People's Choice Award at #bloggys2015

It is with gratitude that we thank all those who endorsed, voted, and believed in us for our campaign bid for the Philippine Blogging Awards 2015. We received the People's Choice Award in the Technology and Internet Category. The award was a collective effort from our FB admins, supporters, endorsers and you our readers and likers who took time to vote for us. Our bid was our way of introducing to the public and blogging community about our profession and us RPm or Registered Psychometricians. We hope that through this award we can continue to educate and make the public aware about us.

Special thanks goes to Sir Jason Go of Spark Psychology Review Center for his personal endorsement posted on SPARK's and his personal FB page. We also would like to mention the following for their endorsement and support:

Ms. Gemma Comiso of Gumamela sa Paraiso

Mr. Kenji Solis of Thoughtskoto

 Mr. Gary Yap of MY Psychology

Ms. Anna Agoncillo of  Miss Psychobabble

Thank you also to our masisipag na admins who never waver in their support for our bid.

And most of all to all of you  who voted for us our likers and readers.

Maraming salamat po.

Patuloy po nating ipakilala ang ating propesyon bilang mga Registered Psychometricians o RPm.

 

Sign-up for #BLEPP2016 Regular Updates

Schedule of BLEPP2016

Board Licensure Examinations for Psychologists and Psychometricians
Date - August 30-31, 2016
Venues - Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi and Lucena

BLEPP 2016 Exam Sched  

http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/2016ExamSched1_e.pdf

Anniversary Post on the Announcement of the Result of the First BLEPPsychometrician

Mabuhay and congratulations to all pioneers of BLEPP 2014! Whether you topped the licensure exam, passed or failed, still, we were all part of history in the professionalization of Psychology practice in the Philippines.Although we were not able to make an anniversary post for the second year of our blog but we were able to make a second year anniversary post of our FB page showing the result of the survey conducted to assess and evaluate the page.

For some of the 1,290 passers, job remain elusive. In particular for new graduates who are board passers feel they are marginalized despite their license as Registered Psychometrician (RPm) over those who are experienced but without license. There's a need for RA 10029-Philippine Psychology Act of 2009 to be fully implemented. It is appalling to note that some licensed Psychometricians are in a dilemma and feel apprehensive being victims or party to some companies unethical practice operating psychological testing clinics.   

As a response  to licensed Psychometricians need for job we created Facebook groups for jobs postings and announcements we called Filipino Psychometrcians and Filipino Psychologists. Also, #TeamRPm - our admin groups,  joined the #bloggys2015 Philippine BLogging Awards to make our blog and FB page more visible to the public, promote for the implementation of RA 10029 and for RPm and psychology graduates take pride of their profession as Psychometricians. We are also very grateful for the endorsements we received from our friends and fellow bloggers and made a blog post about it.

There were  two BLEPP exams already the first in October 2014 and the July 2015. As we have seen there were improvements compared to the first BLEPP. But still we are hoping that information would be more accessible and available so we will be spending lesser time to respond to those queries and focus on providing online reviewers and quizzes. At least for 2015 the exam were conducted not only in Manila but in key cities like Baguio, Legazpi, Davao and Cebu.

For the last board exam with a total number of  4,466 examinees in 2015, the number is expected to continue to increase given the number of those graduating from Psychology course. The number of  those taking the licensure exam to become registered Psychologist is also increasing. The implication of this is shown with the trend of the increasing number of those taking their MA in Psychology.

There's a need for universities to upgrade their facilities and improve their Psychology graduate program attuned to those required in the licensure exam. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) should also compel universities to have universities comply in renaming and re-aligning their  undergraduate courses compliant to the  licensure exam for Psychometrician. Problem on course equivalency was such a big headache in the past board exams. Schools and universities should be constantly monitored and those consistent with a very low passing rate should be given warning. 

For those who are licensed RPm and RP they are required after three (3) years to renew their license. One of the requirements is for them to earn points for their Continuing Professional Development. As such we have created a page for Psych related events  we called Psych Events Philippines. The objective is to monitor, document, share and spread Psychology and other related events happening in the Philippines. Let us know your events and we can post it here. So let us share and spread Psychology and other related events. Ask directly from the organizers about information and details like fees, venue, CPE points, etc.

