Current Efforts to

Professionalize Psychology
in the Philippines

Allan B. I. Bernardo
De La Salle University-Manila
Psychological Association of the Philippines
 Background

z Psychology has been acknowledged

as a profession and discipline in the
Philippines for around 100 years.
z It has never been a regulated
profession.
z Psychologists take on variety of
responsibilities in different sectors
of society.
 Domains of
Psychological Practice

z Psychotherapy & clinical psychology

z Group and individual counseling
z Industrial psychology: human
resource development, training,
organizational development, etc.
z Psychological assessment
z Teaching
 Sectors of Employment

z Schools z Legal services

z Government (expert witness)
offices z Private practice
z Military and Police z Media
offices z Non-government
z Hospitals and peoples
z Business and organizations
Commercial z Others (consulting
industries firms, church, etc.)
 Statistics?

z There is no reliable
accounting of the number of
practicing psychologists in
the Philippines
z The Psychological
Association of the
Philippines has almost 2000
names on its roster, but…..
Credentials

Different sectors require

different credentials
z Government offices
(hospitals, social services,
military/police): B.A./B.S.
z Business/Industries:
B.A./B.S. entry level,
M.A. at higher levels
z Schools: at least M.A.
z In other fields, the required
credential are not
specified (e.g., expert witness
in legal proceedings, private
practice, consultancy)
z There are conventional
requirements (typically
associated with advanced
degrees and professional
experience)
 Psychological Association
of the Philippines

z Advocated for professionalizing of

psychology since the 1970’s
z Approach: Legal and professional
regulation by an act of legislation
z Since 1980’s several versions of a
“Psychology Bill” has been submitted
to the Philippine Congress
z None has been enacted into law.
 Problems and Issues

Diversity in the ranks of current

practitioners (training, credentials,
responsibilities, professional tracks)
z Difficult to agree on standards

z Difficult to agree on scope of

responsibilities
z Difficult to agree on procedures and
requirements for licensing
 Problems and Issues

Archaic system of professional

regulation in the country
z licensure exam have to use multiple
choice tests
z examiners have to be “not
connected” with training institutions
for at least five years
z does not allow for required
continuing professional education
 Problems and Issues

Government’s lack of understanding

of psychology as discipline and
profession
z psychologist=guidance counselors?

z characterizing psychology in same

category as medical doctors or
lawyers with “generic” requirements
Professionalization is low priority
 Revised Family Code

New Law: provisions for nullification

of marriages
z Requires the testimony of
psychiatrists or psychologists in
cases of nullity of marriage and
child custody as a result of
nullification
 The Current Version of
the Psychology Bill

Focuses on licensing of Clinical

Psychologists and Psychometricians
z has basis in the requirements of the
law for nullification
z is the domain of psychological
practice that is in most need of
regulation (and consumer protection)
z allows for a fairly well-defined set of
standards and procedures
 Key Elements of
Psychology Bill

Definition of “practice of psychology”:

Diagnosis & treatment of persons
with psychological problems
z Assessment for diagnosis and prognosis
z Interviewing and psychotherapy
z Appearing as expert witness in judicial
proceedings
z Teaching courses related clinical
psychology and psychometrics
 Key Elements of
Psychology Bill

Psychometrician: works under the

supervision of a licensed clinical
psychologist
z Administering & scoring standardized
tests
z Interpret & prepare reports of test results
z Preparatory intake, interviews of clients
involved in group activities
 Key Elements of
Psychology Bill

Creation of a Professional Regulatory

Board of Clinical Psychologists and
Psychometricians
z Administer and enforce the law
z Supervise registration of clinical
psychologists and psychometricians
z Issue, suspend, revoke, and reinstate
certificates of registration
z Monitor conditions of psychological
practice in the country
 Key Elements of
Psychology Bill

Professional Regulatory Board

z Assist in implementation of guidelines for
continuing professional education
z Coordinate with Commission on Higher
Education on compliance of educational
institutions and preparation of syllabi
z Investigate administrative cases
 Key Elements of
Psychology Bill

Qualifications of applicants:
For clinical psychologists:
z Master’s degree in Psychology
z 300 hours of supervised clinical
experience under a licensed clinical
psychologist or psychiatrist
For psychomtericians
z Bachelor’s degree in Psychology
z Credits on subjects covered in exam
 Key Elements of
Psychology Bill

Subjects for Examination for Clinical

Psychologists:
z Research and Quantitative Analysis
z Advanced Psychometrics and Projective
Techniques
z Counseling and Psychotherapy
z Advanced Clinical Psychology
z Abnormal Psychology & Psychopathology
 Key Elements of
Psychology Bill

Subjects for Examination for

Psychometricians
z Theories of Personality
z Developmental Psychology
z Behavioral Statistics
z Psychological Testing/Psychometrics
 Key Elements of
Psychology Bill

z Registration without examination

(for psychologist & psychometricians
with years of professional experience)
z Foreign reciprocity for Filipino
psychologists to practice in foreign
countries
z Special permit for foreigners to
practice psychology in the
Philippines
 Key Elements of
Psychology Bill

z Suspension or revocation of
registration
z Privileged communication
z Integration of profession into one
professional organization
 Issues and Challenges

z Passage of the Bill (low priority given

more urgent bills in congress)
z Development of implementing rules and
regulations
z Agreement on details of standards in
requirements
z Information and advocacy on the bill/law
z Enforcement, monitoring, and
documentation
 Opportunities

z ASEAN or regional agreements on the

professionalization of psychology
• pressure on government agencies
• maintenance of appropriate standards
for the profession
• stronger environment for development
in the profession
• learning from experience of neighbor
psychologists in the region
Thank you for listening!

Current Efforts to
Professionalize Psychology
in the Philippines
Allan B. I. Bernardo