Logistics

When and Where

The written exam is always given on the 3rd Saturday in October (i.e. October 17, 2020; October 16, 2021; October 15, 2022; October 21, 2023; October 19, 2024).

Exam-Related Instructions

Between submission of your application and the day of the written exam, you should review instructions for taking the exam on exam day and preparing and sending printed copies of the final version of your exam.

You will receive a series of emails that guide you through the process by:

  • informing you of admission to the examination process and requesting payment of the examination fee,
  • confirming the email address where you will receive all exam-related instructions and communications,
  • requesting your choice of exam time from the two options available,
  • reminding you to be sure to use only an approved related field for the Related Field question,
  • directing you to review instructions for exam taking on exam day and submission of final printed copies of your exam.
  • giving you the unique identifier (ID#) that will identify your exam.

When taking the exam, you may not open any other documents or copy from any other document. You may not use any psychodrama notes, articles or books during the exam. This prohibition includes copying from any previously-prepared materials you have written.

Confidentiality and Social Media Guidelines

Review guidelines for posting on social media and other forms of communication.

Written Exam Options

Almost all candidates take the exam via email. Use a computer that is in good working order. You will be given a cell phone telephone number to contact on the day of your written examination in case some emergency or crisis should arise.

Preferred Exam Schedule

Candidates may choose one of two options for the delivery of the written exam via email:

  • Option 1: Part I will be sent out at 10:00 AM EDT (Eastern Daylight Savings Time) and must be returned by 12:00 Noon. There will be a one hour break. Part II will be sent out at 1:00 PM EDT and must be returned by 4:00 PM EDT.
  • Option 2: Part I will be sent out at 12:00 Noon EDT (Eastern Daylight Savings Time) and must be returned by 2:00 PM EDT. There will be a one hour break. Part II will be sent out at 3:00 PM EDT and must be returned by 6:00 PM EDT.

Exam schedule for candidates in Asia:

  • Part I will be sent out Friday at 8:00 PM EDT (Eastern Daylight Savings Time) and must be returned by 10:00 PM EDT. There will be a one hour break. Part II will be sent out at 11:00 PM EDT and must be returned by 2:00 AM EDT on Saturday.

These time zones do not apply if you requested and have been approved to take the exam with a different schedule. In that case you will take the exam during the times that are listed on your approved exam options.

When English is a Foreign Language

If your first language is not English you may request to take the written and on-site examinations in your first language. If English is a foreign language for you, please contact the Board immediately for accommodations that can be made for you. Contact us by email with the subject “English as a Foreign Language.” Anyone who resides in China or Taiwan is automatically enrolled in “English as a Second Language.”

If you write the written examination in a language other than English (e.g. Spanish, Chinese, Hebrew, etc.), the Board strongly recommends that you have your written examination translated into English by a professional translator. Having a professional translator translate your written examination into English will decrease miscommunication and misunderstanding and increase your chances that the reviewers will access more accurately your ability to answer the examination questions.

Special Accommodations

If a candidate is unable to take the written examination under the usual and customary circumstances, that candidate may request alternative options for the date(s), format or time limits of the examination. All requests for alternative examination options must be received by July 15.

Onsite First Option

• We accept request for on-site examinations after you have been notified that you passed your written examination. Please note that the scheduling of your on-site examination does not commence until you receive notification from the Board.

• All requirements for certification must be successfully completed within five years of the initial application for certification.

• Successful completion of an on‐site examination is a requirement for certification.

• The on‐site examination for a trainer, educator, practitioner examines the candidate’s ability to teach and train the philosophy, techniques and process of psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy.

Please review the TEP Onsite Examination Guidelines for additional details.

Exam Preparation and Study

Introduction

It may be helpful to think of the written examination for certification as analogous to comprehensive examinations given by many universities. For the trainer exam, the questions are designed to test the ability to teach the theoretical and practical knowledge of psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy. The exam covers seven areas. History, Philosophy, Methodology, Sociometry, Ethics, Research & Evaluation, and Related Fields. TEPs are also expected to provide training and supervision. All questions are essay questions. Methodology and Sociometry require responses to two questions; all others are a single question.

