A follow up to our post Psychological Assessment in Forensic Psychology, we are very glad that one of our respondents provided us reply to our queries and interest about job opportunities for Psychometrician in the Police and Military.
Entering in the police or military is one of the toughest and arduous qualifiers to get serve the country and engage in a profession. As mentioned below by our anonymous respondent professionals who enter the police and military are not spared of the 6 months basic training. After the training they are deployed as combatant - limbs and life at stake to test their capability and capacity to serve and secure the country and its citizens, sometimes 3 to 6 years before they can get promotion or specialize in the field they desire. So even for a licensed engineer, architects, doctors and other professions (even for future licensed psychometrician) they have to go through police and military rigors, discipline, and traditions.
So for those considering to join the police and military this is a piece of good advice. I welcome you all to read what our friend in the police force has to say about his experience of becoming a police psychometrician.
Most of those who enter the police force are just like any other policemen, there is no clear definition of what kind of work you do if you're a psych graduate, so much the same with other courses.
If you are assigned to traffic then you do the job of a traffic police. If you are assigned at the investigation division...like myself...then you do investigative work. It all boils down to what specialization you align yourself to once you finish basic recruit training.
It does not matter what course you finished in college, a policeman is a policeman is a policeman, we have
architects and engineers who are members of SWAT teams and they are registered architects and engineers.
Mostly psychology graduatess are assigned in the recruitment division. They are the ones who administer psychometric tests for people who want to join the PNP. Others are assigned in the Health Service
Unit and they administer psychometric tests for personnel suspected of mental illness and they also administer tests to people who want to own firearms as per the new law on firearms. I know for a fact that it's much the same as with any other branch of the uniformed service. Only a few get to practice. The common misconception is that the uniformed service here in our country is the same as with other countries.
We don't have a behavioral science unit like the US or applied psychology in forensics investigation. Here you become a policeman because you want to be a policeman and you want to make positive changes for your community. You take what the organization gives you.
There is however what we call in the service lateral entry. Its a form of recruitment wherein specific skills and degrees are required, example lawyers, doctors, chaplains, accountants. They are recruited for their specific skills and specialization. But still like I said they are the "LUCKY" ones.
For psychologists and psychometricians, before the law RA10029, if you have a masters degree or membership to the PAP, then you can apply for lateral entry (if accepted you get to practice what you finished in college, unfortunately, not what happened to me). But it's a long shot, I'm not discouraging you guys.
But, I would like to point out that the world you live in is not the same as the world we live, it's a complex system which is sad to say rooted in the PADRINO system. My advice, because I love the PNP with all my
heart: Do not aspire to be an officer just yet or be a psychometrician for the PNP beacuse you are a graduate of psychology and a board certified psychometrican, join the PNP beacuase you want to make a positive change for the country and you want to be part of the solution.
Anyway. I think the police force are not yet aware of the law, most of the officers who are psychologists and psychometricians are not board certified (through grandfather clause). Maybe they'll change the rules in hiring psychologists and psychometricians after the 1st board exam. But as of now there are no new guidelines for hiring psyche professionals.
The recruitment and hiring qualifications guide for PNP is covered in the law or RA 8551- AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REFORM AND REORGANIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SIXTY-NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE ENTITLED, "AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE UNDER A RE-ORGANIZED DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1998/ra_8551_1998.html
Also if you ask me what branch of the uniformed service values psychology professionals, the answer is easy it is the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. This agency needs pyschologists. Its the same with the PNP only the mandate of the bureau is to safeguard the public by helping rehabilitate inmates.
In the army I have a friend and classmate in college. He was a combatant first in a scout ranger regiment, much like me. Kaya lang siya for 6 years as combatant, me for 3 years lang. Combatant means assigned in the frontline through battalion. Una sa digmaan ika nga, but now he is practicing since he finished his masters degree 2 years ago.
It is the same in the army pag may MA you can practice after you apply for promotion. But this is for graduates who are alreasdy in the service.
I will update you if there will be changes in the guidelines of hiring psyche grads kasi nga may board exam na.I was hoping that they'll change the rules for hiring kasi if you ask me, we need talaga psychologists and psychometicians dito sa PNP. Sana after the 1st board exam they'll change it because ang tagal nag antay ng mga kalahi ntin para maipasa ang batas na ito. Anyway thank you ulit and more power, you've been very helpful.
Thanks also and more power. Hopefully we'll pass the exam. Snappy salute to you!!
(If you would notice we are also now blogging topics about possible job opportunities so as to give more options to those who will pass the Licensure Exam.)
