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Professional standards for psychological assessment

A psychological test is a measuring instrument. As in medicine, the conclusion about a person depends on the quality of the instrument and on the qualification of the person using it: whether a child needs a remedial program, whether a candidate is fit for service, whether someone has post-traumatic stress disorder.

Why Ukraine needs professional standards

  • Invalid instruments are still in use. Many tests used in schools, hospitals and HR departments have neither Ukrainian norms nor data on reliability and validity. Conclusions based on them can harm people.
  • There are no access levels for tests. In the USA, the UK and EU countries, complex clinical instruments (MMPI, WISC, ADOS) are sold only to appropriately qualified professionals. Ukraine has no such system: a complex test can be used by someone without training.
  • The war has increased the need for assessment. Screening for anxiety, depression and trauma, psychological selection for service, assessment of children in inclusive resource centres — thousands of decisions every day. Their quality depends on standards.
  • New legislation. The 2025 Law of Ukraine on the Mental Health Care System introduces certification of psychologists and continuing professional development. The professional community has to propose what counts as competence in psychological assessment.

What VPA does

VPA is an affiliate member of the International Test Commission (ITC). We have translated the main ITC guidelines on test use into Ukrainian and adapted the EFPA test review model and the EFPA standards for test user qualifications. More than 1800 certificates issued to specialists over the years are listed in the open registry.

The next step we propose is a system of qualification levels for test users, aligned with EFPA standards and the practice of leading test publishers.

Qualification levels for test users (draft, 2026)

A draft standard for discussion by the professional community, prepared by VPA on the basis of EFPA standards, ITC guidelines and the qualification policies of leading test publishers. The level defines which tests a specialist may independently administer, score and interpret. The more complex the instrument and the more important the decisions based on it, the higher the qualification required. Levels do not restrict the profession — they protect the person being assessed.

A Test assistant

EFPA level 1; publishers’ level A

  • For senior students, teachers, social workers, nurses and early-career psychologists.
  • Administers and scores screening instruments according to the manual (GAD-7, PHQ-9, PCL-5, DASS-21 and similar) and knows their limits.
  • Does not make a psychological diagnosis or choose complex instruments; refers concerning results to a level B or C specialist.
  • Training: introductory course “Introduction to Psychodiagnostics” (≈18 hours) and a final test. Valid for 3 years.

B Test user

EFPA level 2; publishers’ level B

  • Independently administers and interprets standardized questionnaires and rating scales within the test manual (e.g. Conners-3, CASD, BFQ-2, ITQ, VADPRS).
  • Requirements: higher education in psychology, a course in psychometrics and questionnaires (60–80 hours), examination and case analysis. Valid for 3 years; 15 hours of continuing professional development per year.

C Psychodiagnostic specialist

EFPA level 3; publishers’ level C

  • Selects and combines instruments, conducts comprehensive assessment and writes the psychological report. Works with clinical and individual instruments (PAI, MMPI-2, WISC-IV, Leiter-3, QuickSCID-5).
  • For instruments that require specific training (ADOS-2, ADI-R, Rorschach, M-P-R, SAND) — an additional certificate of training in that instrument.
  • Requirements: Master’s degree in psychology or psychiatrist, level B, an advanced module (40–60 hours) and supervised practice. Valid for 3 years; 20 hours of continuing professional development per year.

D Supervisor-trainer

  • Trains and supervises specialists, teaches VPA courses and confirms practice.
  • Requirements: level C, at least 5 years of practice, trainer training, decision of the VPA commission.

Transition period

Specialists who already hold VPA certificates in specific instruments receive a provisional level corresponding to the instrument (B or C with access to it) and confirm the full level within 24 months through a short online assessment, without repeating the course.

Principles

  • Openness. Requirements are public; training by other providers is recognized through an equivalence procedure.
  • Access to screening. Screening instruments remain available at level A.
  • Independence. Decisions are made by a VPA commission; appeals are possible.

Test Committee

The VPA Test Committee was established by the Presidium on 30 January 2014; its membership and the Standards for test user qualifications were approved at the first, constituent VPA Conference in September 2016. The committee is now being renewed. Its first tasks are the discussion and approval of the qualification levels, updating the registry of test methods and resuming voluntary certification according to ITC and EFPA standards.

Get involved

If you share these values — scientific rigour, responsibility towards the person being assessed, and transparency — we invite universities, professional associations, test publishers and providers, clinics, educational institutions and public authorities to cooperate. Comments on the draft and offers to join the Test Committee as an expert: oleg@vpa.org.ua.

Ukrainian version: Професійні стандарти психодіагностики · Кваліфікаційні рівні (проєкт)