abroad, provided that the when it was conferred abroad, the school must be recognized or accredited by CHED. He or she must also obtain sufficient credits for the subjects covered in the exam.
3. The applicant must have undergone a minimum of 200 hours of supervised practicum/ internship/ clinical experience related to the practice of psychology and under the auspices of a psychologist or other mental health professional.
4. He or she must be of good moral character.
5. The applicant must not have been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude. For example, if the applicant was convicted for murder he or she will not be allowed to take the exam because the offense involves moral turpitude. But if the applicant was convicted for an offense involving negligence, he or she may still take the exam because the offense does not involve moral turpitude.

What are the requirements to take the licensure exam for psychometricians?

Same as the requirements for those desiring to take the licensure exam for psychologists, except:

1. Instead of a master’s degree, a bachelor’s degree will suffice.
2. There is no 200-hour internship experience requirement.

Who can register as a psychologist without taking the licensure exam?

A person who possesses the qualifications required to take the licensure exam may register without taking the exam, provided that:

The person files, with the Board, within 3 years after its creation, an application for registration and issuance of certificate of registration and professional ID by submitting credentials to the Board that the applicant had, on or prior to the effectivity of this Act fulfilled any of these requirements:

1. He/she obtained a PhD in Psychology and had accumulated a minimum of 3 years in the practice of psychology.
2. He/she obtained Masters in Psychology and had accumulated a minimum of 5 years in the practice of psychology.
3. He/she has a Bachelors degree in Psychology and had accumulated a minimum of 10 years of work experience, currently employed as a psychologist and who have updated their professional education in various psychology related functions.

Who can register as a psychometrician without taking the licensure exam?

A person who possesses the qualifications required to take the licensure exam may register without taking the exam, provided that:

The person files, with the Board, within 3 years after its creation, an application for registration and issuance of certificate of registration and professional ID by submitting credentials to the Board that the applicant had, on or prior to the effectivity of this Act fulfilled all of this requirements:

• He/she has a Bachelors degree in Psychology
• Had accumulated a minimum of 2 years full time work experience in the practice of psychometrics

What is the passing grade for the licensure exam for psychologists and psychometricians?

The examinee should attain a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 75% for all the subjects with none of the exam receiving a score of 60% or less.

What if my GWA is 75% or more but in one subject I received less than 60% will I still pass the exam?

No, because not one of the exams taken should result to a grade of less than 60% as stated above.

What if I obtained 60% or less in one of the subjects, can I still retake the exam?

Yes, you can. The good news is that you need not take the whole exam but only the subjects which you failed.  Note that this exam should be taken within 2 years from the time the last exam was taken.