Qualification Levels

Pearson publishes a wide variety of tests for all kinds of users—tests that may be administered by paraprofessionals, tests that may be administered by educational specialists with differing backgrounds in assessments, and tests that require an advanced level of training to administer and interpret the test results. Some tests, such as intelligence tests, are restricted to individuals with specific training. Others, such as some checklists of adaptive behaviours, provide examiners with useful information and do not require in-depth interpretation.

Pearson has established a policy for qualifying individuals, organizations, or agencies to purchase tests. A five-level (A, B, C, Q1, Q2) classification system differentiates products according to the types of purchasers to whom tests may be sold.

Qualification Level A:

Generally, A-level instruments are those that do not require an individual to have advanced training in assessment and interpretation. These types of tests include products such as the School Function Assessment (SFA), the Early Reading Diagnostic Assessment (ERDA), the Work Sampling System, the Bridge of Vocabulary, or the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile. There are no special qualification requirements to order these products.

Qualification Level B:

B-level instruments require more expertise on the part of the examiner than A-level tests. The administration procedures and interpretation of test results are generally more complex than A-level products. Examples of B-level instruments include products such as the Bayley–III Screening Test, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement, the Miller Assessment for Preschoolers, or the Brown Attention–Deficit Disorder Scales for Children.

B-level tests may be purchased by individuals who are certified by a professional organization recognized by Pearson to require training and experience in a relevant area of assessment. These professional organizations include as part of their code of ethics the requirement that practitioners engage in aspects of their professions that are within the scope of their competence. Therefore, practitioners who do not have a Master's degree but who have completed specialized training or have developed expertise in a specific area (e.g., neurodevelopmental treatment or infant development) may order B-level products to assess skills in the practitioner's area of expertise.

If you are a member of a professional organization such as the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA), the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrics and Psychotherapists (OACCPP), or other North American organizations such as the American Counselling Association (ACA), the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME), the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), you are eligible to purchase B-level products.

B-level tests may also be purchased by individuals with a Master's degree in psychology, education, or a related field with relevant training in assessment.

Qualification Level C:

C-level tests require verification of a doctorate in psychology, education, or a related field or licensure. If you have certification by a provincial College of Psychology or are a member of a provincial or national organization, such as the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (CRHSPP), the Canadian Association of School Psychologists (CASP) or other North American organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA), you may be able to purchase C-level products based on your training or expertise.

NEW: Qualification Level Q:

In addition to our traditional A, B, and C qualification levels, we have introduced an extended qualification system to allow for a clear definition of specific test usages. Tests can be purchased by individuals with one of the backgrounds below as determined by the particular purchase.

Qualification Level Q1:

Tests qualified as Q 1 level assessments may be purchased by individuals who have a degree or license to practice in the healthcare or allied healthcare field. Test examples include the Quick Test of Cognitive Speed (AQT), the Beck measures (BAI, BDI-II, BHS, BSS, BYI-II), the Behavior Assessment System for Children, the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, the Preschool Language Scale, and others as defined in our catalogues.

Qualification Level Q2:

Q2-level tests may be purchased by individuals who have formal supervised training in mental health, speech/language, and/or educational training settings specific to working with parents and assessing children; or formal supervised training in infant and child development; and formal training in the ethical use, administration, and interpretation of standardized assessment tools and psychometrics.

If you belong to one of the professional organizations listed, you are licensed to practice in your province or have experience and training in a specific area of assessment, and would like to purchase B-or C-level products, our Customer Service staff will be happy to talk with you about qualifying you to purchase a test relevant to your practice. Please contact Customer Service at 1-866-335-8418 or cs.canada@pearson.com for more information or if you have questions or concerns about ordering a product.