Structure and Format

The examination is given in two parts. In the morning, two hours are allotted for the areas of History, Philosophy and Methodology. In the afternoon, three hours are allowed for the areas of Sociometry, Ethics, Research & Evaluation, and Related Fields. The Board suggests that candidates spend 30 minutes on each of the single-weighted sections except Ethics (45 minutes) and one hour each on the Sociometry and Methodology Sections. Because there are two questions in each section for Sociometry and Methodology, these areas are double-weighted in the scoring process.

Adequacy

The written and onsite examinations evaluate “adequacy”, not brilliance at or mastery of the role of trainer and educator in psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy. Becoming certified as a TEP marks not advanced expertise but, rather, a kind of commencement: the beginning of an ongoing journey, gaining increasing virtuosity as a trainer and mentor of students of psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy.

The ABE does not publish model answers because model answers are by their very definition are “models’ and would be rated as excellent. Both examinations are rated as pass or fail. It is possible to receive a low pass on each of the nine questions of the written exam and still pass. It is possible to fail two questions and still pass the written examination. To repeat the Board is not looking for mastery or perfection but adequacy.

Exam Areas

  1. History: Psychodramatists will be cognizant of the history of the fields of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy. Questions usually cover Moreno’s life and development of psychodrama, early contributors to the fields, and recent developments since Moreno’s death. Psychodramatists are also expected to be cognizant of contributors other than J. L. Moreno to the history and development of group psychotherapy. TEP candidates are expected to discuss how they teach the history of psychodrama to their students. (30 minutes)
  2. Philosophy: Psychodramatists will have a basic understanding of the philosophical tenets of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy. Major tenets of philosophy cover spirituality, the godhead, spontaneity, creativity, cultural conserve, developmental theory, the canon of creativity, here and now, and living in the moment. TEP candidates are expected to discuss how they teach philosophy to their students. (30 minutes)
  3. Methodology: Psychodramatists will have a thorough understanding of the experiential/action methods of psychodrama related to their scope of practice. Methodology covers: psychodrama terminology, techniques, and interventions, along with knowing the underlying rationale. Candidates are expected to be able to discuss a range of methods from applications to a single session with a specific diagnosis or concern to the broader principles of change related to experiential therapies. TEP candidates are expected to discuss how they teach methodology to their students. Candidates who are not mental health professionals are expected to discuss how they would teach a range of methods applicable to their scope of practice. (60 minutes/2 questions)
  4. Sociometry: Psychodramatists will have a thorough understanding of the skills and knowledge required for sociometric assessment, analysis, and intervention in social structures at the following levels: individuals, families, groups, organizations, community, and systems. Basic theoretical concepts, as well as demonstration of sociometric interventions, are covered in the questions. TEP candidates are expected to explain how they teach sociometry to their students. (60 minutes/2 questions)
  5. Research and Evaluation: Psychodramatists will have a basic understanding of the state of current applied research, assessment and program evaluation in the field of psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy. TEP candidates are expected to discuss how they teach research and evaluation to their students.
    TEP candidates are expected to have a greater understanding of the research field. TEP candidates are expected to:

    • Be familiar with the research literature (past and present);
    • Be able to conduct evaluations on the effectiveness of their training methods; and
    • Have the knowledge and skills to teach/train CP trainees on basic research terms and methods and their applications to psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy. (30 minutes)
  6. Ethics and Standards of Practice: Psychodramatists will have a thorough understanding of the ethical principles and standards of practice concerning the fields of psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy. The Board has adopted the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Code of Ethics. Psychodramatists will have a thorough understanding of the APA Code Of Ethics and its applications to educational, consultative, training, and research practices. Candidates are expected to be able to discuss an ethical issue with specific reference to the APA’s Code of Ethics. Candidates should also be familiar with the legal issues (e.g., Tarasoff case and others) of practice, and with ethical issues that relate specifically to the practice of psychodrama. TEP candidates are expected to discuss how they teach the principles of ethics to their students. (45 minutes)
  7. Related Fields: The psychodramatist will have a basic understanding of the inter-relatedness between the field of psychodrama (which includes sociometry, sociodrama, and group psychotherapy) and other developed fields of therapeutic or educational endeavor. The term ‘related fields’ refers to complete areas of study pertinent to psychodrama, sociometry, sociodrama, and psychodramatic group work in the area of one’s professional practice. TEP candidates are expected to discuss how they teach the principles of ‘related fields’ to their students. (30 minutes)

    Psychodramatists will be able to translate these principles and techniques to their scope of practice within their own areas of expertise. Questions are usually broad enough to give individuals a choice of several different theoretical bases to compare or contrast with psychodramatic theory and methods.

