N.J. Admin. Code § 13:42-10.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:42-10.5 - Maintaining competence in testing situations

(a) A licensee who utilizes psychometric instruments in assessment shall be required to have completed foundational course work in psychometric theory/tests and measurement and graduate level course work in individual assessment. Completion of a workshop or continuing education in the use of a specific test shall not be substituted for the required foundational course work.

(b) A licensee responsible for development and standardization of psychological tests and other assessment techniques shall utilize established scientific procedures and observe relevant professional standards.

(c) Psychometric instruments shall be administered in the manner prescribed in the technical manual which accompanies the psychometric instrument, unless an extenuating circumstance exists, such as an unforeseen or unusual circumstance pertaining to a particular client, in which case psychometric instruments may be administered by alternative procedures. If a test is administered by alternative procedures, then the impact of such deviations on reliability, validity, or fairness shall be addressed in the report. While it is recognized that there are differing schools of thought in the psychological literature regarding issues of test fairness, use of appropriate norms, and appropriate item content for various subgroups, licensees shall be responsible for employing psychometric instruments in a nondiscriminatory manner and with sensitivity to cultural differences. Licensees shall present the results of assessments and their interpretations in such a way as to minimize the potential for misuse by others.

(d) A licensee shall make reasonable efforts to avoid use of obsolete testing measures. This subsection shall not be construed, however, to require the use of a more recent edition of an instrument if, in the licensee's professional judgment, a previous version is more appropriate for the particular assessment.

(e) Licensees who employ computerized narrative reports shall have the knowledge, skill and ability to interpret the scales of the instrument independently. Licensees shall not rely on the interpretations contained in a computerized narrative report as though the report were individually tailored specifically for that examinee. Statements in the narrative shall be evaluated in the context of the facts of the case and the licensee's own impressions of the test subject. Licensees shall be responsible for conclusions and recommendations based on computerized narrative reports and shall not be relieved of such responsibility by the use of a computerized narrative report.

(f) A licensee shall not sponsor or supervise the use of psychological assessment techniques by persons who are not in an appropriate psychological or closely-related field or who are otherwise unqualified.

(g) A licensee shall administer or supervise the administration of all testing materials on premises and consistent with accepted standards of practice.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:42-10.5

Amended by R.2000 d.476, effective 12/4/2000.
See: 31 New Jersey Register 3218(a), 32 New Jersey Register 4260(a).
Rewrote (a), (c) and (e); added second sentence to (d).