Upcoming Training Courses

Other online live courses

The Psychometrics Centre, based in the Cambridge Judge Business School at Cambridge also holds courses on many other aspects of advanced psychometrics. . Topic covered are:

SEMinR – Structural Equation Modelling in the R language

Generative AI: from Hype to Business Impact

Click here for more details, dates and times.

About the BPS Certificates

The British Psychological Society (BPS) offers Certificates of Competence in Occupational Testing as part of its qualifications in psychometric and psychological testing. These certificates are designed for professionals using psychometric or psychological tests in various roles across Occupational (HR), Educational, and Forensic contexts. The qualifications aim to standardize and elevate the practice of psychological testing, ensuring that test users are competent, ethical, and effective in their application of psychometric assessments.

What They Are For

The BPS’s Certificates of Competence are intended to ensure that professionals employing psychological tests do so with a high level of expertise, understanding, and ethical consideration. These qualifications are beneficial for:

• Educational professionals in schools or local authorities, focusing on understanding children’s strengths and learning needs through testing.
• Occupational professionals in HR departments, employment agencies, or consultancies, using tests for personnel selection, development, or career guidance.
• Forensic professionals in prisons, secure hospitals, courts, or probation services, assessing offenders’ risk of reoffending​.

Recognition

The BPS’s qualifications are nationally recognized and align with the standards of competence defined by the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA). This recognition underscores the qualifications’ credibility and their acceptance within professional psychology and HR communities​.

What Is Involved

The certification process includes training modules that cover the ethical, theoretical, and practical aspects of psychometric testing. For the Occupational Testing qualification, there are several levels:

• Assistant Test User: Focuses on administering specific tests within well-defined contexts.
• Test User: Expands the scope to include selecting appropriate tests, interpreting results, and working independently.
• Specialist in Test Use: Available for those in occupational contexts, enabling them to advise on, train others in, and even construct tests​.

Training courses for these qualifications cover topics such as the principles of psychometric testing, test administration, scoring, interpretation, and feedback. They also include practical sessions for hands-on learning and ongoing support from experienced consultants​​.

Benefits

For psychologists and HR professionals, obtaining a BPS Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing offers several advantages:

• Gaining a nationally recognized qualification that demonstrates expertise in psychometric testing.
• Access to a wide range of ability and personality tests from UK test publishers.
• Membership in the BPS Register of Qualifications in Test Use (RQTU), further validating their professional status.
• Eligibility for the EFPA European Test User Certificate, enhancing their qualifications within the European context.
• Improved understanding of psychometric testing and personality theory, enabling more effective use of tests in occupational settings​.