7 Things You Don’t Know About Being a Psychometrician in the Philippines
Last 2018, I was one of the 4,035 successful examinees of the BLEP or the licensure examination for psychometricians in the Philippines. Years have passed but I can vividly remember soon after the euphoric feeling has subsided, I asked myself, “now, what?”. I had no idea what to do next and what steps to take after passing and if I can turn back time, I will certainly get myself informed of the things that I should know about being a psychometrician in the Philippines. Did you know that it was only 2014 when the first-ever licensure examination for psychometricians was conducted? That pretty much explains the limited information of the general public on what is it like to be an RPm in the country.
So if you are a psychology major wanting to take the board exam or just someone who is interested in the profession, here are the 7 things you should know about being a psychometrician in the Philippines:
1. You Have To Maintain Your RPm License
The work doesn’t stop after passing. Quite frankly, that is just the beginning. Just like any other licensed professionals such as doctors, nurses, or teachers, as a psychometrician, you will have to maintain your license. The validity of the RPm license is three years which means, you will have to apply for its renewal every three years. The Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) of both psychologists and psychometricians is the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP). You will have to coordinate with PAP for your eligibility to renew your license. One of their requirements is for you to have adequate Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points to be eligible for renewal. In my case, I was aware of this (thanks to my college professors) but what really shook me was how costly it all can be. It may not be an issue for some, but it is still an important thing to be aware of.
2. Limited Job Opportunities
As I have mentioned, the psychometrician profession is still in its emerging phase as a career in the Philippines. It is a brutal truth that there are companies who are either unaware of the RPm license as a hiring qualification in accordance with RA 10029 or are deliberately ignoring it. Since 2014, there have been a lot of RPm’s in the country. In fact, they outnumbered psychologists. According to The Manila Times (2021), the Philippines only has 1,400 psychologists while every year, thousands of licensed psychometricians are being produced. There is an obvious incongruence between the number of professionals and the number of opportunities available. It was a hard pill to swallow for me because I thought, opportunities will fall on my lap or if not, at least will make it easier for me once I have the RPm extension in my name.
3. You Can Work in the Government With Your License
As you probably know, in order to be qualified in any government position, you must have civil service eligibility. As a registered psychometrician, you may qualify for a government position in accordance with the RA 1080 which declares that “the bar examinations and the examinations given by the various boards of examiners of the Government are declared as civil service examinations”. It can give you an edge sure, but obviously, there are other things as well that are to be considered such as relevant work experiences. Nevertheless, if you are dreaming of a career in the government, this may be another reason for you to strive and get that license!
4. There Is No Plantilla Item for Psychometricians in the Government
Yes, you heard that right. Even though psychometricians may qualify for a position in the government because of their PRC license, it is not guaranteed that the position is exactly for a psychometrician. This means they may be put in the position of a health program officer or an admin officer or any other closely related job titles but not as a psychometrician. This issue has been brought up so many times in every seminar, workshop, or forum. What we currently know for certain, is that it is being worked on and is still in progress. I think it is especially important for psychometricians to have a plantilla item in the government because it could address not just the lack of opportunities or a job misfit, but more importantly, the recognition. If the government starts officially including psychometricians in their workforce (as they should), it can have an indirect effect on the general public’s awareness of the profession. The government has an important role in making it known to the people.
5. You Still Need a Psychologist’s Supervision When Administering Psychological Tests
Even though psychometrician as a title sounds like someone who is already an expert in psychological measurement, it seems that isn’t the case in reality. Industries require psychometricians to be supervised by psychologists in using standardized psychological tests. Psychometricians are authorized to administer standardized psychological tests, interpret their results, write a psychological report, and conduct intake interviews provided that they are under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. That also means, all the assessment reports made by the psychometrician must be signed by the psychologist. You can think of it the way you see the collaborative work of medical technologists and physicians. Medical technologists are skilled in conducting laboratory tests and work with physicians to come up with a diagnosis. Similarly, psychometricians conduct a psychological assessment together with psychologists in determining a diagnosis and even recommendation.
6. Your RPm License Is Not a Requirement In Becoming a Psychologist
Surprise! You can be a registered psychologist without having to earn a license as a psychometrician. I feel like adding it here because there may be few who think there is some career ladder to climb. You can choose to be both and that can probably give you an advantage in skills and employability but it is not a requirement. In the Philippines though, there are a lot of psychology graduates who choose to pursue being a psychometrician than going straight into graduate school. I guess because taking the licensure exam for psychometricians is relatively easier to pursue as compared to spending 4 or more years in graduate school and becoming a licensed psychologist.
7. You Can Be a Psychometrician Without a Master’s Degree
Contrary to the process of being a psychologist here in the Philippines, a master’s degree is not required in getting a psychometrician license. You can be a registered psychometrician without getting into graduate school unlike in other countries that require a graduate degree in psychology, psychometrics, or statistics. The only requirement PRC will ask of you is your transcripts of records (TOR) and a bachelor’s degree diploma among other personal documents. Then, if you are able to provide those documents and are able to pass the licensure exam, you can be a registered psychometrician. You can choose to pursue both being a psychometrician and a psychologist but just like in entry #6, they are not a requirement of each other.
All the things listed here account for my personal and professional experiences and some of these may or may not be reflective of everyone’s experiences. As you probably have noticed, being a psychometrician here in the Philippines can sound like an easy journey but I think the hardships just come later. If you are currently preparing for the board exam or planning to, you might think that reviewing for the board exam is the hardest part, which I won’t blame you for because that part is indeed exhausting, but take it from me, there will be bigger battles after that. And by then, I am certain that you will also be stronger and even more capable of facing life’s bigger challenges. That’s the effect you get after braving the licensure exam regardless of the result.
So if you are an aspiring psychometrician, I hope this helps you in preparing for the journey you are about to enter. If you are just someone interested in the profession for whatever reason, I hoped this enlightens you.
