Psychometrists administer and score neuropsychological, psychological, personality, and academic tests for patients with brain injuries, neurological conditions, psychological disorders, or learning disabilities, as well as for research purposes. They manage test materials and patient data and work under the supervision of licensed neuropsychologists or psychologists, who use their assessments for diagnosis, treatment planning, or research. Psychometrists must stay current in their field and often work closely with patients and sometimes their families. Senior psychometrists may also mentor, manage, and evaluate other psychometrists within the facility.

Education, Training and Experience

• To work as a psychometrist, you need one of the following: a bachelor's degree with training in psychometrics, a master's degree in psychology or health science, or a bachelor's degree with psychometrist certification.
• A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement, typically in psychology, mathematics, statistics, or a related field.
• Graduate options include an M.A. or M.S. in psychometrics, or an M.S. in psychology with relevant coursework.
• These programs often cover topics like psychometric theory, statistics, learning theory, psychopathology, and research methods, and may require lab work, internships, or a thesis.
• Certification requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 3,000 supervised hours of testing, scoring, and administrative work under a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist.
• Those with a master's or doctoral degree and relevant coursework need 2,000 supervised hours instead.
• The Board of Certified Psychometrists provides official information on certification requirements.

Detailed Work Activities

• Typically work a standard 37–40 hour week, though overtime or weekend work may be required depending on the setting (e.g., hospitals vs. private practices).
• Rarely take work home; most tasks are completed in the office, except occasionally reviewing test booklets at home.
• Work is fast-paced and can be stressful, managing multiple tests and patients with varying conditions.
• Testing sessions usually last 2–6 hours per patient.
• Report writing is required and must be completed promptly, often during slower patient days.
• Employers include local, state, and federal government agencies, schools, hospitals, private practices, and nonprofit organizations.