Psychometric Test Registration plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability, validity, and fairness of psychological assessments used in various professional settings. This post explores the evolving landscape of psychometric test certification, highlighting the importance of rigorous assessment validation through collaboration with independent evaluation models and expert review processes.

According to the Employment Equity Act No. 55 of 1998 (EEA), publishers of psychometric assessments must ensure that their assessments meet the three psychometric properties of Reliability, Validity, and Fairness. The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) was legally authorized to oversee compliance, evaluate, and register psychometric assessments that met these criteria and could be classified as psychological instruments. A record of these tests was maintained by the HPCSA to assure potential users that these assessments adhered to the standards  and criteria specified in the Act.

INTEG (Integrity International) assessments were registered with the HPCSA until the original Act was amended, making the HPCSA responsible for only classifying assessments as psychological in nature rather than also certifying them according to the said psychometric properties. In this regard a 2017 court ruling stipulated that HPCSA-certification was no longer mandatory, but for a test to be considered ‘certified’, it must comply with the standards of Reliability, Validity, and Fairness as already mentioned. In response, INTEG, ASSA (Assessment Standards South Africa), and others developed/adopted psychometric evaluation models based on the “EFPA (European Federation of Psychological Associations) Review Model”, which is recognized internationally as a sound basis for defining and evaluating psychological assessments.

During ASSA’s initial trial phase, to determine the successful functioning of their newly developed model, INTEG voluntary submitted two of their psychometric assessments for evaluation — one previously assessed and updated, and one newly developed.   These two assessments were also reviewed by the global Test Evaluation Centre (refer to the paragraph below) to confirm their accuracy and reliability -  the two sets of results from both ASSA and TEC showed significant alignment, reinforcing their scientific credibility.

To further enhance the trustworthiness of its psychometric testing solutions, INTEG selected a panel of five international specialists—primarily senior university lecturers across Europe—who had been closely involved in developing the EFPA Review Model. These experts formed an independent test-review unit;  the global Test Evaluation Centre (TEC) – generally referred to as G-TEC.  To comply with data protection laws, INTEG entered into a confidentiality agreement with these specialists, ensuring their identities remain protected under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation in Europe) and POPI Act (Protection of Personal Information Act) in South Africa.

INTEG has historically relied on the HPCSA and, more recently, both ASSA or  G-TEC review centres for certification and registration of its tests. The EEA 55 of 1998 (as amended) forms the foundation for this certification and is widely recognized both locally and globally. INTEG’s tests adhere to the psychometric properties  of Reliability, Validity, and Fairness, ensuring they are scientifically rigorous, professionally developed, and aligned with ethical psychological assessment standards. As a result, they are recognized as being truly ‘natural’, scientifically sound, and credible psychological instruments.

Considering INTEG’s scientific, professional, and ethical disposition, we have concluded that a psychometric test must be certified as compliant with all established criteria, norms, standards, and psychological properties to assure users that they are applying the  ‘right’ psychometric instruments—at least from a statistical, legal, and clinical perspective.