Can I Get a Copy of My Psychological Testing Report? Your Records Rights and What's Actually in the File
Last reviewed: 09/30/2026
Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly
You finished your evaluation weeks ago. You sat through the feedback session, nodded along, and left with a sense of what was found. Now a new psychiatrist wants to see the report, or your child's school is asking for it, or you simply want to reread it on your own time. And you realize you are not sure whether you are allowed to have it, what exactly "it" is, or how to ask without it feeling awkward.
The short version is reassuring. In most cases you can get a copy of your psychological testing report, and federal and Tennessee law both set rules about how and when. What surprises people is that "the file" is not one thing. It contains your report, your test data, and the tests themselves, and each is handled differently. If you are still deciding on an evaluation, our overview of psychological assessments explains what the process involves.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and a lawyer is the right person for a specific legal question.
In this article, you'll learn:
What a psychological testing file actually contains
Which parts you can usually get, and which are protected
What HIPAA and Tennessee law say about timelines and fees
When a psychologist can say no, and what you can do about it
How to send your report to a school, employer, or another clinician
The short answer: yes, and here is what "the file" actually contains
A psychological testing file usually has three layers. The report is the written summary of what was assessed, what was found, the diagnosis if there is one, and the recommendations. The test data are the raw testing record: your scores as recorded, your answers to the test questions, and the examiner's notes. Reports often summarize key scores, but the two are not the same thing. The test materials are the tests themselves: the manuals, the question booklets, and the stimuli you responded to.
Federal law gives you a right to inspect and get a copy of the health information a provider keeps about you, with a small number of exceptions [1]. The report is almost always something you can have. Test data are usually released through a slightly different route, your signed release; whether HIPAA's right of access itself reaches test data is a legal question no source we read answers directly. The test materials are the part you generally cannot take home.
If you are gathering records in the other direction, for an adult ADHD or autism evaluation that asks about your childhood, that is a different question. Our guide on evaluations without childhood records covers it.
Three misconceptions worth clearing up first
"The report belongs to the psychologist, so it is up to them whether I see it." In reality, HIPAA gives you a right of access to the health information a covered provider keeps about you [1]. A provider can ask you to make the request in writing, as long as it tells you that is required [1]. It cannot make you explain why you want it [4].
"They can keep it from me if they think I will misunderstand it or be upset." Not under HIPAA. HHS guidance says that general concerns about psychological or emotional harm are not enough to deny access, and it names "concerns that the individual will not be able to understand the information or may be upset by it" as examples [4].
"If I still owe money for the evaluation, they can hold my records." HHS states plainly that a provider cannot deny you a copy of your records because you have not paid for the services you received [6]. A provider can charge for the copy itself, within limits, and Tennessee allows it to ask for those copying costs up front [6][8]. Those are two different things.
🗂️ Key takeaway: Your file has three layers, the report, the test data, and the test materials, and the rules for each are different. The report is the part you can almost always have.
What is in a psychological testing record
The written report and feedback summary
The report is where your evaluator turns scores, interviews, and history into conclusions. It usually includes the reason for the evaluation, the tests used, the results, a diagnostic impression, and recommendations for treatment, school, or work. A result from an online screener, like the ones in our mental health screening library, is a different thing: a starting point, not an evaluation report.
The APA Ethics Code, whose ethical standards Tennessee's psychology board has adopted where they do not conflict with state law or board rules, asks psychologists to take reasonable steps to make sure the results are explained to the person assessed [11][10]. The exceptions are settings where that has been made clear in advance, such as some pre-employment screenings and forensic evaluations [11]. That explanation is often a feedback session. In a survey of 184 US neuropsychologists published in 2023, nearly all said they give verbal feedback, typically in a session of about 45 minutes, and most said they also give written feedback to the patient and the referring provider, most commonly through the written report within three weeks after testing [16]. That is what clinicians report doing, not a rule, and timing varies by practice. A recent review describes feedback as a way to help patients understand their results and follow through on recommendations [19].
One more distinction matters here. The report and your diagnostic summary are not "psychotherapy notes." The HIPAA definition of psychotherapy notes expressly excludes the results of clinical tests and summaries of diagnosis, symptoms, and functional status [2]. Tennessee's psychology board rule likewise lists results of clinical tests and diagnostic summaries as part of the patient record [9].
