SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychometry

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
119985	Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychometry
ORIGINATOR
University of South Africa
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma	Field 07 - Human and Social Studies		General Social Science
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Not Applicable	NQF Level 08	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0333/25	2025-07-10	2028-07-10
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2029-07-10		2032-07-10

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychometry aims to provide learners with a high level of theoretical engagement, intellectual independence, and specialist skills basis on the complexities of the ethical and professional practice of psychometry (that is psychometrics and processes of psychological assessment). The focus is on psychometry practice as applied in diverse South African-based client socio-cultural contexts, and educational, organisational and community settings. This qualification prepares learners for specialist knowledge and advanced scholarship in the broader field of psychology, including industrial and organisational psychology, and postgraduate research studies.

Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to:

Demonstrate and take full responsibility for their work, decision making and use of resources that make meaningful contributions as a professional.

Apply psychometrists to clients, organisations, and communities through their competencies in, and services of psychometry.

Apply ethical and good practice under different levels of supervision in the use of psychometric tests, including test development and test adaptation, test selection, test administration, scoring of tests, and interpretation of test scores.

Communicate and report on test results, psychological assessments relating to a group, and individually administered tests for adults and children relating to the assessment of general cognitive ability, specific cognitive, perceptual, and psychomotor functions, personality-based functioning, tests for career guidance and counselling, and organisational type tests for individual, team, and organisational development, including job selection.

Assess and contribute to the development of psychometric tests and other assessment devices or techniques in the South African context.

Evaluate and apply specialist knowledge and skills, within the boundaries of the scope of practice for psychometry and under different levels of supervision, in compiling appropriate test batteries, administering tests, scoring, and interpreting tests, communicating, and providing written and oral feedback on psychological assessments appropriate to the client context and psychological assessment service need.

Rationale:
The qualification is aligned with the National Framework of Human Resources for Health in South Africa and the Higher Education Qualification Sub-Framework (HEQSF) and is responsive to the psychological needs of the South African population in diverse contexts. The focus of the profession is on indigenous prevention, promotion, and community-based care. The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA:), Form 94 (Framework for Education, Training, Registration and Scope for Psychometry), members of the industry that are representatives on the Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology's (IOP) Advisory Board, and IOP and Psychology postgraduate learners of the Institution, stipulated a market need for African-located ethical and professionally qualified psychometrists. Such psychometrists should meet the needs of South Africa by making primary indigenous psychological services available in diverse settings. Psychometry services, provided by professionally qualified psychometrists, will contribute to the enhancement of the psychological well-being of the public.

The rationale for this qualification is to develop competent, ethical, and professional psychometrists through the provision of primary psychological assessment services in diverse settings for the enhanced psychological well-being of the public. The focus of the profession of psychometrists is on ethical indigenous prevention, promotion, and community-based care through a selected range of standardised psychological assessment services to individuals in educational, organisational and community settings. The HPCSA endorsed the curriculum and the development of the qualification.

The typical learner is a postgraduate learner who specialises in the broader field of psychology and industrial and organisational psychology, and who would like to qualify as a professionally registered psychometrist. The qualification will contribute to the employability and entrepreneurial attributes of the qualifying learners because of the option to register as an independent practice psychometrist with the HPCSA. Qualifying learners will also be able to register as chartered human resource practitioners with the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP). The qualified psychometrist generally provides a selected range of standardised psychological assessment services to individuals in educational, organisational and community settings.

The qualification forms part of a career-focused learning pathway for learners specialising in the broader field of psychology, including the field of industrial and organisational psychology, and for those wishing to professionally qualify themselves as psychometrists. Achievement of this qualification provides access to and facilitates progression on a career pathway which includes career options such as registering with the HPCSA and becoming an independent practice professional psychometrist providing psychological assessment services to individuals across the lifespan in diverse settings.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable with regard to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access:

Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.

To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption of modules

Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit:

Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.

Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

Bachelor of Psychology, NQF Level 7.
Or

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, NQF Level 7.
Or

Advanced Diploma in the related field, NQF Level 7.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 120 Credits:

Research methodology in Economic and Management Sciences, 12 Credits.

Psychometric and psychological assessment theory and practice, 12 Credits.

Career psychology and counselling skills, 12 Credits

Personality and organisational psychology, 12 Credits.

Research project in psychopathology and wellness, 12 Credits.

