This is for master level clinicians looking for this information on the web. Unfortunately, the BBS does not have information readily available on their website to answer this question, unless you email them directly, as one forum user posted earlier. Please search this thread for the Board's direct answer regarding this topic. They stated that "yes" clinicians licensed by them (CA) are able to administer and interpret tests. The only thing that I would add is that master level clinicians should provide this service as an adjunct service to their current patients. That is, you (master level clinicians) can not provide this as a "stand-alone" service.
There are a few other things that I'm going say. For one, I've been in the field since 2003 in a major metropolitan area of the U.S., with one of the biggest public mental health departments in the nation. I can honestly say that there is not a significant need for testing in community mental health. Psych testing is provided in this field as an adjunct service and typically to help clarify a diagnosis. In my eight years seeing patients, I have referred a hand-full of clients for psych testing. I and most clinicians, doctorate and master level, have successfully treated clients by conducting thorough biopsychosocial evaluations, developing treatment plans, and systematically providing interventions that are consistent with their assessment results and treatment plan objectives.
Let's get one thing clear, the RECENT development and expansion of PsyD programs is mainly attributed to people wanting to differentiate themselves from master level clinicians in a very tough market which is saturated with clinicians. This has resulted with more PsyDs than the market can absorb. Public agencies are not hiring PsyDs or PhDs in any greater number than before, because the need for them has not increase. Now, if you're looking to go into private practice and want to exclusively provide psych testing, than get a PsyD or PhD, because (as I mentioned before in an earlier post) the Surgeon General does not support master level clinicians practicing psych testing as a "stand along service." Also, if you want to go into a niche, like neuro-pysch, than you would need a doctorate degree.
This new group of PsyDs has only fueled the "turf war" because now, more than ever, there are more PsyDs and master level clinicians fighting for the same jobs in public agencies, schools, courts, jails/detention centers/camps, hospitals etc., and really, we get paid the same or have very similar salaries. This is because any third party payer is not going to reimburse a provider for a psych test unless then can show that it is needed, and only after a regular assessment has been conducted.
So, if you're searching the web looking for the answer to "can master level clinicians administer psych tests," than the answer is "yes," but know that PsyDs here will try to convince you otherwise. Keep in mind that with any service that you provide, you have to meet industry standards and conduct your services in an ethical manner. This can be met by education (not necessarily through your grad program), training, consultation, or supervision, and show competence when conducting any assessment or delivering interventions.
LCSWs, Nurses (MSNs), and now MFTs work in most settings (if not all) and they assess, diagnose and make recommendations for their clients. And their practices are respected.
Hopefully this answers your questions, and good luck with your master-level program if that is what you decide. I work with many doctorate level clinicians and we do the same work and get make the same salaries. Plus, I have way less school loans!
There are a few other things that I'm going say. For one, I've been in the field since 2003 in a major metropolitan area of the U.S., with one of the biggest public mental health departments in the nation. I can honestly say that there is not a significant need for testing in community mental health. Psych testing is provided in this field as an adjunct service and typically to help clarify a diagnosis. In my eight years seeing patients, I have referred a hand-full of clients for psych testing. I and most clinicians, doctorate and master level, have successfully treated clients by conducting thorough biopsychosocial evaluations, developing treatment plans, and systematically providing interventions that are consistent with their assessment results and treatment plan objectives.
Let's get one thing clear, the RECENT development and expansion of PsyD programs is mainly attributed to people wanting to differentiate themselves from master level clinicians in a very tough market which is saturated with clinicians. This has resulted with more PsyDs than the market can absorb. Public agencies are not hiring PsyDs or PhDs in any greater number than before, because the need for them has not increase. Now, if you're looking to go into private practice and want to exclusively provide psych testing, than get a PsyD or PhD, because (as I mentioned before in an earlier post) the Surgeon General does not support master level clinicians practicing psych testing as a "stand along service." Also, if you want to go into a niche, like neuro-pysch, than you would need a doctorate degree.
This new group of PsyDs has only fueled the "turf war" because now, more than ever, there are more PsyDs and master level clinicians fighting for the same jobs in public agencies, schools, courts, jails/detention centers/camps, hospitals etc., and really, we get paid the same or have very similar salaries. This is because any third party payer is not going to reimburse a provider for a psych test unless then can show that it is needed, and only after a regular assessment has been conducted.
So, if you're searching the web looking for the answer to "can master level clinicians administer psych tests," than the answer is "yes," but know that PsyDs here will try to convince you otherwise. Keep in mind that with any service that you provide, you have to meet industry standards and conduct your services in an ethical manner. This can be met by education (not necessarily through your grad program), training, consultation, or supervision, and show competence when conducting any assessment or delivering interventions.
LCSWs, Nurses (MSNs), and now MFTs work in most settings (if not all) and they assess, diagnose and make recommendations for their clients. And their practices are respected.
Hopefully this answers your questions, and good luck with your master-level program if that is what you decide. I work with many doctorate level clinicians and we do the same work and get make the same salaries. Plus, I have way less school loans!
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