Fair Access to Tests

NBFE adopts the position that all licensed mental health professionals (i.e., counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists) should have fair and equal access to psychological tests and should be permitted to administer and interpret such tests provided that the evaluator is appropriately trained on the administration of each test utilized.  Below, you will find a collection of letters and reports pertinent to this issue that we have collected from NBFE members across the country.

NBFE Analysis and Position Paper on Licensed Counselors and Psychological Tests (August 2016; revised September 2017, November 2017, May 2018, February 2020, August 2021, July 2022, October 2023, January 2024, November 2025)

U.S. State and Territory Laws and Rules Regulating Counselors and Psychological Testing (10/17/23; revised 1/28/24)

Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors Dismisses Ethics Complaint Against Counselor for Psychological Testing after a psychologist issued a complaint that a counselor could not conduct psychological assessment for a disability case.  The complaint was dismissed because §337.550 defines "professional counseling" as "the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of behavioral health conditions by a Licensed Professional Counselor." (October 2023)

Opening Statement on counselors and testing offered by NBFE Executive Director to Committee on Rules and Judiciary, 34th Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands (June 24, 2022)

Social Security Administration clarifies that evaluations (including testing) from counselors and social workers can be accepted for disability cases, including evaluation of intellectual disorders (September 2016)

Florida's Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling declares that Florida statutes are clear about the ability of licensed professionals to administer and interpret psychological tests (September 2016)

Email from Pearson Clinical, a major psychological test distributor, indicating that graduates of NBFE's Testing/Assessment course likely meet qualifications for Level C psychological tests (2016)

Declaratory statement issued by Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners restricts Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in Louisiana to tests of language, education, and achievement tests; adaptive behavioral tests; symptoms screening checklists or instruments; tests of abilities; tests of interests; and tests of aptitudes (2016)

Letter from Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc. (PAR), a major psychological test distributor, documenting that graduates of NBFE's Testing/Assessment course meet qualifications for Level C psychological tests (2015)

Request for a declaratory statement on counselors and testing issued by Michael Holler, LMHC to Florida's 491 Board (Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling) affirms that LMHCs with a appropriate training can administer and interpret psychological tests (June 2016) 

Press release from Fair Access Coalition for Testing (FACT) on counselors and testing in Kentucky (October 2015)

Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing published by American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, and National Council on Measurement in Education, touted as the "gold standard in guidance on testing," does not indicate that only psychologists can administer and interpret psychological tests.  Instead, it reads, "Those who use psychological tests should confine their testing and related assessment activities to their areas of competence, as demonstrated through education, training, experience, and appropriate credentials" (p. 164).

Report on whether LMHCs in Florida can administer and interpret psychological tests created by Dr. Carlos Zalaquett of University of South Florida and Dr. Stephen Giunta of Troy University (2013)

Request for a declaratory statement on counselors and testing issued by Paul Cauley, Ph.D., LMHC to Florida's 490 Board (Board of Psychology) clarifies that LMHCs who are "properly trained and not prohibited by any other law, may provide testing, treatment and a diagnosis of a psychological nature" (March 2011) (click here to read Dr. Cauley's synthesis of what he learned about LMHCs and the term "psychological testing" from his efforts)

Restricted test list law repealed in Indiana (July 2007)

Letter from American Counseling Association to Alabama Board of Examiners on counselors and testing (February 2005)

Standards for Qualifications of Test Users authored by American Counseling Association indicating that masters-level counselors with appropriate training may administer and interpret psychological tests (March 2003)

Standards for Assessment in Mental Health Counseling co-authored by Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling, formerly the Association for Assessment in Counseling and Education, detailing the competencies required for mental health counselors to administer and interpret tests such as MMPI and MCMI (2002)

Letter from Florida's Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling on issue of whether counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists may administer and interpret psychological tests (February 2000)