Qualifications for Use

The COPS-R is a secure psychological instrument. Due to concerns about test security and appropriate administration, the test should only be administered by or under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional or by a responsible, trained government agency official, such as a Human Resources Director.

Based on the sensitivity of the material gathered, and the importance of using the COPS-R as part of a comprehensive assessment of psychological suitability or fitness for duty, appropriate qualifications for the use and interpretation of the COPS-R reports include the following:

• Graduate-level training in personality, diagnostic interviewing, and psychological measurement. The latter should include basic training in scale construction, the ethics of psychological assessment, test security and the limitations of psychological testing.
• Licensure, or supervision by a licensed professional, in a field representing expertise in issues of mental health and personality.