Registration Guidelines
UPDATED: July 2024
The JEE is a required written examination that focuses on legislation, regulations, standards, guidelines, and codes of ethics, applicable to the practice of psychology in Ontario. The College administers the JEE on two occasions a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, at several examination centres in the province.
The JEE will not include questions based upon changes in legislation, regulations, standards, guidelines, and codes of ethics that occurred in the six months prior to the examination administration date.
Composition of the JEE
Each examination consists of 60 multiple-choice questions drawn from a large pool of items developed by subject matter experts. Each item is categorized according to its Activity and Content area. Activity and Content categories, defined below, were developed to reflect the breadth of members’ work and were informed by a psychology practice analysis.
Activities
Activities are the areas in which members apply their professional knowledge and skills. There are three Activity categories – Practice, Research, and Teaching/Supervision – defined below:
Practice
Practice refers to activities of members of the College related to the application of psychology to human issues and/or problems, and includes applications of Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, School Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Forensic/Correctional Psychology, Health Psychology, Rehabilitation Psychology, Industrial/ Organizational Psychology, and Academic Psychology.
Research
Research refers to Activities of members related to systematic investigation to establish facts, principles or generalizable knowledge and dissemination of that knowledge. This category does not include the study of available information for quality management or program evaluation purposes; such activities are classified below as a business practice.
Teaching/Supervision
Teaching/supervision refers to Activities of members related to teaching, training, and supervision of students, interns, registration candidates and non-regulated professionals.
Content
Content areas are domains of legislation, regulations, standards, and codes of ethics relevant to the practice of psychology. There are seven Content categories, defined below.
Managing Boundaries/Dual Relationships
Avoidance and management of dual and multiple relationships and the establishment and maintenance of boundaries, in the three activities of practice, research, and teaching/supervision. (For example: conflicts of interest; unacceptable dual/multiple relationships; methods for managing dual/multiple relationships and conflicts of interest; appropriate boundaries; risk to boundaries; and knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations.)
Business-Professional Practices/Quality Assurance
Appropriate business practices related to the three activities of practice, research and teaching/supervision. (For example: advertising; use of title; billing practices; arrangements for absences; fiscal and personnel management; mandatory reporting responsibilities as manager or partner; quality management activities; ongoing continuing education practices; accountability to the College and other regulators, including College Quality Assurance Reports, response to College inquiries; submission of research progress reports to granting agencies; required office safety inspections.)
Professionalism
Professional behaviour in the three activities of practice, research and teaching/supervision. Courtesy, respectfulness, civility and sensitivity in interactions with clients, students, research participants, colleagues, members of other professions and disciplines, and the public. (For example: self-monitoring, cultural sensitivity, timeliness of response, clarity and tone of communications, sensitive communication of feedback.)
Confidentiality/Privacy/Record Keeping
Protections, security, and exceptions regarding privacy and maintaining confidentiality, as related to the three activities of practice, research and teaching/supervision. (For example: limitations on information to be collected; maintaining security of collected information; ownership of and rights to access stored confidential information; protection of privacy of third parties, duty to protect/warn; mandatory reporting of a child in need of protection; mandatory reporting of sexual abuse by regulated health professionals; and knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations.)
Service Delivery
The process and procedures related to the three activities of practice, research and teaching/supervision. (For example: knowledge of the scope of practice of members and its relationship to other professionals; competence; risk-benefit analyses; adequacy of assessment tools and practices; awareness and appropriate management of biases and values.)
Feedback/Reports
Providing accurate, clearer, objective and understandable feedback and reports regarding assessments, diagnoses, evaluations, and findings, as related to the three activities of practice, research and teaching/supervision. (For example: communicating a diagnosis; writing reports and articles that are clear, justifiable, and balanced; and attending to characteristics such as sensory impairments.)
Informed Consent
Informed consent in the context of the three activities of practice, research and teaching/supervision, and for the release of confidential information. Includes awareness of issues with respect to vulnerable populations.
(For example: capacity, freedom of consent, adequacy of information provided, substitute decision-making, assent, use of consent forms; and knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations).
