State of Maryland

A Psychology Associate III, Masters is the full performance level of Master’s degree professional psychology associate staff work rendering psychological services to residents, patients or clients in State mental hospitals, community clinics, health centers, residential centers and emergency services and programs. Employees in this classification perform specific duties determined by the program objectives of the agency or institution dealing with problems related to mental health, emotional disturbances, developmental deviations and other disabling conditions. Employees in this classification apply the science of psychology to the problems of investigating, understanding, and modifying human behavior; the services focus on individuals who are emotionally disturbed, maladjusted, individuals with intellectual disabilities, and others persons experiencing psychological stress and includes diagnostic assessments, individual and group counseling and psychotherapy, and participation in case planning and treatment conferences. Employees in this classification provide professional consultation and training to other facility staff. Employees in this classification are concerned, where appropriate, with increasing the understanding of the nature of behavior by participating in studies and research projects. and They may assist in the collection and analysis of data, review of literature and other aspects of a scientific investigation. Employees in this classification do not supervise other professional positions but may supervise clerical employees.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Psychologist licensed by the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Work effectiveness is evaluated through consultations, group conferences, and review of communications.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of the class specification.

The Psychology Associate I Masters, Psychology Associate II Masters, and Psychology Associate III Masters are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The Psychology Associate I, Masters learns to perform duties under close supervision. The Psychology Associate II, Masters performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed. The Psychology Associate III, Masters performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Under the supervision of a licensed Psychologist:

Selects, administers, scores and interprets psychological tests to assess intellectual functioning, personality structure, interests, aptitudes and other psychological factors;

Develops interpretive conclusions to determine appropriate classifications, treatment plans and/or rehabilitative goals;

Participates in various forms of interviewing and psychotherapeutic activities with patients, clients or inmates;

Makes recommendations based on the application of a wide range of projective and objective tests;

Renders psychological interpretations of behavioral patterns of patients, inmates or clients;

Maintains therapy progress notes;

Participates in staff meetings to discuss and evaluate adjustment and treatment plans for patients, clients or inmates;

Provides psychological consultation to other staff members and community agencies;

Participates in training of students and non-professional personnel;

Provides psychological counseling to parents of children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities;

Participates in programs providing special community services;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the theories and principles of psychology;

Knowledge of human growth and development;

Knowledge of the scientific method;

Knowledge of personality development;

Knowledge of learning theory;

Knowledge of interviewing techniques;

Knowledge of personality, intelligence, interest and aptitude assessment tools;

Knowledge of the elementary concepts of social sciences;

Knowledge of the fundamentals of the other mental health professions;

Knowledge of the introductory concepts of the use of psychological services in health and mental health programs;

Ability to administer, score and interpret psychological tests;

Ability to interpret properly other psychological information and to make sound recommendations;

Ability to do clinical work which includes psychological interviewing techniques, diagnostic evaluation, and psychotherapy;

Ability to design experiments and apply statistical procedures;

Ability to work effectively with others; to prepare comprehensive, summarized, and meaningful diagnostic and treatment reports;

Ability to prepare evaluations of persons examined and/or treated.

Education:   A Master’s degree in psychology or a related field from an accredited college or university in a program acceptable to the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

Experience: Four years of supervised experience rendering psychological services or engaged in research, after completion of the Master’s degree.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the completion of a twelve internship required for the possession of a Master's degree or Doctorate degree for one year of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience at a rank of Corporal/Petty Officer or higher as a commissioned officer in Clinical Psychology classifications or Psychology specialty codes in the Psychology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the sing department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit F- Social and Human Service Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.