    The Related Field you choose must be on the list of approved related fields. Currenty approved Related Fields are:

Adlerian
Attachment Theory
Behaviorism
Bioenergetics
Bowen Family Therapy
Buddhist Psychology
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Contextual Family Therapy
Ego Psychology
Erik Erickson
Existentialism
Freudian
Gestalt
Imago Therapy
Internal Family Systems

Jungian Analysis
Karen Horney
Kleinan
Milton Erickson
Montessori
Neurolinguistic Programming
Object Relations Theory
Personal Construct Theory
Reality Therapy
Reichian Therapy
Rogers’ Person Centered Therapy
Somatic Experiencing®
Strategic Family Therapy
Structural Family Therapy
Transactional Analysis

Additional Related Field requests. You may request that an additional related field be added by sending your request, along with supporting information, to the Board. Contact us for submission information. Your request should demonstrate that a proposed related field contains the following:

a) A philosophy;
b) A theory of personality;
c) A theory of human development;
d) A body of knowledge;
e) Intervention techniques; and a
f) Research Base.

A two to three page document addressing the six criteria should begin with an introductory section that outlines the history and brief description of the field. Then provide an explanation of how this related fields meets each criterion and supportive references. For the research section, provide references to published articles in peer-reviewed journals that establish that this related field does have a research base.

The Board meets twice yearly (January and September) and will act upon your request at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. You must receive written approval of your request to add a related field prior to writing the exam. Any essay on a related field not included on the list below or for which you have not received written approval prior to taking the written examination will be rated as “fail.”

Please note
a) An individual’s invention of a new psychodramatic technique is not a related field.
b) Sociodrama is not a related field. Sociodrama is within the same field as psychodrama.
c) Populations of clients are not a related field of study (i.e. sex addicts, alcoholics, etc.).
d) A Discipline (i.e. Social Work, Art Therapy, etc.) is not a related field.
e) An entire domain (i.e. Education, Theater, Familly Therapy, Systems, Organizational Development, etc.) is not a related field, but rather, it encompasses several related fields.

Terms, Competencies, and Resources

The terms and competencies provided below are not comprehensive listings of the knowledge needed to pass the certification exam. They provide a good foundation of theory, research and practice in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy. A glossary is available here. Be prepared to define and discuss them.

Sample Terms

Psychodrama

act hunger
action insight
aside
auto tele
autodrama
auxiliary
axiodrama
catharsis
catharsis-abreaction
catharsis-integration
central concern model
classical double
closure sharing
cluster warm-up
co-creation
cognitive double
concretize
containing double
counter transference
creative neutrality

creativity
cultural conserve
director
director-directed warm-up
double
empathic double
empty chair
encounter
first universe
future projection
godhead
group double
Hollander Curve
hypnodrama
matrix of identity
mirror
model group
open tension system
opposite role

physical starters
protagonist
psychodramatic role
psychodramatic shock
role playing
role reversal
role reversal with God
role training
social atom
sociatry
sociodrama
soliloquy
spontaneity
stage
status nascendi
surplus reality
warm-up

Role Theory

psychodramatic role
role chart
role conflict
role consensus
role creating
role crisis
role demand

role diagram
role repertoire
role fatigue
role institutionalization
role lock
role playing
role reciprocity

social role
somatic role
role stealing
role stripping
role taking
role tension
role transition

Sociometry

aristo-tele
auto-tele
consciousness
cleavage
creative neutrality
co-action
diamond of opposites
dyad
encounter
isolate
isolated pair
locogram
mutual choice

negative choice
non-reciprocal choice
norms/values
positive star
psyche-tele
reciprocal choice
rejection star
social atom
sociometric
sociodynamic effect
sociogenetic evolution
sociogram
sociometric chain

sociometric consciousness
socio-tele
spectrogram
star
star of incongruity
star of rejection
step-in sociometry
systems theory
tele
transference
triad
world sociometry

Competencies

In addition to the following Competencies, be sure to review Written Exam Questions from the previous five years and be able to answer those questions. Show ability to design a training module using action that TEACHES:

HISTORY

  • Moreno’s contributions to: influencing the development of psychodrama, sociometry & group psychotherapy.
  • Moreno’s contributions to: working with marginalized populations and disenfranchised communities.
  • Contributions and innovations to psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy since J.L. Moreno’s death.
  • How to trace the historical development of psychodrama.
  • Moreno’s historical contributions that shape the practice of psychodrama.
  • Contributions of Zerka T. Moreno.
  • J. L. Moreno’s books and the historical significance of his work.