Examination blueprint
Each JEE is constructed to conform to the examination blueprint, which determines the percentage of examination questions that fall into a particular Activity or Content category. The percentages and percentage ranges that appear in the table below were designed to reflect the relative frequency with which they are represented in the work of members of the College.
| Activity | Practice | Research | Teaching/ Supervision | |
| Content | Average % of Exam | |||
| Managing Boundaries and Multiple Relationships | 16% | |||
| Business-Professional Practice | 10% | |||
| Professionalism | 16% | |||
| Confidentiality and Privacy | 18% | |||
| Service Delivery | 12% | |||
| Feedback and Reports | 12% | |||
| Informed Consent | 16% | |||
| % of Examination Questions | 68%-75% | 7%-13% | 15%-22% |
Preparing to take the JEE
In addition to the document titled List of Statutes and Standards Relevant to the Practice of Psychology in Ontario published by the College, the College recommends that candidates review the preparatory information outlined in the document entitled Preparing to take the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination. This document outlines strategies for studying for the JEE, strategies for taking multiple choice examinations, as well as sample questions and answers. Candidates are also encouraged to review the Supervision Resource Manual, as it contains information to help in preparation for the JEE.
Timing of the JEE
The College administers the JEE twice per year, once in the spring and once in the fall, at several examination centres in the province. Details about the examination location are provided to candidates once their registration for the examination has been confirmed.
Registration and fee for the JEE
Advance registration for the JEE is required. The College will send notification to all eligible candidates approximately two months in advance of the examination date. Only eligible candidates are permitted to take the JEE. To be eligible, the candidate must have submitted an application for registration to the College and received written confirmation of eligibility. The fee for taking the JEE is, in all cases, payable in advance of taking the examination. Please see Appendix A, Fees in the Registration Process, for the current fee.
If a candidate finds that they are unable to attend the examination, they must notify the College in writing in advance to cancel their administration.
For notices of cancellation received more than 5 business days before the examination date, the College will refund the full examination fee.
For notices of cancellation received in 5 business days or less before the examination date, the College will refund the examination fee, minus a $60.00 cancellation fee.
Number of attempts at the JEE
Candidates may attempt the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination a maximum of four times. Interim autonomous practice members must take the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination before expiry of the Certificate of Registration Authorizing Interim Autonomous Practice.
Language of the JEE
The JEE is provided to all candidates in a bilingual format printed with the English language version of the examination of the right hand side of the booklet and with the French language version on the left side.
The Registration Regulation, Section 3. 2., states that, “The applicant must be able with reasonable fluency to speak and write either English or French.” Therefore, candidates for whom English or French is not a first language must prepare to write the JEE in the standard writing time.
Examination accomodations
The College ensures that examination centres are fully accessible. Candidates who require examination accommodations arising from documented disabilities or impairments must complete the College’s Examination Accommodation Form and provide the College with the required supporting documentation. The form may be completed at the time of initial application to the College, or later if necessary. In order to allow the College sufficient time to approve and arrange the specified accommodation, candidates are required to submit the form and supporting documentation at least 60 calendar days prior to the examination date.
The College’s Examination Accommodation Policy is found in Appendix G of these guidelines. The Examination Accommodation Form is available on the College’s website as part of the Application for Supervised Practice.
Questions for the College regarding examination accommodations should be directed to exams@cpbao.ca
On the day of the JEE
When candidates arrive at the examination location they will be asked to sign an attendance roster and present government issued identification that includes both a photograph and signature (e.g. passport or driver’s license). Candidates will then be asked to locate their seat, which typically will be marked with a name card.
It’s recommended that candidates bring ear plugs. Some examination rooms may not have a wall clock available. Although the proctor will announce the time, candidates may find it helpful to bring a wristwatch. “Smart Watches” (e.g. Apple/Android Watch) are not permitted. Candidates may bring a water bottle/beverage. Because temperatures at the examination location may vary either way, dressing in layers is strongly recommended.
Candidates may not use books, calculators, papers, notes, cell phones, computers, PDAs, Smart Watches or other aids of any kind during the examination. Candidates will be asked to turn off cell phones and store them away with their belongings.
Late arrival Policy
Latecomers will not be allowed any additional time beyond the scheduled examination completion time. The examination proctor has the discretion to deny access to latecomers. Normally, individuals who arrive more than 30 minutes after the scheduled start time will not be admitted to the examination.
