In this episode of Scaling Therapy Practice, James Marland and Dr. David Hall discuss adding a testing psychologist to one's practice. A testing psychologist is a licensed psychologist who specializes in administering, interpreting, and writing reports on psychological tests. This role is unique to psychology, as it requires extensive training and qualifications to perform. The hosts talk about how adding a testing psychologist to one's practice can help provide valuable services to clients, particularly in areas such as EAPs and disability testing.

What is a Testing Psychologist?

A testing psychologist is a licensed psychologist who specializes in administering and interpreting psychological tests. These tests can cover areas such as intelligence, personality, and aptitude, and are used to diagnose and treat a range of mental health conditions. According to Dr. Hall, some tests are exclusive to psychologists and require extensive training and qualifications to administer. "Psychometric testing...to qualify for certain diagnoses, oftentimes related to IQ testing or disability testing. There's certain ones that are in most places are exclusive to psychologists."

The Benefits of Adding a Testing Psychologist to Your Therapy Practice

Adding a testing psychologist to your practice can provide valuable services to clients, particularly in areas such as EAPs and disability testing. As James Marland noted, there is often a high demand for testing psychologists, with long wait lists for services. By adding a testing psychologist to your practice, you can help meet this demand, and provide a valuable service to clients that they might not be able to access elsewhere. "Adding a testing psychologist to the practice...one of the things that comes up is...[the] incredible wait list, especially during the high peaks of school hours. And she said there just wasn't enough testing psychologists to go around."

David and James discuss the benefits of adding a testing psychologist to your practice. According to David, a testing psychologist's unique skill set can benefit both your clients and your practice. As David explains, "There's this benefit. Um, it can also help you in the credentialing process with insurance because insurance companies may be more willing to credential your practice as a whole and credential and, and schedule a higher reimbursement rate if you're offering a more unique service."

 Insurance companies have certain measurements they need to meet for federal and state funding with Medicaid and Medicare programs. Offering unique services like those of a testing psychologist can help you meet these requirements. This, in turn, can result in higher reimbursement rates, which can be beneficial for your practice's financial success.

Considerations for Adding a Testing Psychologist to your Therapy Practice

There are several considerations to keep in mind when adding a testing psychologist to your practice, such as the cost of equipment, training, and licensure. Dr. Hall notes that it's important to consider whether you have the infrastructure to support a testing psychologist, such as a dedicated space for testing, as well as administrative support for managing wait lists and scheduling. "It's something that you want to have the infrastructure in place before you make that commitment because it does require, you know, resources to put in place."

David and James also discuss the costs and considerations that come with adding a testing psychologist to your practice. According to David, one major consideration is the cost of hiring an outside person. The pay for a psychologist with a doctorate degree is around $20,000 more per year than a licensed professional counselor or licensed mental health counselor.

Another consideration is the limited pool of psychologists available for hire. In most states, a psychologist requires a doctorate degree. This means that there are fewer people to recruit for the position, making it more difficult to find the right candidate for the job.

Additionally, the tests themselves can be expensive. According to David, "The other thing is the test themselves … they're expensive." This means that you'll need to factor in the cost of the tests when considering adding a testing psychologist to your practice.

Tips for Adding a Testing Psychologist to Your Practice

After discussing the benefits and considerations of adding a testing psychologist to your practice, David and James offer some tips for those considering this decision. One tip is to carefully consider the costs and benefits of adding this service to your practice. While the potential for higher reimbursement rates and unique services can be beneficial, it's important to ensure that the costs associated with hiring a testing psychologist won't outweigh the benefits.

 Another tip is to carefully consider the qualifications of potential candidates. With a limited pool of psychologists available for hire, it's important to find the right candidate for the job. This means carefully considering their qualifications, experience, and fit within your practice.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Adding a Testing Psychologist to Your Practice

Adding a testing psychologist to your practice has several advantages, such as offering a wider range of services, attracting more clients, and increasing the level of expertise in your practice. It also allows you to serve clients who require diagnostic assessments and objective testing, which can help with treatment planning.

According to our conversation, the benefits of adding a testing psychologist to a therapy practice include:

• "Diversifying your practice": offering testing services in addition to therapy can attract a wider range of clients and increase revenue.
• "Providing comprehensive care": adding testing services can help therapists better understand and diagnose their clients, leading to more effective treatment.
• "Increasing referral sources": testing psychologists often receive referrals from other professionals, which can expand the practice's network and reputation.

However, adding a testing psychologist to your practice can also present some disadvantages. The primary disadvantage is the significant investment of time and money required to become licensed and credentialed to offer these services. It is important to consider whether this investment will be worth the potential returns, as well as the fact that the process of getting licensed and approved can be challenging.

The challenges to consider when adding a testing psychologist to a therapy practice, include:

• "Higher overhead costs": testing requires specialized equipment and materials, which can increase overhead costs for the practice.
• "Greater administrative responsibilities": testing requires more time and paperwork than therapy sessions, which can be a burden on the practice's staff.
• "Finding the right fit": as David Hall noted, it's important to find a testing psychologist who is a good fit for the practice and its clients, which can be a challenge.

Location and Connections with Universities as a Consideration when Adding a Testing Psychologist to Your Therapy Office

When considering adding a testing psychologist to your practice, location is a crucial factor to consider. If you live in a community that has a doctoral program, it can be easier to find qualified people to join your practice. Universities can serve as a valuable source of qualified professionals, as well as connections with other academic institutions. This can make it easier to find and hire qualified testing psychologists.

Getting Licensed and Approved Site for Interns for Psychologists

The process of becoming licensed and approved to offer testing services can be challenging. There is a significant investment of time and money required to become licensed and credentialed. Additionally, becoming an APA-approved site for interns is a crucial part of the process. It can be challenging to become an approved site, and the competition for approved sites can be fierce.

Competition for APA-Approved Sites for Psychologist Interns

Competition for APA-approved sites can be intense, with many students vying for a limited number of available spots. This can make it challenging to find and hire qualified testing psychologists. It is important to be aware of this competition when considering adding testing services to your practice and to have a plan in place to address it.

Tips on adding a Testing Psychologist to your Therapy Practice:

• Consider your location and connections with universities
• Be prepared for the investment of time and money required to become licensed and approved to offer these services
• Be aware of the competition for APA-approved sites and have a plan in place to address it
• Research the costs and infrastructure required to add a testing psychologist to your practice.
• Consider the demand for testing services in your area, and whether there is a need for a testing psychologist.
• If you decide to move forward, start the process of finding and hiring a qualified testing psychologist, and ensure you have the resources in place to support their role.

Resources

• Getting Things Done
• Repurpose.io

• Psychraft Network

• Email James to talk about questions or problems about scaling: [email protected]

• PsychMaven - Find more resources here

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