Practicum (workplace experiential learning) in applied psychometry, 60 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Apply knowledge of the South African legal and ethical framework, and professional boundaries in the practice of psychometrics and psychological assessment for individuals, groups, and organisations in diverse South African-based clientele settings.
2. Demonstrate intellectual independence at a high level of theoretical engagement with and interrogation of, and a specialist skills basis in dealing with the complexities of the ethical professional practice of psychometrics.
3. Apply specialist knowledge and skills, within the boundaries of the scope of practice for psychometry and under different levels of supervision, in compiling appropriate test batteries, administering tests, scoring, and interpreting tests, communicating, and providing written and oral feedback on psychological assessments.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical and legal issues and skills in identifying routine problems and considerations when working with individuals, groups, and organizations, and applying the relevant knowledge and skills to ensure ethical behaviour.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of and skills in research methodology and in applying the research process, terminology, approaches, and methods in a research proposal of limited scope, based on given topics.
6. Contribute to the development and adaptation of psychological tests and procedures for the African context while adhering to best practice, ethical and legislative guidelines.
7. Apply best practice management and referral skills for effective and ethical psychological assessment processes and practices applied within the boundaries of the scope of practice for psychometry

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated manner to the Exit level Outcome:

Evaluate the scope of knowledge and knowledge literacy of psychometry and psychological tests assessed and critically engage with and interrogate psychometrics and psychological assessment theory and practice as applied in the South African context for diverse clientele settings.

Analyse and apply advanced knowledge and skills in psychological assessment relating to the group and individually administered tests for adults and children.

Apply understanding of psychometry methods and procedures assessed in terms of systematic and integrated knowledge and understanding of the complexities involved in selecting, applying, or transferring the methods and standard procedures relevant to ethical, best practice psychometrics and psychological assessment, with due consideration of South African legal frameworks.

Explore the psychometric theories, tests and principles and use psychological tests relevant to the unique client context and psychological services in diverse settings in solving problems in the related field.

Apply contingency management skills in identifying and handling routine problems that may arise during a test administration, scoring and written and verbal feedback.

Apply research principles in identifying client needs, developing and/or compiling, and applying standardised and appropriate assessment tests and procedures in addressing the psychological assessment service need.

Interrogate ethics and good practice in psychometrics and processes of psychological assessment, including skills in identifying ethical issues and applying principles of ethics.

Evaluate, synthesise, and manage assessment data to compile an appropriate integrated feedback report relevant to the unique client context and psychological assessment service need.

Communicate and interact professionally, ethically, and effectively with diverse clients (children and adults; individuals and groups) in test administration, reporting, feedback, and test data counselling scenarios.

Conduct a research project utilising psychological assessments for symptom identification and referral in the psychometric domain of psychopathology and wellness while adhering to best practices, and ethical and legislative guidelines relevant to the South African context.

Operate effectively within a context and system in terms of best practice management and referral skills.

Identify needs or symptoms in psychological assessment processes that need client referral.

Set up a resource network of healthcare professionals for referral purposes.

Apply accountability and responsibility in decision-making and, where appropriate, others' decisions and actions, reflecting on personal learning, and personal development planning and actions.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
Continuous integrated formative and summative assessment applies to both the structured, compulsory work-directed, problem-based theory and coursework component, and the structured, compulsory full-time 6-month practicum (workplace learning) component of the qualification, as prescribed by the HPCSA scope of practice for psychometry (Framework for Education, Training, Registration and Scope for Psychometry). The theory and coursework component aim at equipping learners with the applied competencies they need to successfully complete the 6-months full-time supervised practicum (workplace learning - practical learning experience at a site of professional practice).

The institution has the obligation to place learners with an experiential learning provider and to regulate the tripartite relationship between the institution, the learners, and the learning provider.
Continuous comprehensive and integrated forms of alternative formative and summative assessment methods are applied in the form of individual written assessments, group-based assessments, peer evaluations, simulation in a structured environment, self-evaluations, online collaborative learning tasks, literature reviews, online self-assessments, written and work-integrated practicum assignments and portfolios of evidence, real-life work-based case studies, and authentic client cases in experiential learning (practicum) settings. The continuous formative assessments culminate into an integrated written assignment (either a report or portfolio of evidence of learning) which prepare the learners for the practicum component of the qualification.

During the practical workplace learning experience at a site of professional practice, learners should provide evidence of learning competency (knowledge, skills, attitudes, and expertise) by means of an approved practicum logbook of practical work activities and hours in relation to the prescribed practicum qualification, portfolio of evidence and progress reports (formative assessment). The summative assessment of the practicum entails the assessment of a final portfolio of evidence of learning and oral examination on the achievement of the qualification exit level outcomes.
The following weights apply for formative and summative assessment: Weight of formative assessment = 40%/ Weight of summative assessment = 60%.
In terms of the overall qualification, the theoretical component carries a weight of 50% (60 credits) and the practicum (workplace learning at a placement site) carries a weight of 50% (60 credits)

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Country: United Kingdom (UK)
Institution: Liverpool John Moore's University
Qualification Title: Bachelor of Science Honours in Psychology
Duration: Three years
Credits: 120

Entry Requirements:

National Certificate (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications

National Extended Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications

National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications

National Extended Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

National Extended Diploma subjects/grades required

Rationale:
The qualification has been designed to develop not only knowledge and skills but also self-awareness, self-management, self-expression, and self-presentation so that learners can emerge from their studies as fully-rounded and practical individuals who are well-prepared for the world of work.