Since we now command more than 13K likers we were able to help disseminate information and ask people to sign-up for the Psychological First Aid training of UST-Psychotrauma Center. There are now more than 200 who signed up and 50 of them were given training. Reflections of some of those who trained was posted in our other blog.  The FB group was formed with the following objective:  Network, resources (information), education, training and other concerns on Psychological First Aid in the Philippines. The Philippines is a disaster prone country since it belongs to the ring of fire, frequented by earthquake, volcanic eruption and also battered by typhoons on a regular basis.To address a more holistic disaster-risk management, psychological first aid should go hand in hand.So this group is created for Psychologists and other volunteers to connect and provide assistance when needed. Let us serve as partner of Red Cross, DSWD, CSO/NGO and other relief/rehab agencies when they are mobilized in times of need.

With our bid for the #bloggys2015 we got to know some friends and network abroad who even endorsed us. So it inspired us to create two more FB pages to  network with our Asian and ASEAN counterparts  to exchange with them on their practice of Psychology.

Two years of our blogging effort and presence in social media like Facebook and Twitter, the task is daunting and challenging. But we continue to do what for us is a source of happiness and inspiration to be better Psychometrician and Psychologists - being of service to others.

So as the number of our blog readers and FB likers increase we also continue to recruit admins. And we are very grateful to our indefatigable admins who continue to actively and creatively post engaging memes, videos, links and other updates. We continue to review and be entertained in our page.   And we also encourage you our readers and likers to  share as well and make our page and blog more SOSYAL (social)!

Happy First Anniversary Pioneers we hope that you continue to engage and share with us. Mabuhay!

We made a request to those who took the BLEPP to make their experience of the licensure exam a lasting memory and a legacy, whether they did good or failed in their first attempt of that historical event in Philippine Psychology. The collection of anecdotes was entitled,  Psychometricians Lens: Anecdotes of the Pioneers on the 2014 BLEPP. Below are the links of their stories:

Magiting na mga Admins

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/magiting-na-mga-admins-ng-philippine.html

Defeat not an option

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/defeat-not-option.html

To my dearest future self

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/to-my-dearest-future-self.html

Ang Pangalawang Pagbabalik

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/ang-pangalawang-pagbabalik.html

Ang Kwelang Kwento ni Kuya Psych

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/ang-kwelang-kwento-ni-kuya-psych.html

My 82 days of journey to board exam 

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/my-82-days-of-journey-to-board-exam.html

The odds in my favor

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-odds-in-my-favor.html

Being branded as smart

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/being-branded-as-smart.html

Of  George Kelly and Faith 

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/of-george-kelly-and-faith.html

Overjoyed  

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/overjoyed.html

Never Losing Hope

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/never-losing-hope.html

Si Icasiam ay si Ikapito rin!

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/si-icasiam-ay-si-ikapito-rin.html

Lone Survivor

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/lone-survivor.html

Psych Living a Balanced Life

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/psych-living-balanced-life.html

Poor performance in the BLEPP 2014, whose fault?

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/transition-in-professionalizing.html

Fallen but not defeated

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/fallen-but-not-defeated.html

My Saykometrisyan Dyurni

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/my-saykometrisyan-dyurni.html 

Hindi naman ako bobo, bakit ako bumagsak?

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/hindi-naman-ako-bobo-bakit-ako-bumagsak.html

Bewitched by my name

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/bewitched-by-her-name.html

Please vote for Psychometricpinas at the #bloggys2015

Please Visit: http://bloggys.ph/section-4/

Then, vote for: psychometricpinas.blogspot.com 

Vote for psychometricpinas for #bloggys2015 !

(until 31 October 2015 only)

Endorsements

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2015/10/international-endorsement-from-my.html

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2015/10/official-endorsement-from-spark.html

Campaign Collaterals

https://www.thinglink.com/scene/701458223898558464

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and the Psychometrician

We have been receiving lots of queries about the requirements to renew license, to think that next month, in November 2015 would only be the first year anniversary of those who were licensed through examinations. To satisfy our inquirers and readers we made this blog post.

