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4151.0 – Psychologists

Psychologists assess and diagnose behavioural, emotional and cognitive disorders, counsel clients, provide therapy, conduct research and apply theory relating to behaviour and mental processes. Psychologists help clients work toward the maintenance and enhancement of psychological, physical, intellectual, emotional, social and interpersonal functioning.

Profile

Example titles Help

  • Clinical psychologist
  • Experimental psychologist
  • Psychological associate
  • Psychologist
  • Research psychologist

Main characteristics Help

  • General learning ability to examine and assess behaviour; to diagnose behavioural, emotional and cognitive disorders; to apply psychological theory and principles regarding behaviour and mental processes, such as learning, memory, perception and language development; and to interpret results of psychological tests
  • Verbal ability to counsel individuals and groups to achieve more effective personal, social and vocational development and adjustment; and to deliver presentations at conferences, workshops or symposia and provide consultation services to government and other organizations
  • Numerical ability to apply statistical methods in analyzing research data
  • Social interest in mentoring in order to counsel clients and provide therapy; in helping clients manage physical illness and disorders, and in offering mediation services
  • Innovative interest in co-ordinating information to formulate hypotheses and experimental designs, conduct studies and publish research papers, educational texts and articles; and to plan intervention programs and conduct program evaluation
  • Methodical interest in reviewing literature and administering psychological tests

Aptitudes Help

One of five levels assigned for each factor, with levels representing normal curve distribution of the labour force:

G
General learning ability
V
Verbal ability
N
Numerical ability
S
Spatial perception
P
Form perception
Q
Clerical perception
K
Motor co-ordination
F
Finger dexterity
M
Manual dexterity
Levels legend, text description directly below.
  1. The highest 10% of the working population
  2. Upper third, exclusive of the highest 10%
  3. Middle third of the working population
  4. Lowest third, exclusive of the lowest 10%
  5. Lowest 10% of the working population

An individual's overall capacity to learn the skills needed to perform job duties is based on his or her specific aptitudes for acquiring information and transforming it into action.

General learning ability G-1

Ability to 'catch on' or understand instructions and underlying principles; to reason and make judgments.

Verbal ability V-1

Ability to understand the meaning of words and the ideas associated with them, and to use them effectively; to comprehend language, to understand relationships between words and to understand the meaning of whole sentences and paragraphs; to present information or ideas clearly.

Numerical ability N-2

Ability to carry out arithmetical processes quickly and accurately.

Spatial perception S-3

Ability to think visually about geometric forms and comprehend the two dimensional representation of three dimensional objects; to recognize the relationships resulting from the movement of objects in space. May be used in such tasks as blueprint reading and in solving geometry problems. Frequently described as the ability to 'visualize' objects of two or three dimensions.

Form perception P-4

Ability to perceive pertinent detail in objects and in pictorial and graphic material; to make visual comparisons and discriminations and to see slight differences in shapes and shadings of figures and widths and lengths of lines.

Clerical perception Q-3

Ability to perceive pertinent detail in verbal or tabular material; to observe differences in copy, to proofread words and numbers, and to avoid perceptual errors in arithmetical computation.

Motor co-ordination K-4

Ability to co-ordinate eyes, hands and fingers rapidly and accurately when required to respond with precise movements.

Finger dexterity F-4

Ability to move the fingers and manipulate small objects with the fingers rapidly and/or accurately.

Manual dexterity M-4

Ability to move the hands easily and skillfully; to work with the hands in placing and turning motions.

Interests Help

Three of five descriptive factors, assigned in order of predominance and lower case rating indicating weaker representation:

D
Directive
I
Innovative
M
Methodical
O
Objective
S
Social
Social S

Social persons like dealing with people. They enjoy caring for and assisting others in identifying their needs and solving their concerns. Social persons like working and co-operating with others. They prefer to be involved in work that requires interpersonal contact.

Innovative I

Innovative persons like to explore things in depth and arrive at solutions to problems by experimenting. They are interested in initiating and creating different ways to solve questions and present information. They enjoy scientific subjects. Innovative persons prefer to be challenged with new and unexpected experiences. They adjust to change easily.

Methodical M

Methodical persons like to have clear rules and organized methods to guide their activities. They prefer working under the direction or supervision of others according to given instructions, or to be guided by established policies and procedures. Methodical persons like to work on one thing until it is completed. They enjoy following a set routine and prefer work that is free from the unexpected.

Data, people, and things Help

Data

0
Synthesizing
1
Co-ordinating
2
Analyzing
3
Compiling
4
Computing
5
Copying
6
Comparing
7
N/A
8
Not Significant

People

0
Mentoring
1
Negotiating
2
Instructing - Consulting
3
Supervising
4
Diverting
5
Persuading
6
Speaking - Signaling
7
Serving - Assisting
8
Not significant

Things

0
Setting up
1
Precision working
2
Controlling
3
Driving - Operating
4
Operating - Manipulating
5
Tending
6
Feeding - Offbearing
7
Handling
8
Not significant
Data Co-ordinating 1

Determining time, place and sequence of operations or actions to be taken based on analysis of data; executing determinations and/or reporting events.

People Mentoring 0

Dealing with individuals in terms of their total personalities in order to advise, counsel and/or guide them with regard to problems that may be resolved by legal, scientific, clinical, spiritual and/or other professional principles.