SOCIOMETRY

  • How to identify the following issues in group dynamics and which sociometric tools to use to address them; including rationale for making different interventions.
    • Tele/transference
    • Sociodynamic Effect
    • Stagnant sociometry
    • Cliques and subgroups
    • Integrating newcomers
    • Conflict
    • Closure
    • How and why the following sociometric tools are used to improve sociometry (list is not exhaustive):
    • Spectrograms
    • Locograms
    • Dyads
    • Step-In Sociometry (Circle of Sociometry)
    • Sociogram
  • How to attend to sociometry during different stages of group development.
    • Beginning, middle & end phases of a group
    • A group across time or during one session
  • Four ways to choose a protagonist and the pros and cons of each. (volunteer, director choice, sociometric choice, pre-defined choice)
  • How effective use of sociometry ties to current trauma-informed findings*.

Please review the additional competencies guide here.

Resources

The American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama provides links to resources as well as purchase information for pertinent books (including the student edition of J.L. Moreno’s Who Shall Survive? and René Marineau’s biography of J.L. Moreno). Electronic and printed versions of books by J.L. Moreno, including volumes co-authoried with Zerka Moreno are available here. Additionally, there are many manuscripts by Moreno available on a wide range of topics. Other authors and editors, especially Zerka T. Moreno, have translated and disseminated Moreno’s original teachings. Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama, International Journal of Sociometry and Sociatry, Sociometry, Sociatry – published much of Moreno’s work over the years.

The Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy publishes current work in psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy. The International Journal of Action Methods and The British Journal of Psychodrama have published numerous contributions since Moreno.

Bibliography of Psychodrama©

An on-line comprehensive and definitive bibliography of psychodrama incorporating materials from inception through 2015 is searchable by author, key word, date and citation. Since 2015, it has been continued here. James M. Sacks compiled this bibliography until 2009, followed by Michael Wieser. Contributions were also made by Valerie Greer, Jeanine Gendron, Marie-Therese Bilaniuk, and Sabine Tillian. The Australia and Aoteraoa New Zealand Psychodrama Association (AANZPA) offers access to reprints of almost 200 psychodrama papers including more than 50 papers published by J.L. and/or Zerka Moreno.

Seminal works of J. L. Moreno

It is expected that all applicants will be thoroughly acquainted with the works of J. L. Moreno, M.D. (1889-1974) founder of psychodrama and sociometry and pioneer of group psychotherapy. His major works are available from either of the following:

Moreno, J. L. (1941). The Psychodrama of God: A New Hypothesis of the Self. (Also called The Words of the Father). Beacon, NY: Beacon House.

Moreno, J. L. (1946). Psychodrama: Volume One. Beacon, NY: Beacon House.

Moreno, J. L. (1947). Theatre of Spontaneity: An Introduction to Psychodrama. Beacon, NY: Beacon House.

Moreno, J. L. (1951). Sociometry: Experimental Method and the Science of Sociometry. Beacon, NY: Beacon House.

Moreno, J. L. (Ed.). (1956). Sociometry and the Science of Man. Beacon, NY: Beacon House.

Moreno, J. L. (1978). Who Shall Survive? (3rd Edition). Beacon, NY: Beacon House.

Moreno, J. L., & Moreno, Z. T. (1959). Psychodrama: Volume Two. Beacon, NY: Beacon House.

Moreno, J. L., & Moreno, Z. T. (1969). Psychodrama: Volume Three. Beacon, NY: Beacon House.

Written Exam Tips

Almost all candidates pass the written exam each year; many years no one fails. Three main reasons for failure are: a lack of studying; a lack of role training (i.e. writing time-limited practice exams); and high test anxiety. Working with their Primary Trainer to develop a study plan and to form a study group has helped candidates feel more confident and has shown to make the examination process less daunting.