Of of the 57 regulated professions of  the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC), 42 professions are required to earn 45 credit units while the rest are only required 30-credit units for them to renew their license. Check page 13 of the Revised Guidelines 2013-774 Revised Guidelines on the Continuing Professional Development  (CPD) below and look for item #35 for Psychologist (45 Credit Units), however it was not explicit if the same units apply to Psychometricians.

The following points were summarized and serve as highlights of the guidelines:

CPE to CPD

What used to be Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirement for renewing PRC license is now called Continuing Professional Development or CPD. Continuing Professional Development or CPD is the inculcation of advanced knowledge, skills, and ethical values in a post-licensure specialized or in an inter- or multi-disciplinary field of study for assimilation into professional practice, self-directed research and/or lifelong learning.

Creation of CPDC

The resolution requires every professional regulatory board (PRB) to create a Continuing Professional Development Council (CPDC), subject to approval by the Commission.  The council is vested with powers and functions to ensure and set CPD program; evaluate the application and accreditation of CPD programs, providers,  self-directed and/or lifelong learning; monitor the implementation CPD providers; and assess annually and upgrade criteria for accreditation of providers and programs; conduct researches, studies and benchmarking for international alignment; issue operational guidelines; and perform other incidental or related functions. The Council will be composed of a chairperson and two members, subject to certain qualifications and limitations.

CPD Programs in Various Modes 

Aside from the usual or traditional way of earning CPD units through seminars, workshops, training and conferences the resolution allows for other modes to grant credit which include:

Self Directed Learning - on-line trainings, local/international seminars/non-degree courses, institution/company-sponsored training programs, and the like which did not undergo CPD accreditation but may be applied for and awarded CPD units by the respective CPD Councils.

Lifelong Learning - all learning activities undertaken throughout life for the development of competencies and qualifications. (Section 20: Maximum creditable units for self-directed and/or lifelong learning -  A maximum of 15 creditable units (CUs) may be credited for self-directed and/or lifelong learning within the compliance period of three (3) years.  Any excess CUs earned shall not be carried over to the next 3-year period.) 

Authorship - creation of a new idea/work such as technical or professional books, instructional materials, and the like.

Invention/Patent - a technical solution to a problem in any field of human activity which is new, involves an inventive step and is industrially applicable.  (Section 20. Inventions shall be given full credit units for the compliance period.

Post-graduate Academic Studies - master's or doctoral units/degree earned from a school, college or university, or other institutions recognized by pertinent government bodies.

Specialty Training - a non-degree post-graduate training such as residency, externship, specialty and sub-specialty program conducted, or fellowship conferred, by an organization or society, and/or recognized by the pertinent government authority. (Section 19. Any excess credit units shall not be carried over to the next 3-year period, except credit units earned for doctoral and master's degrees or specialty trainings which shall only be credited once during the compliance period.) 

Resource person - a lecturer, speaker, presenter, panelist, reactor, analyst in a specialized field or the like in a seminar or similar activity.

Diploma Program - a program offered by an institution of higher learning which requires a baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree for admission.

Professorial Chair - an academic position awarded to a member of a faculty at the tertiary level who has distinguished himself/herself in the field of expertise. 

Application and Accreditation of CPD Providers

CPD Provider is a natural or juridical person that conducts CPD programs accredited by the CPD Council to conduct CPD programs. An individual and/or   firm/partnership/corporation  may apply as  for accreditation as CPD Provider, provided that requirements and qualifications are satisfied. The accreditation will be valid for three (3) years and renewable for another three years only if  the provider is in good standing based on their performance and compliance of the Council's set standards.

Resolution No. 2013-774 (Series of 2013) - Revised Guidelines on the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program for all registered and licensed professionals (with Annexes)

RES CPD RevisedGuidelines 2013-774 Revised Guidelines on the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Prog... by TinoRepaso

RES CPD Revised Guidelines 2013-774 Revised Guidelines on the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Prog...