Things Not significant 8

Not significant

Physical activities Help

V - Vision

1
Close visual acuity
2
Near vision
3
Near and far vision
4
Total visual field

H - Hearing

1
Limited
2
Verbal interaction
3
Other sound discrimination

L - Limb co-ordination

0
Not relevant
1
Upper limb co-ordination
2
Multiple limb co-ordination

C - Colour discrimination

0
Not relevant
1
Relevant

B - Body position

1
Sitting
2
Standing and/or walking
3
Sitting, standing, walking
4
Other body positions

S - Strength

1
Limited
2
Light
3
Medium
4
Heavy
Vision Vision V-2

The use of sight in the work performed. The levels are organized in terms of the visual field involved in the performance of the work.

2 - Near vision

Work activities are performed near the worker. The scope of the visual field is broader than in Close visual acuity (1).

Examples:

  • reading and interpreting drawings and specifications
  • using computer keyboards and reading computer monitors
  • repairing automobile engines
  • setting up and operating machine tools
Colour discrimination Colour discrimination C-0

The use of colour descrimination to identify, distinguish and match colours and different shades of the same colours.

0 - Not relevant

Colour discrimination is not relevant in the performance of the work.

Examples:

  • cleaning windows
  • providing information over the telephone
  • interviewing, hiring and overseeing staff training
  • translating documents
Hearing Hearing H-2

The use of hearing in the work performed. The levels are organized in terms of the type of auditory discrimination involved in the performance of the work.

2 - Verbal interaction

Work activities involve communication with colleagues, clients and/or the public on a regular basis.

Examples:

  • operating directory listing systems to provide directory assistance to customers
  • resolving work problems and recommending measures to improve productivity
  • consulting with families of the deceased regarding funeral services
  • analyzing and providing advice on managerial methods and organization of establishments
Body position Body position B-1

Primary type of posture or body movement involved in performing the work. These postures or body movements range from simple to complex and from sedentary to mobile.

1 - Sitting

Work activities primarily involve sitting. Standing and/or walking (2) may occur but is incidental to the work being performed.

Examples:

  • reading and editing copy to be published or broadcast
  • preparing financial statements
  • issuing aircraft take-off and landing instructions to pilot
  • interviewing clients
Limb co-ordination Limb co-ordination L-0

The use of limbs in performing work.

0 - Not relevant

Work activities do not involve co-ordination of limbs.

Examples:

  • counselling clients and providing therapy
  • proofreading materials before publication
  • greeting patrons at entrances to restaurant dining rooms
  • responding to enquiries at an information desk
Strength Strength S-1

The use of strength in the handling of loads such as pulling, pushing, lifting and/or moving objects during the work performed.

1 - Limited

Work activities involve handling loads up to 5 kg.

Examples:

  • examining and analyzing financial information
  • selling insurance to clients
  • conducting economic and technical feasibility studies
  • administering and marking written tests

Environmental conditions Help

Location

L1
Regulated inside climate
L2
Unregulated inside climate
L3
Outside
L4
In a vehicle or cab

Hazards

H1
Dangerous chemical substances
H2
Biological agents
H3
Equipment, machinery, tools
H4
Electricity
H5
Radiation
H6
Flying particles, falling objects
H7
Fire, steam, hot surfaces
H8
Dangerous locations

Discomforts

D1
Noise
D2
Vibration
D3
Odours
D4
Non-toxic dusts
D5
Wetness
Location Regulated inside climate L1

The work performed is carried out indoors in a regulated environment, indoors in an unregulated environment, outdoors or in a vehicle. In many occupations, the Main Duties may be performed in more than one location. Therefore, a group may have more than one Location code, for example:

  • firefighting and fire prevention duties
  • maintenance of interior/exterior of buildings
  • managing operations and paperwork of farms

L1 - Regulated inside climate

A normal controlled environment such as an office, hospital or school.

Employment requirements Help

Education/training Help

1
No formal education or training requirements
2
Some high school education and/or on the job training or experience
3
High school
4
Course work, training, workshops and/or experience related to the occupation
5
Apprenticeship, specialized training, vocational school training
6
College, technical school (certificate, diploma)
7
Undergraduate degree
8
Post-graduate or professional degree
+
Additional requirement beyond education and training
R
Regulated requirement(s)
8+, R
  • A doctoral degree in psychology is required in order to use the designation "Psychologist" in Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
  • A master's degree in psychology is required for the designation "Psychologist" in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
  • A master's degree in psychology is required in order to use the designation "Psychological Associate" in Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
  • A period of supervised practical experience is required in most jurisdictions.
  • Successful completion of the written Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is required in most provinces.
  • Oral examinations and board interviews are required in some provinces.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
  • Membership in the provincial professional association for psychologists is mandatory in all provinces, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
  • Psychologists can become specialized in a particular area through training and experience.

Workplaces/employers Help

  • Businesses
  • Clinics
  • Community service organizations
  • Correctional facilities
  • Government agencies
  • Hospitals
  • Mental health facilities
  • Private practices
  • Rehabilitation centres
  • Schools
  • Universities
  • Private research agencies

Occupational options Help

  • Psychological associates may be granted permission by provincial regulatory authorities to perform duties normally restricted to psychologists, specifically diagnosing psychological disorders and communicating diagnoses to clients.

Exclusions Help

Remarks Help

  • Psychologists can become specialized in a particular area through training and experience.
  • Psychologists may specialize in applied psychology or experimental research. Sub-specialties include behavioural psychology, child psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology, industrial psychology, neuropsychology, social psychology or sports psychology.

Breakdown summary

Broad occupational category
4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services
Skill level
A – Occupations usually require university education
Minor group
41 – Professional occupations in law and social, community and government services
Minor group
415 – Social and community service professionals
Unit group
4151 – Psychologists
Version
NOC 2016 Version 1.3
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