Decoding the Ethics Code, Ch. 5
CHAPTER 5 Standards on Competence 2. Competence 2.01 Boundaries of Competence (a) Psychologists provide services, teach, and conduct research with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience. Psychologists benefit those with whom they work and avoid harm through the application of knowledge and techniques gained through education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience in the field (Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence). Competence is the linchpin enabling psychologists to fulfill other ethical obligations required by the APA Ethics Code (APA, 2010c). Under Standard 2.01a, psychologists must refrain from providing services, teaching, or conducting research in areas in which they have not had the education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience recognized by the discipline as necessary to conduct their work competently.