We ask you to register before purchasing assessments
The psychometric assessments we supply are sourced from international test publishers who restrict the use of the assessments to appropriately qualified individuals.
We want to ensure you have the necessary qualifications and experience to use and interpret these assessments in an accurate and professional manner. When you are registered you will be assigned a level appropriate to your qualifications and experience.
For more information download the information pack about our registration levels. Please take time to understand our Professional Obligations and the sale terms and conditions on the last page.
Registering takes two steps
Registration requires a user account with NZCER. That means giving your email address and creating a password. Your registration will be linked to your user account.
Once logged in, you need to submit a registration form with PTS and provide information about yourself and your qualifications. There is space to upload scans of qualifications and academic transcripts. We may contact you to ask for more information or different forms of evidence. We can not register people who are unable to provide evidence of their qualifications and (if necessary) academic transcripts.
Once you have submitted your registration form and the appropriate documents, we will assess your qualifications and advise you on whether you meet the requirements for a registration level. If you do not currently meet the requirements for registration, we can advise on what additional training or qualifications may required to gain registration.
Registration levels by work area
Our clients who are registered with PTS are grouped under the work area(s) most relevant to their scope of practice. There are two work areas: Psychology and Education. Within each work area there are three ascending levels of registration: A, B and C. Each level includes the ones below it, e.g. a person at Level C is also a Level A and B within their work area.
To purchase products from us you must be registered in its work area at the required level. For example, the ASEBA CBCL School Age forms are rated as Level B (Psychology/Education). To purchase these you must be at a Level B or higher within either the Psychology or Education work area.
This work area covers a range of psychometric assessments used in clinical practice and includes assessments related to mental health, mood, cognition, functioning, and neuropsychology. People registered in this area typically work as Clinical Psychologists, Neuropsychologists, Psychologists, or Occupational Therapists.
Registration levels: Psychology
Level A (Psychology)
We do not register people at this level.
Level B (Psychology)
Users at this level are expected to have completed, at a minimum, a Bachelor's degree in either Psychology or Occupational Therapy. Users must have completed advanced (third year university or higher) coursework in Psychometric theory and administration.
Assessments available at this level include behaviour and functioning checklists, and screening tools related to mood and health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Level C (Psychology)
Users at this level are expected to have a deep understanding of psychology, especially in their area of practice, and have extensive training in the use and interpretation of complex psychometric assessments. Users at this level are likely to be registered with the NZ Psychologists Board and should have, in addition to an appropriate Bachelor's degree, postgraduate qualifications in an area of Psychology. Users must have completed advanced coursework (third year university or higher) in Psychometric theory and Personality/Abnormal Psychology.
Registered Clinical Psychologists and Neuropsychologists with a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC) automatically meet the requirements for a Level C (Psychology) registration and only have to submit a copy of their APC when registering with us.
Assessments available at this level include those relating to cognition, neuropsychology, personality, and psychopathology.
Registration levels (Education)
This work area covers a range of specialist assessments used in the education sector. These assessments include specialist literacy and numeracy assessments, behaviour checklists, full battery psychometrics, and assessments relating to specific learning difficulties. People registered in this area typically work as RTLBs, RTLits, Speech Language Therapists, SPELD Assessors, or Educational Psychologists.
Level A (Education)
Users at this level are expected to have, at minimum, a Bachelor's degree in Education, Teaching (or similar) with knowledge of educational assessment administration and interpretation. Registered teachers automatically qualify for this registration level.
Assessments available at this level include group tests of achievement and some individually administered reading assessments.
Level B (Education)
Users at this level are expected to have knowledge and training in specialised areas of education such as literacy, learning and behaviour, or speech-language therapy. This includes a full qualification in your area of practice with coursework/training in assessments appropriate to your specialisation.
RTLBs with a PGDip in Specialist Teaching (Learning & Behaviour) automatically meet the requirements for this registration level. Speech Language Therapists who are full members of the NZSTA automatically meet the requirements for this registration level.
Assessments available at this level are those commonly used by specialist teachers, including behaviour checklists, specialised literacy and numeracy assessments, and assessments used in the management of specific learning difficulties. A wide range of speech/language assessments are also available at this level.
Level C (Education)
Users at this level are expected to have extensive knowledge of the application of psychological knowledge to areas of learning and development, including training and experience with complex psychometric assessments. In addition to undergraduate qualifications in either Psychology or Education, users are expected to have, at minimum, post-graduate training in Educational Psychology, including courses on Psychometric theory and Personality/Abnormal Psychology.
Users at this level must be registered Educational Psychologists, or active SPELD NZ or LDANZ assessors. The experience and levels of supervision of other applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Registered Educational Psychologists with a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC) automatically meet the requirements for a Level C (Education) registration and only have to submit a copy of their APC when registering with us.
SPELD NZ and LDANZ give us regular updates of their active Assessors. Questions about the SPELD NZ or LDANZ Assessor training and their entry requirements should be discussed with those organisations directly.
The only assessment available at this level is the WJ-IV.
Additional certifications
A few of the assessments we sell have specific training available and users who would usually fall outside of our registration system can be eligible to purchase the following specific assessments only provided they have completed formal training in their use.
ADOS-2
As paediatricians and most other doctors fall outside the scope of our registration system we can instead certify users to purchase the ADOS-2 and its components who have completed formal training in the ADOS-2. You must submit proof of your successful completion of this training.
Woodcock Johnson (WJ)
Some users may see a WJ certification attached to their registration level on our website. This is an historical designation to ensure everyone that we have approved to purchase the WJ-IV in the past may continue to purchase it without interruption. All Level C users are now expected to be capable of administering and interpreting a full battery psychometric assessment.
Professional obligations
NZCER supplies tests only to an appropriately qualified person on the understanding that:
- Every precaution should be taken to ensure the confidentiality of tests and test scores.
- Access to test materials must be limited to qualified persons with a responsible, professional interest who agree to safeguard their use.
- Test users are asked to report the unauthorised use of tests and urged to protect the value of tests by keeping all components securely stored so they will not become available to unauthorised persons.
- NZCER’s interpretation of the Privacy Act 1993 is that candidates are entitled to know, if they so request, all scores relating to their personal test performances. Our strong recommendation is that the release of test scores should be accompanied by sufficient interpretive detail to enable the client to understand the scores provided.
- Registered test purchasers are expected to purchase and use tests according to the following guidelines:
- The Code of Ethics for Psychologists Working in Aotearoa New Zealand 2002
- Guidelines on the use of Psychometric Tests, prepared by the New Zealand Psychologists board
- The Treaty of Waitangi, Tiriti o Waitangi
- Approval to purchase may be withheld or withdrawn if there is any violation of these principles.