Qualifications policy
Pearson is committed to maintaining professional standards in testing as stated in the Professional Affairs Committee Working Group on Test Publishing Industry Safeguards sanctioned by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) and the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. A central principle of professional test use is that individuals should use only those tests for which they have the appropriate training and expertise. Pearson supports this principle by stating qualifications for the use of particular tests, and selling tests to individuals who provide credentials that meet those qualifications. The policies that Pearson uses to comply with the professional testing practices are described below.
The "Qualified User" is the individual who assumes responsibility for all aspects of appropriate test use, including administration, scoring, interpretation, and application of results. Some tests may be administered or scored by individuals with less training, as long as they are under the supervision of a Qualified User. To assist the qualified user, each test manual will provide additional detail on administration, scoring and/or interpretation requirements and options for the particular test.
We only accept orders identifying a Qualified User who is registered on our website or had previously submitted their qualifications. Prior to March 1, 2019 this information may have been submitted via an online form. Customers who submitted qualification forms in this manner were migrated over automatically. All new submissions must be done through the creation of a website account and adding qualification details to their website account.
Qualification Level A
There are no special qualifications to purchase these products.
Qualification Level B
Tests may be purchased by individuals with:
- A master's degree in psychology, education, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, social work, counseling, or in a field closely related to the intended use of the assessment, and formal training in the ethical administration, scoring, and interpretation of clinical assessments.
OR
- Certification by or full active membership in a professional organization such as the Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC), the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrics and Psychotherapists (OACCPP), or other North American organizations such as the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), the American Counselling Association (ACA), the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME), the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), or the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals (CVRP) that requires training and experience in the relevant area of assessment,
OR
- A degree or license to practice in the healthcare or allied healthcare field.
OR
- Formal, supervised mental health, speech/language, occupational therapy, social work, counseling, and/or educational training specific to assessing children, or in infant and child development, and formal training in the ethical administration, scoring, and interpretation of clinical assessments.
OR
- Work for an accredited institution
Qualification Level C
Tests with a C qualification require a high level of expertise in test interpretation, and can be purchased by individuals with:
- A doctorate degree in psychology, education, or a closely related field with formal training in the ethical administration, scoring, and interpretation of clinical assessments related to the intended use of the assessment.
OR
- Licensure or certification to practice in your province in a field related to the purchase.
OR
- Certification by or full membership in a professional organization such as College of Psychology, the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (CRHSPP), the Canadian Association of School Psychologists (CASP) or other North American organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) that requires training and experience in the relevant area of assessment.