La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § LXIII-1702

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 8, August 20, 2024

Section LXIII-1702 - Definition of Psychological Testing, Evaluation and Assessment

A. As contained in R.S. 37:2352(7), the practice of psychology includes, but is not limited to, psychological testing and evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics such as intelligence, personality, abilities, interests, aptitudes, and neuropsychological functioning. The Board of Examiners of Psychologists finds it necessary to formally define psychological testing in order to protect the people of this state from the unlawful, unqualified and improper use of psychological tests. The intent of this rule is to provide a definition of psychological testing sufficient to allow this board to effectively regulate this aspect of psychological practice. The Board of Examiners of Psychologists recognizes that, except as otherwise provided by law, psychological testing may only be administered and interpreted by a person duly licensed as a psychologist by this board under R.S. 37:2351 et seq., or by a person under the direct supervision of a psychologist, provided that such supervision is in compliance with the regulations of this board.

B. Nothing in these regulations should be interpreted or construed as to limit or restrict the practice of physicians duly licensed to practice medicine by the Board of Medical Examiners. Also, nothing in this rule should be construed as having application to any persons licensed or certified under other laws of this state when acting within the legal scope of such licensure or certification in rendering services as expressly set forth under those relevant statutes.

C. Psychological testing, evaluation or assessment hereinafter referred to as "psychological testing," is defined as the administration and/or interpretation of measurement instruments, devices, or procedures for the purpose of treatment planning and/or diagnosis, classification or description of mental and emotional disorders and disabilities, disorders of personality or behavior, psychological aspects of physical illness, accident, injury or disability and neuropsychological impairment. The use of computerized psychological assessment procedures is also included in scope of this regulation.

D. Psychological testing explicitly includes the following three areas:

1. intellectual-which includes those normative-based individually administered instruments used to measure cognitive functions such as abstract reasoning, fund of knowledge and problem solving;

2. personality and emotional-which includes those normative-based instruments used to measure both trait and state aspects of personality and emotional characteristics and functioning;

3. neuropsychological which includes those normative-based instruments used to make inferences about brain and behavior relationships. These relationships include, but are not limited to, sensorimotor functioning, attention and concentration skills, memory functioning, language function, concrete and abstract problem solving, and measures of cognitive flexibility and creativity;

E. Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, psychologists as well as other appropriately licensed or certified professionals may also administer or use tests of language, educational and achievement tests, adaptive behavioral tests, and symptom screening checklists or instruments, as well as tests of abilities, interests, and aptitudes. The administration and interpretation of these tests is not exclusively within the scope of this regulation.

F. Psychological testing within the independent practice of psychology must be performed in accordance with the requirements of LAC 46:LXIII.Chapter 13, Ethical Standards of Psychologists. The ability to competently interpret psychological testing assumes a doctoral degree in psychology with formal academic training in statistics, test construction, sampling theory, tests and measurement, individual differences, and personality theory. In addition, the interpretation of psychological tests for treatment planning, diagnostic, classification, or descriptive purposes assumes formal doctoral level academic training in the areas of abnormal psychology, psychopathology, psychodiagnosis and, in the case of neuropsychological diagnosis, additional formal training and/or demonstrated competence in the field of clinical neuropsychology. All training must be supervised by a licensed psychologist and must include formal supervised practical experience and internship training, when appropriate, involving the use of psychological tests with different patient populations.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LXIII-1702

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Examiners of Psychologists, LR 19:496 (April 1993), Amended by the Department of Health, Board of Examiners of Psychologists, LR 49678 (4/1/2023).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:2353.