Preparation

  1. Understand the exam taking procedures.Review the instructions for and for submitting a final printed version at least a month before the date of the exam and be sure you are prepared with a working computer, stable internet connection, and pre-formatted documents for Part A and Part B of the exam.
  2. Study for the examination. Go over the old examinations, especially those from the past five years. Could you pass the examination today without further studying? If not, refer to the suggested bibliography and sample terms and competencies.
  3. Review the evaluation of the last year’s examination results. An article on “Written Examination Evaluation” appears in each May Newsletter.
  4. Study Group. The Board strongly encourages you to join a study group to practice, prepare and role train for the written examination. You may form a study group of your peers in training or arrange with your primary trainer or other trainer to join an existing study group.
  5. Develop your writing skills. If you have poor writing skills think about taking a course or receiving assistance in helping you to write. Most psychodrama training centers teach through action. The written examination may be unfamiliar territory. Practice writing answers to essay questions. The primary trainer and/or secondary trainer should review these essays.
  6. Do some role training. Simulate the experience of taking the examination. Either use old questions or ask peers or trainers to develop some mock questions for you. Answer the questions in the same time frame. Remember that when taking the exam you may not open any other documents or copy from any other document. Give your answers to your primary and/or secondary trainer to review.

On Exam Day

  1. Reduce stress. Get a good night’s rest. Eat breakfast. Plan to have a nice lunch during the break. Plan to go out with some folks after the examination to provide support and closure. Remember to breathe, breathe, breathe.
  2. Read the questions carefully. Take a minute to think about what you want to say and organize your thoughts. Write a brief introductory paragraph, present the body of your answer and write a closing paragraph summarizing your thoughts on the question.
  3. Follow the suggested time limits for each question. You must answer all the sections. Also remember that the sections on Sociometry and Methodology are doubly weighted. One of the most frequent reasons for failing the exam is because the candidate failed to give adequate time to all areas of the exam.
  4. Be sure you have answered the question. Especially under time constraints it is easy to go off on a tangent trying to explain everything we know, which can result in an essay with lots of good information that does not sufficiently answer the question asked.
  5. Be sure that the terms you use are generally accepted terms.

Scoring Process

SCORING PROCESS

All exams are evaluated without any of the exam reviewers or the Board of Directors knowing the identify of the person writing the exam. Exams are identified by code number only during the evaluation process. The Board of Directors learns the identity of each candidate only after all decisions have been made about the pass/fail of all the examinations. The Executive Director does not evaluate or comment on any individual examinations or the contents thereof. The Executive Director may remind the Board of Directors of existing policies regarding the evaluation of the written examinations.

Five reviewers (all TEPs) read and score each TEP exam in its entirety. At least three of the five reviewers need to agree that an exam rates as Excellent, High Pass or Pass to be rated as a pass. When a high number of TEP exams are taken, there may be more than five reviewers.

Each reviewer scores each individual question as Excellent, High Pass, Pass, Borderline, or Fail. Sections on Methodology and Sociometry are double-weighted. There are nine sections to the exam – 1/9th or one each for History, Philosophy, Ethics, Research/Evaluation and Related Fields and 2/9th for Methodology and Sociometry.

For an exam to be considered a fail, 3 of 9 sections of the exam must be rated as borderline or fail (e.g., one double-weighted section and one other section or three single weighed sections). If three or more reviewers rate a TEP exam as Borderline or Fail, Board Directors who are TEPs and who did not participate in the initial review are convened as a Review Committee to make the final decision of pass or fail for such exams.

The Board does not provide feedback to individuals who pass the written examination. Reviewers are not asked to provide written feedback about essays they evaluate as pass.

The Board does provide written feedback to individuals who fail the written examination. This feedback consists of reviewer comments on any question for which the essay was scored as borderline or fail. Written feedback is generally provided sixty to ninety days after written notification of the examination failure.

Re-Taking Written Exam

If a candidate fails the written examination, the candidate may take the examination again. There is an administrative fee for retaking the written examination. Candidates may take the written examination up to three times within a five-year period. If the candidate does not pass on the third try, the candidate’s application is terminated.

The Board charges a continuous registration fee to maintain records on persons who have not completed the certification process. The continuous registration fee is equal to the annual renewal fee.

Candidates must successfully complete both the written examination and the onsite observation within five years of admission to the certification process.