The learners have the option to join the British Psychological Society (BPS) Student Membership.

The qualification builds an understanding of psychological theory. The first and second years provide grounding in all the core areas of Psychology. Options in the third year then allow learners to specialise in areas as diverse as education, forensics, health, work psychology, cognitive neuroscience, positive psychology, and substance use.

Qualification structure:
Learners will study a mix of core and optional modules. Each module has a set number of credits. At each level, learners will complete a total of 120 credits.

Assessment:
Assessment includes a combination of exams and coursework.

Similarities:

Both the UK and SA qualifications administer similar assessment practices.

Both qualifications build an understanding of psychological theory.

Both qualifications have a weighting of 120 Credits.

Differences:

The entry requirements for the UK qualification are certificates and diplomas, whereas for the SA qualification the entry requirements are a Bachelor's degree or an Advanced Diploma in the related field.

The UK qualification has both compulsory and elective modules, and the SA qualification has compulsory modules only.

The UK qualification takes three years of full-time study whereas the SA qualification is offered over one year full-time.

Country: Australia
Institution: Deakin University
Qualification Title: Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science
NQF Level: Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 8.

The Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science offers learners the opportunity to complete a major sequence in psychology without having to undertake a full-three-year degree.

Recognition of prior learning
The University aims to provide learners with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the qualification.

Entry requirements:

A recognised Level 7 undergraduate degree qualification

Qualification structure
All the modules are compulsory, there are no elective units.

Academic Integrity

Introduction to Psychology: Fundamentals of Human Behaviour

Introduction to Psychology: Individual and Social Development

The Human Mind

Human Social Behaviour

Psychology Research Methods (Similar to the SA qualification)

Child and Adolescent Development

Psychopathology

Brain, Biology and Behaviour

Clinical psychology

Clinical neuropsychology

Organisational psychology (Similar to the SA qualification)

Sport and exercise psychology

Forensic psychology

Counselling psychology (Similar to the SA qualification)

Community psychology

Family therapy

Rehabilitation counselling

Psychological assessment (Similar to the SA qualification)

Professional Recognition
The Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Similarities:

In both qualifications learners can gain access through the RPL.

Both qualifications are at Level 8 with similar entry requirements.
Both qualifications have the following similar Exit Level Outcomes:

Communicate effectively in a variety of formats and a variety of contexts including with diverse ethnic and cultural partners and within teams.

Understand and apply and evaluate basic research methods in psychology including research design, data analysis and interpretation to solve real-world problems (similar to the SA qualification)

Act ethically and professionally; understand the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity and reflect other values that are the underpinning of psychology as a discipline)

Demonstrate understanding and sufficient responsibility for working in a team, including effective communication for task planning, co-ordination, decision-making and evaluation within the team situation

Demonstrate, report, and apply ethical principles to understand how to work productively in the field of psychology within diverse social, cultural, and environmental contexts by collaborating and communicating in a self-reflective and culturally sensitive manner.

Country: Australia
Institution: The University of Adelaide
Qualification Title: Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced)
Duration: 1.3 years part-time
Study mode: Online

Modules:

Professional and interpersonal Skills.

Understanding and synthesising psychological evidence.

Applied quantitative and qualitative methods.

Psychological measurement and assessment.

Psychological applications and interventions.

Project planning, managing, and analysing data.

Research projects A and B.

Similarities:
Both qualifications have the following similar modules:

Research projects A and B

Psychological measurement and assessment

On successful completion of both the Australian and SA qualification, qualifying learners will be able to:

Demonstrate ethically appropriate and competent interpersonal and intercultural communication and interview skills in situations appropriate to psychological practice and research

Demonstrate basic assessment strategies in situations appropriate to psychological practice and knowledge of psychometric theory and principles of the construction, cultural considerations, implementation, and interpretation of some of the more widely used standardised psychological test instruments.

Develop and execute an effective data analysis plan that is transparent, reproducible, and based on ethical best practice

Synthesise and communicate findings related to a substantive individual research question relevant to the discipline of psychology, for a variety of audiences.

Differences:

The SA qualification is offered in one year, whereas the Australian qualification is offered in 1.3 years.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Bachelor of Administration Honours in Industrial Psychology, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Commerce Honours: Industrial Psychology, NQF Level 8.

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, NQF Level 9.

Master of Arts in Psychology, NQF Level 9.

Master of Commerce: Industrial Psychology, NQF Level 9.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

1.	University of South Africa