Implications of Cheating
If the College receives a report from a proctor that a candidate participated in any irregularity, such as giving or obtaining unauthorized information, the College reserves the right to invalidate the candidate’s examination score.
Acknowledgement of confidentiality
The questions on the JEE are confidential and are the exclusive property of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario. Candidates will be asked to sign an acknowledgement of confidentiality when completing the JEE registration form. An example of this acknowledgement follows:
Candidate Acknowledgement (THIS IS A SAMPLE ONLY)
By taking this examination, I hereby acknowledge that I understand and agree to the following:
- I understand and acknowledge that the content of the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination is confidential in nature
- I acknowledge that the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination and the items therein are the exclusive property of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario
- I understand that no examination material may be copied or disclosed by any means without the permission of the Registrar of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario
- I agree to maintain the confidentiality and security of the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination and test questions
Name (Please Print):
Signature:
Passpoint for the JEE
The JEE is a criterion-referenced examination. This means that a specified level of knowledge is expected of those who pass the examination. It is not enough to say that your score was higher than a certain percentage of other candidates. Showing that you have a knowledge base at an entry-to-practice level is required.
The Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination Committee sets the cutscore or passpoint for each administration of the examination using the following procedure:
- As individual exam questions are developed, a modified Angoff procedure is conducted by the Committee and an Angoff score established for each question.
- The Angoff score for a given administration of the examination is the average of the Angoff scores for the individual questions on the examination.
- Once the examinations have been scored, the Standard Error of Measurement for that administration is calculated.
- The proposed cutscore is established as the Angoff score plus one Standard Error of Measurement.
a) As individual exam questions are developed, a modified Angoff procedure is conducted by the Committee and an Angoff score established for each question.
b) The Angoff score for a given administration of the examination is the average of the Angoff scores for the individual questions on the examination.
c) Once the examinations have been scored, the Standard Error of Measurement for that administration is calculated.
d) The proposed cutscore is established as the Angoff score plus one Standard Error of Measurement.
Further information about the Angoff method follows:
A number of methods of setting standards for a multiple-choice examination exist. The Angoff method was chosen for this examination. This method involves decisions about INDIVIDUAL examination questions. Judges make a judgement of the probability that a borderline test-taker would answer the question correctly. The easier the question, the higher this number will be. The harder the question, the lower this number will be. A number of judges participate in this process. The judges’ scores are then averaged for each question to come up with a judgement of the probability that a borderline candidate will answer each question correctly. These probabilities are added together to arrive at a passing score (cut score) for the test.
Since the Angoff method involves decisions about individual examination questions, the cut score will vary, based on the particular questions used in a particular examination.
More information about the Angoff method may be found in:
Livingston, S.A. & Zieky M.J. (1982). Passing Scores: A Manual for Setting Standards of Performance on Educational and Occupational Tests, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ
The following information may be of assistance:
Notes to Help Interpret Standardized Scores
The total exam score is a three-digit number – for example, 385, 465, 545. This number is not equal to the number of items you answered correctly on the examination. The number of items you answered correctly has been converted statistically to a standard score with mean of 500 and a standard deviation of 100. Standard scores are used because they provide easier and more meaningful comparisons with other test scores than are provided by simply comparing the number of items a candidate answers correctly. At a glance, standard scores allow you to determine whether you have done better, as well as, or worse than, your peers.
When you receive your examination result, you will not be able to tell from your score how many test items you answered correctly since your score will be expressed in standard-score units. You will know that if your score is higher than 500, your performance was better than the average and if your score is below 500, your performance was below the average.
Results of the JEE
The College provides JEE scores to candidates in writing within six weeks of the administration of the examination. College staff are not permitted to provide JEE scores to candidates over the telephone, fax, or via e-mail. The JEE score will be presented as a standardized score. To ensure scoring accuracy, all candidate answer sheets are manually checked and verified by the College.
Candidate feedback
Candidates will be invited to complete an anonymous survey which is distributed by e-mail following
the JEE examination. Survey responses are reviewed by the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination Committee.
Candidates may also submit questions or comments about the JEE in writing to the College at exams@cpbao.ca.
Questions regarding the scoring and content of the examination, or comments relating to the administration of the examination are normally forwarded to the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination Committee.