1. The EPPP Step 2 : What Graduate Trainers Want to Know
Stephen T. DeMers, EdD, CEO
Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards
2017 Annual Meeting of TSP
San Antonio, TX

2. Goal of Licensing Boards
PUBLIC PROTECTION
Licensing - limited to qualified individuals
Disciplining psychologists who behave unethically, incompetently, or illegally
Serve best interest of both the public and the profession

3. Basics of Licensure Educational Requirements
Supervised professional experience (SPE)
to 6000 hours of SPE (depending on pre and/or post-doc experience needed
- PA Act 53 (effective 8/23/16)
Examinations
- EPPP
- Jurisprudence and Ethics Exam or Oral Exam
doctoral degree, APA/CPA or NR/ASPPB
Act 53
EPPP and PA Psychology Law Examination; time limits on retakes
Requirements vary across jurisdictions

4. What is the EPPP Step 2? A computer based exam
Part 2 of a complete assessment practice
Step 1 = EPPP, tests knowledge
Step 2 = EPPP Step 2, tests skills
Knowledge and skills needed for independent practice

5. Why the EPPP Step 2? Licensing boards charged with public protection
Part of public protection is ensuring competence
Knowledge only part of competence
Skills, attitudes and values comprise the rest of competence
Supervisors’ ratings not always reliable
EPPP pass rates highly variable (100% - 13% of graduates from APA accredited programs)
A next step in the “culture of competence”

6. What is Competency?
Integrated use of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that are necessary to ensure protection of the public in the professional practice of psychology
Competency ensures a professional is capable of practicing the profession safely and effectively

7. ASPPB Competency Clusters
Scientific Orientation to Practice - 6%
- orientation to the knowledge developed through the
science of psychology, including evidence-based practice
- use the scientific method to examine and respond to
psychological problems
- involves knowledge of the core areas of psychology
currently assessed by the EPPP

8. Competency Clusters (cont.)
Professional Practice %
- the provision of psychological services to the public,
including competencies necessary to engage in
assessment, intervention, consultation and
supervision

9. Competency Clusters (cont.)
Relational Competence %
- ability to engage in meaningful and helpful
professional relationships, as well as to understand
and interact appropriately in a variety of diverse
cultural and social contexts. Includes the two sub-
categories of “diversity” and “relationships”

10. Competency Clusters (cont.)
Professionalism %
- personal competence, the ability to identify and
observe the boundaries of competence, the ability to
be self-reflective and to receive feedback from others
in relationship to one’s psychological activities

11. Competency Clusters (cont.)
Ethical Practice %
- ability to apply both the ethical codes of the
profession and the laws and regulations that govern
the practice of psychology

12. Competency Clusters (cont.)
Collaboration, Consultation and Supervision - 17%
- ability to understand and deal with individuals within
broader systems; includes ability to operate effectively
and ethically within organizational structures and to
collaborate with others in a cooperative,
multidisciplinary manner, ability to supervise others

13. The ASPPB Competency Pyramid

14. EPPP Step 2 Assesses the knows how and shows how stages of the pyramid
Innovative item types
Review of test protocols
Vignettes with cascading questions
Multiple choice questions requiring multiple correct answers
Possibly use of avatars

15. EPPP Step 2 Time Line

16. An Outline of Exam Development
Job Task Analysis / Practice Analysis
Test Specifications / Content Outline
Item Development
Form Construction
Beta Examination
Standard Setting
Exam Launch
Job Task Analysis
Content Outline
(WE ARE HERE)
Exam Launch
Standard Setting
Beta Testing
Exam Items
Pearson Vue
Job Task Analysis: Expert Panel Meeting

18. FAQ’s and Concerns How costly will this be?
Will this be a valid and reliable exam?
How much time will this add pre licensure?
Will this change when the EPPP can be taken?
Will this negatively affect mobility
Will programs be able to use the EPPP as a qualifying
examination for their students?

19. Common Issues of Concern to Licensing Boards
Transcript does not indicate specific program completed
Course titles not descriptive of content or not helpful to licensing board
Internship/practicum experience not on transcript
Accreditation status of program and/or institution unclear

20. Help Students Avoid Problems
Follow standard/prescribed curriculum (no waivers, special considerations)
Select recognized internship/post-degree placement with established history, multiple supervisors, etc.
Identify jurisdiction(s) of interest and contact directly for requirements
Try to meet most stringent requirements (e.g., post-doc)
Deposit ALL credentials in recognized credentials bank
Take EPPP as early as allowed

21. ASPPB Credentials Bank
Supervised professional experience (internship and post-doc hours)
Practicum hours
Transcripts of all graduate study
EPPP scores
Results from oral or jurisprudence exams
Documentation of specialty training

22. Contact Us
Volunteer Forms and additional information about the EPPP Step 2 are online at Feel free to contact us for more information as well Steve DeMers, EdD Carol Webb, PhD ABPP CEO ASPPB COO ASPPB

23. EPPP Required by licensing boards in the U.S. and Canada
Intended to measure broad, general, foundational knowledge
Content supported by periodic Job Task (Practice) Analyses

24. EPPP Areas/Domains Biological bases of behavior (11%)
Cognitive and affective bases of behavior (13%)
Social and cultural bases of behavior (12%)
Growth and life-span development (13%)
Assessment and diagnosis (14%)
Treatment, intervention and prevention (15%)
Research methods and statistics (7%)
Ethical, legal and professional issues (15%)

25. EPPP Practice Exams
PEPPPO (Practice Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology Online)
May be taken on any computer that can connect to the
Internet
PEPPP (Practice Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology)
Taken under real-world testing conditions at a Pearson
Testing Center

26. Students should STUDY for the EPPP
Practice exams (
Many commercial companies – limited data to support the need for these companies
Textbooks
Course materials
Study groups

27. How Many Hours Should Students Spend Studying for the EPPP?
Study Time
Pass Rate
None
1 – 50 hours
51 – 75 hours
76 – 100 hours
101 – 200 hours
201 – 300 hours
301 – 400 hours
401+ hours
45%
46%
67%
75%
74%
77%
66%
50%

28. Pass Rates by Year of Graduation
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011 and earlier
88%
84%
73%
64%
59%

29. Newest EPPP Data February 2015 – March 2016 4957 1st time takers
Overall Pass Rate (PR) 75%
Overall Doctoral PR 79%
Overall Masters PR 53%

30. Applicant Data PR PhD 1st time test takers 85%
PR PsyD 1st time test takers 72%
Clinical PhD 90%
Clinical PsyD 74%
Counseling 83%
School 84%
Combined 91%

31. Applicant Data APPIC Internship 84% Non APPIC Internship 63%
APA accredited internship 87%
Non accredited internship 67%
With APPIC Post-Doc 89%
With Post-Doc (not APPIC) 79%
No Post-Doc 78%