Goal: We would like ASPPB to stop their pursuit of EPPP Part 2 and work alongside accrediting bodies to reform development and assessment of skills-based competency.

The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) has been pursuing an additional component to the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), known as Part 2. This exam is designed to evaluate skills-based competency; whereas, Part 1 (the current EPPP) assesses knowledge-based competency. Despite widespread criticism and pushback regarding implementation of this exam, ASPPB continues to disregard the multitude of problems Part 2 will inevitably cause as well as the insufficient justification that an additional exam would resolve concerns associated with skills-based competency.

Problems identified through various peer-reviewed journal articles, state and provincial psychological associations, state and provincial licensing boards, and personal anecdotes from early career psychologists and exam-takers include:

·       Insufficient evidence that psychologists lack assessment of skills provided through various training opportunities (e.g., practicum, internship, and postdoctoral fellowship or supervision).

·       Lack of data indicating a multiple-choice exam with no remediation procedures would provide an incremental benefit to protecting the public.

·       Lack of data on the career stage most psychology board complaints occur during (i.e., early -, mid-, or late-career) and whether such board or malpractice complaints involve a lack of skill.

·       Racial/ethnic disparities in pass rates for Part 1 with no formal procedure on how to address these concerns for Part 2.

·       Lack of extensive third-party evaluation of Part 1 of the exam.

·       Inadequate validation of Part 2 beyond content validity.

·       Potential disruption to training program structure – ASPPB has suggested that Part 1 might be taken earlier to offset delays in licensure.

·       ASPPB has a history of rushing exams and not engaging stakeholders, such that the Spanish EPPP (S-EPPP) had to be discontinued after a workforce crisis in Puerto Rico.

·       Extreme financial burden to exam-takers: The cost of Part 1 is $691.88, including test site sitting fee. Part 2 will cost an additional $450.

·       To apply to take even Part 1, an applicant must also apply for licensure in a state or jurisdiction. If trainees begin taking Part 1 at an earlier time, they might end up applying for licensure in multiple jurisdictions, costing more money and adding to more complications.

·       There are no available study materials for Part 2, and study materials for Part 1 are already very expensive, approaching $1000. 

·       Early career psychologists might have to alter their career trajectory or delay entry into gainful employment due to inability to obtain licensure and credentialing.

·       Delays and complications with licensure in underserved geographical areas.

·       Possible overwhelm of already burdened and poorly funded support staff for state and provincial licensing boards attempting to process application materials, resulting in greater delays.

·       Confusion as to whether rule or legislative changes must occur prior to implementation of Part 2.

·       Psychologists are inherently different from physicians in terms of their starting salary and earning potential; thus, an examination of this nature does not actually bring the professions into alignment.

·       Since becoming available, only 6 out of 62 jurisdictions have voluntarily adopted Part 2, and one state discontinued use after causing too many complications.

·       Part 2 is an overreach on the part of ASPPB, who serves as a vendor for the exam and not as a regulatory body in any of its member jurisdictions.

Part 2 will become mandatory in 2026 if we do not take action now.

Sometimes a bad idea is just a bad idea. We believe ASPPB has acted in a manner inconsistent with their stated values and those of the profession of psychology. They failed to engage relevant stakeholders from the onset of this project and have foreclosed on additional exam as the only method of solving competency problems within our field. They have spent a substantial amount of money on this project, and certainly recognizing the sunk cost of abandoning it would be difficult. However, given the problems articulated above, we believe a more beneficial course of action would be to work alongside other organizations, such as the American Psychological Association, to reform the ways in which trainees are evaluated and permitted to proceed through various levels of professional achievement.

Call to action: We ask that you sign this petition so that we can demonstrate to ASPPB and related organizations that psychologists and trainees do not approve of Part 2 and that we deserve better than what they are forcing us to abide. We continue to hope they will hear and see these concerns and change course. You can also help us by contacting the licensing board in your jurisdiction and tell them about your experience with taking EPPP Part 1 and how Part 2 would impact you.

References

Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. (2016, November 10). Spanish/English EPPP. https://www.asppb.net/news/317115/SpanishEnglish-EPPP.htm

Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. (2022, August 31). An Update on the EPPP from ASPPB: A Factual Overview. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/eppp_/eppp_factual_overview.pdf

Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. (2023, February). Frequently Asked Questions about the EPPP. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/eppp_2/faq_revisedeppp_feb2023.pdf

Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (n.d.). EPPP Myths vs. Reality. https://www.asppb.net/page/epppmyths

Callahan, J. L., Bell, D. J., Davila, J., Johnson, S. L., Strauman, T. J., & Yee, C. M. (2020). The enhanced examination for professional practice in psychology: A viable approach?. The American psychologist, 75(1), 52–65. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000586

Saldaña, S., Callahan, J. L., & Cox, R. J. (2024). The Examination for the Professional Practice of Psychology: An examination of construct validity. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 18(1), 42–48. https://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000459

Sharpless, B. A. (2019). Are demographic variables associated with performance on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)? Journal of Psychology, 153, 161-172. https://doi.org/10.180/00223980.2018.1504739

Sharpless, B. A., & Barber, J. P. (2009). The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) in the era of evidence-based practice. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 40(4), 333-340. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013983