Test data: scores and your responses (APA 9.04)
The APA Ethics Code defines test data as "raw and scaled scores, client/patient responses to test questions or stimuli," and the psychologist's notes about what you said and did during testing [11]. Under Standard 9.04, once you sign a release, psychologists provide test data to you or to the people you name [11]. They may hold data back to protect you or others from substantial harm, or to prevent misuse or misrepresentation of the data or the test, recognizing that the law often regulates this [11].
When the current code took effect, the APA's ethics director described the change this way: the older code presumed test data would be withheld unless conditions were met, and the newer code presumes release unless an exception applies [12]. He also noted that a filled-in answer sheet counts as test data, even when it has test questions printed on it [12].
Here is where it gets less tidy. Tennessee's psychology board rule lists test data and test materials as "not included in patient records" [9]. The same board has adopted the APA's ethical standards, including 9.04, to the extent they do not conflict with state law or board rules, and says state law and rules govern where they do conflict [10]. Whether excluding test data from the patient record conflicts with 9.04 for a patient's own request is not something any rule we found answers directly. In practice, that means the clearest path is to ask the practice directly how it handles raw-data requests, and whether it prefers to send test data to another qualified professional you name.
Test materials: the protected questions and stimuli (APA 9.11)
Test materials are the "manuals, instruments, protocols, and test questions or stimuli" [11]. Standard 9.11 asks psychologists to keep them secure, consistent with law and with their contractual obligations [11]. Tennessee's board rule also places them outside the patient record [9].
The reason is practical, not secretive. A 2025 position paper from neuropsychology organizations argued that test security, if properly enforced, can protect the validity of present and future assessments, and that poor management of it undermines them [17]. That paper was written about legal cases, but its concern is the same one behind Standard 9.11: keeping tests valid for the people who take them next.
🔒 Key takeaway: Test data (the raw record of your answers and scores) are usually releasable with your signed release. Test materials (the questions themselves) are protected so the tests stay valid.
Your rights under HIPAA and Tennessee law
The federal right of access: timeline, format, fees
Under HIPAA, a provider must act on your request no later than 30 calendar days after receiving it [3]. If it cannot, it may take one extension of up to 30 more days, as long as it tells you in writing, within the first 30 days, why and when you can expect the records [3][1]. HHS calls these "outer limits" and expects many providers to respond well before them [3].
You can ask for the format you want. If the practice can readily produce that format, it must provide it that way [1]. If your records are kept electronically and you ask for an electronic copy, you get an electronic copy, in a format you both agree on if your first choice is not available [1]. The practice can offer a summary instead of the full record only if you agree to that in advance [1].
For fees, HIPAA allows a reasonable, cost-based charge that covers only copying labor, supplies, and postage, plus a summary if you asked for one [1]. A provider cannot charge you for searching for or retrieving your records [6]. You may have seen a $6.50 figure. HHS describes that as an optional flat fee for electronic copies of electronic records, and says explicitly that it is not the maximum [5]. A provider that charges its actual costs must tell you the approximate fee in advance [5].
What Tennessee law adds
Tennessee's medical-records statute covers providers licensed under Title 63 of the Tennessee Code, and the state psychology board says its own records rules should be read together with it [7][9]. The statute requires a copy of your records within 10 working days of receiving your written request [7]. A provider may give you a summary, but the statute says a summary does not replace your right to the full record [7]. When a provider does not comply, the statute provides for notice to its licensing board and possible discipline [7].
Tennessee also caps copying charges. For your own electronic records, the statute defers to HIPAA's cost-based limits, and it lets a provider ask for copying costs before handing the records over [8]. The board's rule adds a retention period for the patient record: at least seven years from the last clinical contact, and longer for minors [9]. Because the same rule defines raw test data as outside the patient record, ask sooner rather than later if you may want it.
The two laws count time differently. HIPAA counts 30 calendar days from your request, and Tennessee counts 10 working days from a written one [3][7]. If timing matters to you, put your request in writing and ask which timeline the practice works to.
What a psychologist may withhold, and why
The main grounds are narrow:
Psychotherapy notes. These are a therapist's separately kept notes documenting or analyzing what was said in counseling sessions. HIPAA excludes them from the right of access [1]. By definition they do not include your test results or diagnosis summary [2].
Danger to life or safety. For your own request, a licensed professional may deny access if, using professional judgment, they find it "reasonably likely to endanger the life or physical safety" of you or another person [1]. HHS expects this to apply in extremely rare circumstances [4].
Other specific situations. The regulation also allows a denial when a parent or other personal representative is asking and a professional finds access reasonably likely to cause substantial harm, or when the records refer to another person and access is reasonably likely to cause that person substantial harm [1]. Information compiled in anticipation of, or for use in, a legal proceeding is also excluded [1].
