PPLE Pennsylvania Psychology Law Examination, Pennsylvania
State Board of Psychology, 2026/2027 – Psychology Licensure Legal
Competency Assessment
Principle 3 - Application of APA standards and guidelines - Answer- The standards of
the APA apply to all licensed psychologists in PA.
Principle 4 - Public statements: Group ads; Public announcements; Personal growth
groups; accurate announcements - Answer- gives more specificity on advertisements
than is found in the APA Ethics Code.
Record Keeping Guidelines ($41.57) - Answer- Retain for 5 years following last
professional contact. Abide by other regs, if longer period is required by State, Federal
law, or institutional requirements.
Continuing Education ($41.59) - Answer- 30 contact hours (3 CEUS) per year
Biennium - Answer- The period of Dec 1 to Nov 30 of odd numbered years
Ethics Principle 1: Responsibility (a-d, objectivity, integrity, data usage) - Answer- a.
objectivity and integrity of work
b. research topics and methods, analysis and reporting
c. clarify expectations about use of data, maintain objectivity, and best practices in data
collection
d. prevent distortion or suppression of findings
Ethics Principle 1: Responsibility (e-h, broad sense of liability, professional obligations,
and guardian against misuse) - Answer- e. as members of gov and other orgs,
psychologists remain accountable to highest standards of field
f. as owners, psychologists retain full professional liability
g. as teachers, psychologists recognize primary obligation to help others acquire
knowledge and skill
h. as practitioners, bear social responsibility, remain alert to misuse of their influence on
others
Act 31 - Answer- Law that mandates continuing education in child abuse recognition.
We need at least 2 hrs as condition of licensure renewal and 3 hrs as prereq for
licensure
Act 74 - Answer- Law that mandates CE in suicide prevention
We need 1 hr as condition of licensure renewal
Privileged Communication Law - Answer- Supplemented to the rules concerning
release of information in courts, allowing patients of psychologists to withhold
information from courts under some circumstances
Professional Psychology Practice Act (1972) - Answer- This Act recognizes the
practice of psychology to affect the public safety and welfare, and sets forth regulations
to protect the public from unprofessional, unauthorized and unqualified conduct.
Psychologists must possess a valid, unexpired, unrevoked, and unsuspended licensed
issued under this act to practice.
,The Rost Decision - Answer- Reiterates the standards for privileged communications
for psychologists, and clarifies that it usually requires a court order, not a subpoena
from an attorney, to release information in court
Impaired Professionals - Answer- Defined as active addiction, or mental or physical
incompetences.
W/ "substantial evidence," psychologists are mandated to report other psychologists
who they know to be impaired (and not in active tx) or who are diverting controlled
substances.
Chapter 49 of the Pennsylvania Code - Answer- Where all regulations of state
agencies are located.
Code of Ethics (APA v. PA State Board) - Answer- The Code of Ethics in PA does not
overtly contradict the 2017 APA Ethics Code; APA Ethics Code is more specific and
concrete.
PA Psychology Code of Ethics (INTRO COMMENTS) - Answer- Applies Code of
Ethics to students and trainees in psychology
The Board lacks the power to discipline those who are not licensed, it does state that
violations of the ethics code "may be regarded by the Board as evidence of
unacceptable moral character".
Principle 2 - representation of nonpsychological academic degrees - Answer- Applies
to psychologists with terminal masters' degrees or with doctoral degrees in other fields
may represent degree earned if they "specify the discipline in which each particular
degree was earned."
e.g Jane, MA licensed psychologist, PHD (public health)
Ethics Principle 1: Responsibility (I, computerized assessments) - Answer- i. as
professionals using computerized assessments, or computer-generated data,
psychologist is:
1. legally and ethically responsible for psychological assessment, generation and use of
data as service to public
2. responsible for results
3. results provided to non-psychologist according to current standards of
noncomputerized assessments.
Ethics Principle 2: Competence (a, standards and limitations) - Answer- a. the
maintenance of high standards of professional competence is responsibility shared by
psychologists in the interest of the public and profession; recognize boundaries of
competence and limitations of techniques. Provide services only for which they are
qualified. Take all precautions to protect welfare of clients. Maintain knowledge of
current info on services rendered.
Ethics Principle 2: Competence (b, c, qualifications, policing) - Answer- b. discourages
the practice of psychology by unqualified persons and assists public in identifying
, psychologists competent to give dependable service; attempt to rectify competence
issues in others informally, then formally thru Board. c. psychologists are licensed by
the Board, following qualified supervision, and licensing exams.
Ethics Principle 2: Competence (d, self-representation) - Answer- d. psychologists
accurately represent their competence, education, training, and experience. Educational
qualifications are obtained from institutions accredited by regional accrediting
association approved by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary
Accreditation (CORPA); Degrees earned from foreign colleges and unis may be
represented only if determined to be equivalent by an agency acceptable to the Board,
subject to Board approval; representations of other degrees must be specified clearly.
