Scope of Practice and Controlled Acts
Controlled-act questions are precise by design. The correct answer usually turns on whether the act is one psychology is authorised to perform, or whether it belongs to another profession.
Scope of practice
Psychology's scope covers assessment of behavioural, cognitive, affective and interpersonal functioning, and the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and dysfunctions through psychological principles, methods and procedures, including consultation and supervision. The College registers psychologists and psychological associates, and now also behaviour analysts under its own legislation.
Controlled acts
Under the RHPA, controlled acts may only be performed by authorised professions. Psychology's authorised controlled act is communicating a diagnosis identifying a disease or disorder as the cause of a person's symptoms, in the course of practice. Psychologists are also authorised to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy - treating, through a structured program of activity using psychotherapy technique, with the intent of helping a person ameliorate or remedy a serious disorder of thought, cognition, mood, emotional regulation, perception or memory that may seriously impair judgment, insight, behaviour, communication or social functioning. Note how narrow that definition is: ordinary supportive conversation is not automatically the controlled act.
Not authorised
Psychologists do not prescribe or dispense drugs, order imaging, or perform procedures on tissue. When a client asks for a medication renewal, the answer is referral, not accommodation.
Delegation and exceptions
A controlled act may be delegated to a person with the knowledge, skill and judgment to perform it safely, subject to College standards; the delegator remains accountable. Exceptions exist for emergencies, students in approved training programs, and certain supervised settings - they do not create general permission for unregulated practice.
Worked example
A client's psychiatrist is away and the client asks for an SSRI refill. Prescribing is a controlled act not authorised to psychology. The psychologist acknowledges the need, contacts the covering physician or directs the client to urgent care, and documents the action.
Traps that cost marks
- Treating every counselling conversation as the controlled act of psychotherapy.
- Confusing the titles "psychologist" and "psychotherapist."
- Assuming delegation transfers responsibility to the delegate.
- Believing emergency exceptions license ongoing practice outside the Act.