PSYCHOMETRICIAN VS PSYCHOLOGIST

Difference Between Psychometrician and Psychologist

Are you a Psychology major and wanted to know what are the opportunities after completing your Bachelor's or Master's degree? Below are the detailed information on what to be expect from you once you passed the Board Licensure Examinations for Psychometricians and Psychologist (BLEPP) as defined on RA 10029 or Psychology Act of 2009.  

	PSYCHOMETRICIAN	PSYCHOLOGIST
DEFINITION AS DEFINED ON R.A. No. 10029	A Psychometrician is a professional who has been registered and issued a valid Certificate of Registration and a valid Professional ID Card as such by the Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology and the Professional Regulation Commission to practice Psychometrics. Psychometrics is the branch of psychology that deals with the development, administration, and interpretation of quantitative tests for the measurement of psychological variables such as intelligence, aptitude, and personality traits	A Psychologist is a duly registered professional who holds a valid Certificate of Registration and a valid Professional Identification Card issued by the Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology (PRBP) and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for the purpose of delivering the different psychological services.
EDUCATION	To become a Psychometrician, you need to have a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and pass the licensure examination for Psychometricians. Formal learning as a psychometrician is only the beginning. The internship and strong mentoring relationship with an experienced psychometrician is critical. There is a big jump between the theory of psychometrics and the art and science of doing it in the real world.	A Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology should be a head-start, but to become a Psychologist, one must complete a Master’s Degree in Psychology and undergo clinical internship training with supervision from a duly licensed/ registered Professional Psychologist.
FUNCTIONS	The primary functions of a Psychometrician include –  • Administering &scoring objective and structured personality tests; • Interpreting the results of these tests and preparing a written report on these results; • Conducting preparatory intake interviews for psychological intervention sessions; • Test design and construction: developing the table of specifications, item writing and item analysis; • Test validation & standardization: developing norm sampling plans; conducting item tryout data analysis; completing analysis and scale development • Writing the Technical Manual • Test Research and Statistical Studies.	The primary functions of a Psychologist include –  Psychological Intervention:  • counseling and  psychotherapy  • psychosocial support,  • psychological debriefing,  • life coaching • group process,  • psychological consultation  • trauma healing and other psychological processes which dig into the psychological functioning of individuals, families, groups and organizations.  Psychological Assessment: The gathering and integration of psychology – related data to:   a). make a psychological evaluation b). assess diverse psychological functions and processes in support of psychological intervention. Psychological Programs: The development, implementation &evaluation of psychological treatment programs like – • addiction rehabilitation treatment  • behavioral management in correctional facilities  • psychological/sensitivity training  •mental health programs in disaster/ emergency situations  •clinical supervision.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES	• Discipline, Knowledge, Research and Scientific Foundation • Framing, Measuring, Planning; • Constructing and Calibrating Test Items; • Statistical Procedures, Tools and Computer Applications • Data Management, Analysis, and Reporting • Interviewing and Relational Skills • Administration of different types of psychological tests using innovative delivery platforms; scoring, profiling and interpreting the results thereof; • Assessment and Evaluation • Writing a Psychological Report • Professional, Legal and Ethical Practice • Attention to details in the pursuit of Accuracy • Oral and Written Communication • Independence and Collaborative Cooperation	• Knowledge of the Discipline, Scientific Foundation, Research • Intervention and Service Implementation • Diagnostic Assessment/Evaluation • Program Development and Management in a Continuum of Care • Interpersonal, Professional and Community Relations • Consultation and Collaboration • Professional, Legal, Ethical and Reflective Practice
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES	Psychometrics is a specialized field and there is a shortage of licensed psychometricians, more so now with regulatory laws, the push for educational accountability and the demand for quality assurance in testing programs. There is a growing demand for Psychometricians in hospitals and mental health institutions as part of a multidisciplinary Psycho-diagnostic Team; in schools as part of the Testing, Admissions and/or Guidance team; and in business and industry as part of the HR Management team. Psychometricians are needed too in Psychological Test Centers, OFW clinics, in the military (PNP, AFP, PCG) and in various government agencies (DSWD, DOH, NCMH, DDB, NBI) and the Judiciary under the supervision of the Psychologists.	The practice of psychology in the Philippines covers such specialty areas as Assessment, Clinical, Counseling Developmental, Educational, Social and Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Career Opportunities include: • Business Ownership: Consultancy Offices, Mental Health Facilities, Psychological Services Center, Psychological Clinics; • Private Practice as a Life Coach, a Neuropsychologist, Marriage and Family Counselor, Psychologist in a Specialty area, Psychotherapist, or Consultant. • Employment as a Government Psychologist, Addiction Counselor/ Mental Health Professional, Staff Psychologist, School Psychologist, Program Director, University Professor, Research Specialist, HR/OD Mgr.
COST OF EDUCATION	A Bachelor’s degree in Psychology is offered in at least 286 colleges and universities in the Philippines. The tuition fee normally ranges from PHP 5,000.00 to PHP 20,000 per semester in State Colleges and Universities, and from PHP 25,000 to PHP 65,000 per semester in private schools.	There area bout 286 HEIs offering a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, but only 34 schools offer a Master’s Degree and only 11 schools offer Doctoral Training in Psychology. The total cost of graduate training normally ranges from PHP 180,000.00 to PHP 300,000.00 depending on the type and prestige of the academic institution. Scholarship programs are however available for graduate training here and abroad.

You may download the document here:

FOR PSYCHOMETRICIAN: https://www.prc.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Psychometrician_PRIMER.pdf

FOR PSYCHOLOGIST: https://www.prc.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Psychologist_PRIMER.pdf