Ethics Principle 2: Competence (e-I, teaching and continuing education) - Answer- e.
as teachers, psychologists provide accurate, current, and scholarly instruction; f.
psychologists participate in continuing educations and remain informed of new
professional knowledge; h. psychologists using data from test results must have
knowledge of psychological and educational tests.
Ethics Principle 2: Competence (I, personal problems) - Answer- i. psychologists
recognize that personal problems and conflicts may interfere with professional
effectiveness, refrain from activities in which personal probelsm may affect practice.
Seek assistance, if needed.
Ethics Principle 3: Moral & Legal Standards (a, general standards and limitations) -
Answer- a. moral, ethical, and legal standards of bx are personal to some degree,
except where they may compromise fulfillment of professional responsibilities, or reduce
trust in psychology as a field; be aware of impact of public bx of colleagues.
Ethics Principle 3: Moral & Legal Standards (b, awareness of values bias as teachers) -
Answer- b. as teachers, psychologists are aware that personal values affect
instructional materials and recognize and respect diverse attitudes of students.
Ethics Principle 3: Moral & Legal Standards (c, as employees/employers, statement on
inhumane, illegal, unjustifiable actions, or unlawful discrimination) - Answer- c. as
employees or employers, psychologists do not condone inhumane or illegal or
unjustifiable actions, or unlawful discriminatatory practices.
Ethics Principle 3: Moral & Legal Standards (d, professional role to uphold legal and civil
rights) - Answer- d. in professional roles, psychologists avoid action that will violate or
diminish the legal and civil rights of clients or anyone who might be affected by their
actions.
Ethics Principle 3: Moral & Legal Standards (e, as practitioners and researchers) -
Answer- e. as practitioners and researchers, psychologists act in accord w/ APA
standards and guidelines related to practice and to the conduct of research with
humans and animals; adhere to relevant laws and institutional regs; whenever these are
in conflict, commit to resolve; remain involved in development of laws/regs to best serve
public interest.
Ethics Principle 4: Public Statement (a, informed choice, accurate, objective, and
scientifically acceptable content) - Answer- a. public statements, announcements, and
promo activities must provide sufficient info for the consumer/public to make informed
judgements/choices; must accurately and objectively represent prof qualifications,
State Board of Psychology, 2026/2027 – Psychology Licensure Legal
Competency Assessment
Principle 3 - Application of APA standards and guidelines - Answer- The standards of
the APA apply to all licensed psychologists in PA.
Principle 4 - Public statements: Group ads; Public announcements; Personal growth
groups; accurate announcements - Answer- gives more specificity on advertisements
than is found in the APA Ethics Code.
Record Keeping Guidelines ($41.57) - Answer- Retain for 5 years following last
professional contact. Abide by other regs, if longer period is required by State, Federal
law, or institutional requirements.
Continuing Education ($41.59) - Answer- 30 contact hours (3 CEUS) per year
Biennium - Answer- The period of Dec 1 to Nov 30 of odd numbered years
Ethics Principle 1: Responsibility (a-d, objectivity, integrity, data usage) - Answer- a.
objectivity and integrity of work
b. research topics and methods, analysis and reporting
c. clarify expectations about use of data, maintain objectivity, and best practices in data
collection
d. prevent distortion or suppression of findings
Ethics Principle 1: Responsibility (e-h, broad sense of liability, professional obligations,
and guardian against misuse) - Answer- e. as members of gov and other orgs,
psychologists remain accountable to highest standards of field
f. as owners, psychologists retain full professional liability
g. as teachers, psychologists recognize primary obligation to help others acquire
knowledge and skill
h. as practitioners, bear social responsibility, remain alert to misuse of their influence on
others
Act 31 - Answer- Law that mandates continuing education in child abuse recognition.
We need at least 2 hrs as condition of licensure renewal and 3 hrs as prereq for
licensure
Act 74 - Answer- Law that mandates CE in suicide prevention
We need 1 hr as condition of licensure renewal
Privileged Communication Law - Answer- Supplemented to the rules concerning
release of information in courts, allowing patients of psychologists to withhold
information from courts under some circumstances
Professional Psychology Practice Act (1972) - Answer- This Act recognizes the
practice of psychology to affect the public safety and welfare, and sets forth regulations
to protect the public from unprofessional, unauthorized and unqualified conduct.
Psychologists must possess a valid, unexpired, unrevoked, and unsuspended licensed
issued under this act to practice.
,The Rost Decision - Answer- Reiterates the standards for privileged communications
for psychologists, and clarifies that it usually requires a court order, not a subpoena
from an attorney, to release information in court
Impaired Professionals - Answer- Defined as active addiction, or mental or physical
incompetences.