LINKS of ANNEXES (all these annexes are also part/included in the above guidelines)

CPD FORM NO. 01 - Application for Accreditation as CPD PROVIDER

CPD FORM NO. 02 - Application Form for Accreditation of CPD Program

CPD FORM NO. 03 - Application for Crediting of Self-Directed and/or Lifelong Learning

CPD FORM NO. 04 - Monitoring Report

CPD FORM NO. 05 - Completion Report on CPD Program

CPD FORM NO. 06 - Affidavit of Undertaking

RPm Ethical Dilemma: Trabahong Walang Integridad

(photo credit - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiLicQ9ICkeZ53d7MATRP2d16VcTRB9Odv5cAQIOFNFD7Q0kZJkh5XyK2DcmMxuDMl2t3W8yo5yiby9yPXSfDnqAtlDxzrMLV6KhvfCoAVRheRrTaxqoBEcqu0hQOwuesZ1UJd-EohBJw/s640/WP_001423.jpg)

(Ed-We are featuring here a story we received from an anonymous sender and we hope to hear also from others, brave enough to tell their own same stories so that this issue would soon be addressed. We also would like to call the attention of the Psychological Association of the Philippines as the Accredited Professional Organization to look into this issue. The PRB of Psychology and the Department of Health as a government institution should also uphold and implement the law (RA10029). Given the licensure exam and professionalization of Psychometrician this anomalous and unethical practice among testing centers and OFW clinics should be stopped. Let us also offer solution and alternatives. Let's protect the integrity of our profession. Let's uphold the ethical practice of Psychometricians.)

Isa akong psychometrician sa isang clinic at nakakalungkot mang sabihin pero hindi ko nagagampanan ang trabaho ko na may integridad. Hindi ko man masasabi ang lahat pero gusto ko lang malaman ng mga may experience na sa larangan ng Sikolohiya at sa mga nakakataas ang mga problema ko sa aking trabaho.

Kung susumahin, may higit isang taon na akong experience bilang isang psychometrician sa 2 clinic sa Metro Manila. Nung una’y, napansin ko na OK ang trabahong ito dahil related sa akin kurso, nang tumagal-tagal na ako sa trabaho, nakikita at napapansin kong hindi na maganda ang trabahong ito (pasensya na) dahil sa aking napansin na hindi na tugma ang trabaho ko sa ethic na natutunan ko sa kolehiyo at sa pag-review para sa board exam – ang kadahilanan kung bakit ako nag-resign sa una kong pinagtratrabahuhan.

Nakapasa ako sa board exam para sa psychometrician at alam kong may malaki akong responsibilidad (kahit hindi ako psychometrician) hindi lang dahil may batas na akong dapat sundin, kundi na rin may pakialam ako sa ikabubuti ng mga tao sa tulong ng psychology.

Nag-apply ako sa iba’t-ibang institution, kolehiyo, at clinic sa Manila. Isa lang ang napansin ko, hindi pa tuluyang naipapatupad ng maayos ang ating batas (R.A. 10029). Marami pa ring gumagamit ng psychological tests na photocopied, may mga gumagamit pa rin ng projective tests na hindi naman angkop sa mga naga-administer nito, may mga gumagamit pa rin ng objective tests na hindi naman standardized sa Pilipinas (kasama ako rito at 100% akong sigurado na lahat ng nagtratrabaho bilang psychometrician ngayon ay hindi gumagamit ng standardized tests), at may ilan pa ring “walang pakialam” sa issue na ito.

Walong buwan na akong psychometrician sa ikalawa kong pinapasukan at kung ano napansin ko dati, ganoon pa rin ang sitwasyon sa ngayon. Labag sa loob ko ang gawin ang mga bagay na hindi tugma sa ating ethics at sa ating batas pero kailangan kong magtrabaho para sa sarili ko at magkaroon ng experience. Nung unang 2 buwan ko dito, kabadong-kabado ako dahil ganoon pa rin ang sitwasyon, nakakalito dahil hindi ko alam kung alin ang dapat mong sundin: ang batas at ethics ba ng mga psychometrician o ang batas at ang standard procedure ng DOH na hindi tugma sa una?

