EPPP Exam Myths Most People Fail The Exam

A Critique of the ASPPB Article “EPPP Myth versus Reality”

Myth #2 of 8

Part 1

“Sunlight is ... the best of disinfectants.”
Louis Dembitz Brandeis
Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court

The article "EPPP Myth versus Reality" on The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board's website addresses what the authors refer to as “myths ... about the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.” 

This is part two of our continuing series on commonly made observations regarding the EPPP examination that the ASPPB dismisses as “myths.”

ASPPB Article Excerpt: 

Myth #2: A majority of people fail the exam. The passing rate is kept artificially low in order to control access to the profession. 

Reality: Overall, a high proportion of candidates pass the exam and candidates with doctoral degrees score higher than those with Master’s degrees. The more time a candidate spends preparing for the exam, the higher that candidate’s score.

Our Critique

The ASPPB claims: 

“a high proportion of candidates pass the exam."(1) 

A look at the tables on the ASPPB's site shows that pass rates of the EPPP exam range from an abysmal 47.14% for masters degree programs to merely 76.4% for designated and accredited doctoral degree programs. How can we explain such low pass rates for an examination which is a de facto requirement for most psychologists to practice in their chosen field?

The ASPPB claims:

"The examination consists of ... questions covering knowledge essential to the professional practice of psychology."(1) 

These assertions raise two important questions. Firstly, why are 24% to 53% of examinees failing the EPPP exam? Secondly, if the exam questions cover knowledge essential to the professional practice of psychology should not 100% of examinees pass?

Examinees of the EPPP are highly qualified graduates of doctoral and masters level programs in psychology. Many, if not most, of these programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association. These psychology programs typically consist of course content, comprehensive exams, internships, externships, and a dissertation or research paper. Additionally, many state licensing boards require examinees to complete a lengthy postdoctoral experience prior to sitting for the EPPP examination. Presumably, a graduate of a psychology program has satisfactorily mastered the core knowledge necessary to practice as a professional psychologist. And yet, oddly enough, many examinees fail to pass an examination that claims to only measure knowledge essential to the professional practice of psychology. How can this be?

Part 2

Let's critically examine this statement from the ASPPB article:

"The more time a candidate spends preparing for the exam, the higher that candidate’s score." 

Important considerations related to this assertion include: how much time is required to prepare for the EPPP examination? Is this a reasonable amount of time to prepare for an examination that purports to test essential knowledge for the practice of a profession?

Isn't the completion of graduate school enough preparation to pass this exam? Or is the exam perhaps covering material that is not covered, or emphasized, in some graduate programs because it is not considered essential to the professional practice of psychology? Are the items on the exam  poorly constructed? Many examinees have described the examination items using words such as "tricky," "poorly worded," "confusing," and "consisting of double negatives."

Let's examine ASPPB's claim that the following common assertion about the EPPP examination is a myth:

"The passing rate is kept artificially low in order to control access to the profession."

In most states and provinces passing the EPPP exam is a requirement of licensure. Therefore, the EPPP exam is a significant gatekeeper to the professional practice of psychology.

Is the passing rate of the EPPP exam deliberately kept low in order by the ASPPB to restrict access to the practice of psychology? This is a complex question with no easy answers.

Let's consider a recent report by the Federal Trade Commission. Recently, the FTC has been critical of the restriction of competition imposed by professional licensing authorities. Although the licensure of psychology was not singled out, the licensure and regulation of health care professions was specifically addressed.

According to the prepared statement "Competition and the Potential Costs and Benefits of Professional Licensure" presented by The Federal Trade Commission to the United States House of Representatives (July 16, 2014)(2):

Occupational regulation can be especially problematic when regulatory authority is
delegated to a nominally “independent” board comprising members of the very occupation it regulates. When the proverbial fox is put in charge of the henhouse, board members’ financial incentives may lead the board to make regulatory choices that favor incumbents at the expense of competition ... This conflict of interest may lead to the adoption and application of licensure restrictions that discourage new entrants ... (italics added for emphasis)

Furthermore, the FTC found that:

licensure inherently constrains competition ... When a law or regulation establishes entry conditions for an occupation, only individuals who satisfy those conditions are legally authorized to provide the services associated with that occupation, which tends to reduce the number of market participants. This reduction in supply, and the resulting loss of competition, can lead to higher prices, reduced non-price competition on terms such as convenience or quality, or other distortions in services ... one recent study suggests that licensing an occupation at the state level is associated with a 17% increase in earnings by members of the occupation. In addition, although licensure may be designed to provide consumers with minimum quality assurances, licensure provisions do not always increase service quality. (italics added for emphasis)

The report by the FTC raises serious issues regarding the restriction of professional practice imposed by licensing requires. The FTC recognizes that circumstances vary by profession and situation, and recommends that the effects of such restrictions be examined on a case by case basis. While the restrictions imposed by psychology licensing boards are not directly referred to, clearly their concerns apply equally to the licensure and regulation of the practice of psychologists.

The relationship between professional licensing examinations, professional licensing boards, and economics is complex.

We believe that the concerns surrounding the contention that "The passing rate is kept artificially low in order to control access to the profession," are substantive, deserve serious consideration, and cannot be cavalierly dismissed.

Do you agree? We want to know! Post your comments below.

Next Article: Myth #3 of 8: Myth #3: The items on the exam are not related to what we do as psychologists. The EPPP has little, if any, validity.

Don’t miss a single helpful article on How To Pass the EPPP Exam Without Even Trying! Sign up for our email list now and forward this article to your friends!

(1) 2012 Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program, Prepared by Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards,  http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/EPPP_/2012_ASPPB_Exam_Scores_by_Do.pdf, recovered 1-23-2015

(2) PREPARED STATEMENT OF 

THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 

on 

Competition and the Potential Costs and Benefits of Professional Licensure 

Before The 

COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS, 

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

JULY 16, 2014

http://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/568171/140716professionallicensurehouse.pdf, recovered 1-23-2015