W/ "substantial evidence," psychologists are mandated to report other psychologists
who they know to be impaired (and not in active tx) or who are diverting controlled
substances.
Chapter 49 of the Pennsylvania Code - Answer- Where all regulations of state
agencies are located.
Code of Ethics (APA v. PA State Board) - Answer- The Code of Ethics in PA does not
overtly contradict the 2017 APA Ethics Code; APA Ethics Code is more specific and
concrete.
PA Psychology Code of Ethics (INTRO COMMENTS) - Answer- Applies Code of
Ethics to students and trainees in psychology
The Board lacks the power to discipline those who are not licensed, it does state that
violations of the ethics code "may be regarded by the Board as evidence of
unacceptable moral character".
Principle 2 - representation of nonpsychological academic degrees - Answer- Applies
to psychologists with terminal masters' degrees or with doctoral degrees in other fields
may represent degree earned if they "specify the discipline in which each particular
degree was earned."
e.g Jane, MA licensed psychologist, PHD (public health)
Ethics Principle 1: Responsibility (I, computerized assessments) - Answer- i. as
professionals using computerized assessments, or computer-generated data,
psychologist is:
1. legally and ethically responsible for psychological assessment, generation and use of
data as service to public
2. responsible for results
3. results provided to non-psychologist according to current standards of
noncomputerized assessments.
Ethics Principle 2: Competence (a, standards and limitations) - Answer- a. the
maintenance of high standards of professional competence is responsibility shared by
psychologists in the interest of the public and profession; recognize boundaries of
competence and limitations of techniques. Provide services only for which they are
qualified. Take all precautions to protect welfare of clients. Maintain knowledge of
current info on services rendered.
Ethics Principle 2: Competence (b, c, qualifications, policing) - Answer- b. discourages
the practice of psychology by unqualified persons and assists public in identifying
, psychologists competent to give dependable service; attempt to rectify competence
issues in others informally, then formally thru Board. c. psychologists are licensed by
the Board, following qualified supervision, and licensing exams.
Ethics Principle 2: Competence (d, self-representation) - Answer- d. psychologists
accurately represent their competence, education, training, and experience. Educational
qualifications are obtained from institutions accredited by regional accrediting
association approved by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary
Accreditation (CORPA); Degrees earned from foreign colleges and unis may be
represented only if determined to be equivalent by an agency acceptable to the Board,
subject to Board approval; representations of other degrees must be specified clearly.
Ethics Principle 2: Competence (e-I, teaching and continuing education) - Answer- e.
as teachers, psychologists provide accurate, current, and scholarly instruction; f.
psychologists participate in continuing educations and remain informed of new
professional knowledge; h. psychologists using data from test results must have
knowledge of psychological and educational tests.
Ethics Principle 2: Competence (I, personal problems) - Answer- i. psychologists
recognize that personal problems and conflicts may interfere with professional
effectiveness, refrain from activities in which personal probelsm may affect practice.
Seek assistance, if needed.
Ethics Principle 3: Moral & Legal Standards (a, general standards and limitations) -
Answer- a. moral, ethical, and legal standards of bx are personal to some degree,
except where they may compromise fulfillment of professional responsibilities, or reduce
trust in psychology as a field; be aware of impact of public bx of colleagues.
Ethics Principle 3: Moral & Legal Standards (b, awareness of values bias as teachers) -
Answer- b. as teachers, psychologists are aware that personal values affect
instructional materials and recognize and respect diverse attitudes of students.
Ethics Principle 3: Moral & Legal Standards (c, as employees/employers, statement on
inhumane, illegal, unjustifiable actions, or unlawful discrimination) - Answer- c. as
employees or employers, psychologists do not condone inhumane or illegal or
unjustifiable actions, or unlawful discriminatatory practices.
Ethics Principle 3: Moral & Legal Standards (d, professional role to uphold legal and civil
rights) - Answer- d. in professional roles, psychologists avoid action that will violate or
diminish the legal and civil rights of clients or anyone who might be affected by their
actions.
Ethics Principle 3: Moral & Legal Standards (e, as practitioners and researchers) -
Answer- e. as practitioners and researchers, psychologists act in accord w/ APA
standards and guidelines related to practice and to the conduct of research with
humans and animals; adhere to relevant laws and institutional regs; whenever these are
in conflict, commit to resolve; remain involved in development of laws/regs to best serve
public interest.
Ethics Principle 4: Public Statement (a, informed choice, accurate, objective, and
scientifically acceptable content) - Answer- a. public statements, announcements, and
promo activities must provide sufficient info for the consumer/public to make informed
judgements/choices; must accurately and objectively represent prof qualifications,
