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Definition of Practice Areas

Adapted from the Definitions of Practice Areas written by the College of Psychologists of Ontari

School Psychology

All members of the Saskatchewan College of Psychologists require the following minimum working knowledge base:

• knowledge in the core areas of psychology (MRA standards);
• knowledge of learning;
• knowledge of all relevant ethical, legal and professional issues;
• knowledge of research design and methodology;
• knowledge of statistics; and
• knowledge of psychological measurement.

School Psychology is the application of knowledge about human behaviour and development to the understanding of the social, emotional, and learning needs of children, adolescents, and adults, and to the creation of learning environments that facilitate learning and mental health.

In addition to the above minimum knowledge base, members practising School Psychology require the following:

• knowledge of intellectual, social, behavioural and emotional assessment;
• knowledge of exceptional learners;
• knowledge of lifespan development and cross-cultural differences in learning and socialization and/or psychodiagnostics;
• knowledge of development and general psychopathology;
• knowledge of instructional and remedial techniques;
• knowledge of multidisciplinary team approach for case management;
• knowledge of counselling interventions and/or psychotherapy; and
• knowledge of evaluation of change.

For members practising School Psychology the following minimum skills are required:

• the ability to perform an appropriate psychological assessment;
• the ability to formulate and communicate a differential diagnosis and/or refer on where appropriate for differential diagnosis; and
• the ability to plan, execute and evaluate an appropriate psychoeducational intervention;