Siguro maraming magagalit sa artikulong ito at magsasabi na “Ang tanga mo naman, malamang ‘yung batas at ethics ng psychometrician, PAP, PRC, etc.”. Nasabi ko na rin ‘yan sa sarili ko pero wala eh. Mahirap siyang i-apply sa totoong buhay, sa realidad ng trabaho ko...

Hahawak ka ng 15 bilang ng kliyente araw-araw at bibigyan mo sila ng minimum battery ng DOH (1 intelligence test at 1 personality inventory kasama ang talambuhuhay, atbp.). Sa tingin mo ba makakuha ka ng sapat na impormasyon gamit lang ng battery na ‘yon sa taong pagbibigyan mo nito at ia-assess mo? Hindi. Sa artikulong ipapabasa ko sa inyo, malalaman ninyo ang reaksyon o sagot ng PAP sa DOH tungkol sa issue na ito noong taong 2010 pa. Kayo na ang mag-analyze o magbigay opinion sa artikulo na ‘yon.

Sa loob ng 8 buwan ko dito, hinayaan ko na lang ang issue dahil may “ganito-din-naman-ang-sitwasyon-ng-iba-mas-malala-pa-nga-yun-sa-kanila” mentality. Pero isang araw, may kaibigan ako na bago lang din sa trabahong ito, bagong psychometrician siya sa isang clinic at nagtatanong siya sa akin kung ano ang procedure ganyan-ganyan. Nung una, sinasabi ko na “hayaan mo lang ‘yung ganyan, wala naming mangyayari sa kliyente, i-base mo lang ‘yung resulta sa interview mo” pero napansin ko na ayaw kong mapasa yung mentality ko kaya siguro naging interesado ako na maayos ang trabaho ko.

Ang SOP sa clinic ng namin ay ganito, hindi ko alam kung parehas nung sa iba:

• Bigyan mo ng tig-isang test (intelligence at personality) ang kliyente.
• Ibabase mo ang katauhan niya sa nalakap mong data sa intelligence at personality at gagawan ito ng summary form mula sa DOH.

Ang ginagamit kong test ay: PNLT para sa intelligence at BPI para sa personality. Alam kong hindi ito standardized dahil ang pinagbabasehan pa ring norms ay ang nasa manual nito na gawa sa ibang bansa, at ang scoring nito ay hindi maliwanag at alam kong iba-iba sa bawat clinic.

May mga kaibigan din akong nagtratrabaho sa mga clinic at gumagamit sila ng DAPT at SSCT na alam kong hindi pwedeng gamitin lalo na kung hindi ka competent na gamitin ‘yun. Sa totoo lang, nagulat din ako nung nalaman kong ganun ang ginagamit nila. Tinanong ko siya, “Bakit ganiyan ang ginagamit niyo, naiinspect ba ‘yan?”. Sumagot siya, “Oo, na-inspect na kami ng DOH.” Nasa isip ko, nakalusot sila, makakalusot din siguro kami.

Alam ko na dapat matagal na akong natanggalan ng lisensya (kahit ayaw ko...ayaw ko talaga) pero sa ngayon, iniisip ko kung paano nagsimula ang ganito at kung ‘yung mga test ban a ginagamit ay standardized ba at paano nalikha yung summary form ng DOH na binase sa personality inventories (ibig sabihin Psychologist- nalaman ko ang pangalan kamakailan lang- o may alam sa paggawa ng test ang lumikha noon, ewan ko).

Gusto ko ding masunod ang artikulo ng PAP para hindi na ako kabahan sa mga gagawin ko. Siguro ilang taon pa ang lilipas para tuluyang maging maayos ang trabaho ng mga psychometrician dito sa bansa.

Salamat sa pagbabasa at kung may masama kayong sasabihin sa akin, gusto kong maranasan ninyo kung ano ba talaga ang trabaho ko para maintindihan niyo ako, okay lang sa akin na gawin kayong reliever for 1 week para mas maintindihan niyo ang sitwasyon ko at makapagpahinga rin ako. Itatago ko ang katauhan ko, at sa mga nakakaalam kung sino ako, sana maintindihan niyo rin ang pinagdadaanan ko at isainyo niyo na lang ang katauhan ko. Haha.

Salamat ulit.

By:  Xyfer

PAP Statement on AO 2010-0022