Competency

Question 1

3.1. Responsibility

Answer 1

A registrant must assume full responsibility for decisions they have made and actions they have taken in the performance of psychological services.

Question 2

3.2 Maintaining Competency

Answer 2

A registrant must maintain competency in the areas in which they practice through continuing education, consultation, and any other procedures that conform to current professional standards.

Question 3

3.3 Demonstration of Knowledge

Answer 3

A registrant must maintain demonstrable assessment and intervention skills related to all areas of practice in which they conduct assessments and intervention

Question 4

3.5. Limits on Practice

Answer 4

A registrant must limit the practice of psychology and supervision of others in the practice of psychology:

a)
to those areas of competence in which the registrant has gained proficiency through education, training, and experience; and (b)
to any specific areas of practice, settings or populations conferred by class of registration or by undertaking or agreement.

Question 5

3.6. Referral

Answer 5

A registrant must make or recommend referral to other professional, technical, or administrative resources when such referral is in the best interests of the client

Ensure 5.20: Terminating - NO ABANDONMENT
5.20 Terminating psychological services
A registrant:
must not abandon their clients;
must terminate psychological services when it is reasonably clear that
i. the client no longer needs or wants the services, or
ii. the client is not benefitting from the relationship;
may terminate psychological services when a potential conflict of interest or dual relationship arises, or attempt to resolve the situation in some other appropriate manner that preserves client welfare; and may terminate psychological services if threatened or otherwise endangered by the client or another person with whom the client has a relationship.

Question 6

3.7 Professional Knowledge

Answer 6

A registrant must maintain current knowledge of scientific and professional developments that are directly related to the professional services the registrant renders.

Question 7

3.8 Regulatory knowledge

Answer 7

A registrant must maintain current knowledge of all international, federal and provincial statutes and regulations, and other agency and professional bylaws, codes of conduct, and practice advisories that relate to the performance of their psychological services.

Question 8

3.9 Empirical Foundations of interventions

Answer 8

A registrant who performs interventions must:
a)
be familiar with the reliability, validity, related standardization, and outcome studies of the techniques used; and (b)
be trained in the proper applications and uses of these techniques.

Question 9

3.10 Empirical foundation of assessment

Answer 9

A registrant who administers, scores, interprets, or uses assessment techniques must:

a) be familiar with the reliability, validity, related standardization, and outcome studies of the techniques used; and
b) be trained in the proper applications and uses of these techniques.

Question 10

3.11 Qualifications for tests and procedures

Answer 10

A registrant must only use psychological tests and procedures that they are qualified to use.

Question 11

3.12 Objectivity of opinions and interventions

Answer 11

A registrant must provide professional opinions and interventions in an objective and unbiased manner.

Question 12

3.13 Accuracy

Answer 12

A registrant must ensure that their reports and public statements accurately reflect the information provided or available to them, including providing any statements of limitations necessary to an accurate understanding of the information being provided.

Question 13

3.14 Opinion based on proper information

Answer 13

A registrant must base their professional opinions on:
accurately represented information provided or made available to them; and
adequate and appropriate information.

Question 14

3.15 Making professional judgments

Answer 14

A registrant must rely on scientifically and professionally derived knowledge when making scientific or professional judgments or when engaging in research, clinical work, teaching, or other scholarly or professional endeavours.

Question 15

3.16 Basis for opinion (e.g., Goldwater)

Answer 15

A registrant giving a formal professional opinion or recommendation about a client must do so only after direct and sufficient professional contact with, or a formal assessment of, that client.

Question 16

3.17 Exception to 3.16

Answer 16

If it is not possible to comply with Standard 3.16 due to extraordinary circumstances, such as those where there is a risk of imminent harm to self or others, a registrant must articulate the reasons for non-compliance in any verbal or written report related to the opinion or recommendation.

Question 17

3.18 Limitations on opinions

Answer 17

A registrant must disclose any limitations regarding the certainty of their opinions, including any limitations respecting diagnoses, judgments, predictions, or formal recommendations that can be made about groups or individuals, or that relate in any way to the nature of the service(s) provided.

Question 18

3.19 Presentation of perspectives

Answer 18

When the perspectives of two or more individuals are presented in a report, a registrant must clarify authorship of each perspective in a clear and accurate manner.

Question 19

3.20 Clear and understandable

Answer 19

A registrant must present their professional opinions and information about clients in a form that is clear and understandable.

Question 20

3.21 New Competencies

Answer 20

A registrant who is attaining competency in a service, technique, or intervention that is unfamiliar or new to them or to the profession must:
seek appropriate education and training in that service, technique, or intervention; and
engage in ongoing consultation with other registrants or appropriate professionals.

Question 21

3.22 Where no standards for training (no harm!)

Answer 21

Where generally recognized standards for preparatory training for psychological services, techniques, or interventions do not exist, a registrant must take steps to ensure their competence in those services, techniques, or interventions and to protect clients, students, trainees, research participants, and others from harm. This includes adequately advising and obtaining the informed consent of the recipient, in advance of providing services, regarding the experimental nature of the service, technique, or intervention.

Question 22

3.24 Obtaining needed training for special situations

Answer 22

Where differences of age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, socioeconomic status, or any other factor significantly affect a registrant’s work concerning particular individuals or groups, a registrant must obtain the training, experience, consultation, and/or supervision necessary to ensure the competence of their psychological services, or must make appropriate referrals.

Question 23

3.25 Special assessments/interventions

Answer 23

A registrant who conducts specific kinds of assessments and/or interventions, or who offers services in a new way (such as, for example, via telepsychology rather than in person), must ensure they have the necessary knowledge, training, and experience to conduct assessments and/or interventions in that area or in that fashion.

Question 24

3.26 Issue beyond competence

Answer 24

If issues arise in a particular assessment or intervention that are outside the competence of a registrant, the registrant must refer that aspect of the assessment or intervention or the assessment or intervention in general to another qualified professional.

Question 25

3.27 Impaired competence

Answer 25

A registrant must refrain from accepting or continuing psychological work in any area if they know or should know that there is a substantial likelihood that their personal problems (e.g., physical illness, mental disorder, substance abuse, life situation, or other problem) will prevent them from fulfilling obligations and commitments or from performing in a competent manner, or will otherwise harm a client, colleague, student, research participant, or other person with whom they have a professional relationship.

Question 26

3.28 Seeking assistance (self-care)

Answer 26

A registrant has an obligation to maintain their physical and mental health sufficient to carry out professional work, and when they become aware of personal problems that may interfere with performing work-related duties adequately, the registrant must:

take appropriate measures, such as obtaining professional consultation or assistance; and
determine whether they should limit, suspend, or terminate their work-related duties.

Question 27

3.29 Terminating due to impairment

Answer 27

If a registrant’s competence becomes impaired within the meaning of Standards 3.27 or 3.28 during the course of a professional relationship, such that the relationship should be terminated, the registrant must terminate the professional relationship appropriately, with due regard for the welfare of the client or other recipient of services, and where appropriate give formal notice of the termination in writing.