Test materials are a separate matter. They are protected by the ethics code's test-security standard, not by these HIPAA grounds [11].
A denial must be in writing, in plain language, and must explain the reason, your review rights if the denial is reviewable, and how to file a complaint [1]. A denial based on harm can be reviewed by another licensed professional who was not involved in the decision [1][4]. The practice must still give you, as far as it can, everything else you asked for [4]. And if you think something in your report is wrong, you can ask for it to be corrected; if the practice disagrees, you can submit a statement of disagreement [6].
⚖️ Key takeaway: Worry that you might misunderstand or be upset by your report is not a legal reason to withhold it. A denial is limited to specific grounds, must be in writing, and can be reviewed when it is based on harm.
How to request your records from ScienceWorks
The simplest request is a short written note to the practice. Say what you want and how you want it. That usually means answering four questions:
What? The report only, your full record, or your test data as well.
In what format? A PDF by secure email, a paper copy, or another format.
For whom? You, or someone you want it sent to.
By when? Mention a deadline if you have one, such as a school meeting or an appointment.
You do not need to give a reason [4]. When you write to us, we will explain our fees and timing for your request in writing if you ask. If you want your test data, tell us who should receive it, and we will walk you through the release.
Here is how that can look in practice. You were evaluated for ADHD last spring, and your new psychiatrist wants to see the report before your first visit. You send a two-line written request asking for a PDF of your report to be emailed to you, and a second request authorizing a copy to go directly to the psychiatrist's office. You keep a copy of both requests and note the date. When the report arrives, you save it somewhere you will find it again, because you may need it for a workplace or school accommodation years from now.
Or: you are the parent of a teenager who was assessed, and the school has scheduled a support meeting in three weeks. You ask for the report in writing, mention the meeting date, and ask whether the evaluator can include a short summary of the recommendations that apply at school. You read the report yourself first. Some reports include history that you would rather discuss with the school in person than hand over, and it is your call what you share. Rules for a minor's records can differ, especially for older teens, so if you are not sure whether you can request the report yourself, ask the practice.
If you have not booked an evaluation yet, a few questions before you start will save you trouble later:
Will I receive a written report, and is a feedback session included in the fee?
About how long after testing will the report be ready?
What does the report include: scores, diagnosis, and specific recommendations?
How do you handle requests for test data, and to whom do you release it?
If I need the report sent to a school, employer, or testing agency, how do I authorize that?
If you are an adult weighing an ADHD evaluation, our walkthrough of what to expect from the timeline and report goes into more detail.
📝 Key takeaway: A short written request that says what, in what format, for whom, and by when is usually all it takes. You do not have to explain why.
Sharing your report with a school, employer, testing board or another clinician
There are two routes. You can get your own copy and pass it on yourself, or you can authorize the practice to send it directly.
A direct disclosure usually requires your signed authorization. Under HIPAA, that form must describe what will be shared, who will send it, who will receive it, and the purpose, and it must have an expiration date or event and your signature [13]. You can revoke it in writing [13]. The form must also warn you that once the information is disclosed, the recipient may share it further and it may no longer be protected by HIPAA [13]. HIPAA's right of access also lets you direct a provider to send an electronic copy of your electronic health record to someone you name. A 2020 federal court ruling limited that option to electronic copies, and HIPAA's fee limits do not apply to those transfers [15].
Before you share, think about the audience. Your employer is generally not bound by HIPAA, and HHS notes that the Privacy Rule does not protect employment records, even health-related ones [14]. If your employer contacts your provider directly, your provider cannot hand over information without your authorization unless another law requires it [14]. Our post on ADHD testing for working professionals walks through what an employer can and cannot see.
Ask each recipient exactly what they require before you send anything. For a school or a new clinician, a shorter letter from your evaluator may sometimes be enough. A testing agency or disability office usually has its own documentation requirements, so check those first rather than assuming a letter will do.
A quick way to decide what to send:
Someone needs to know your diagnosis and recommendations (a school or a new therapist): send the report, or a letter if that is all they require.
A testing agency or disability office: check its documentation requirements first, since some ask for the full report.
Another psychologist needs your scores for a second opinion or a re-evaluation: authorize release of your test data directly to them.
Someone asks for the test questions themselves: that is not something a psychologist will usually release, and the reasons above explain why.
If the report points to next steps, such as therapy or coaching, our specialized therapy team can help you act on its recommendations.
🧭 Key takeaway: Share the smallest piece that meets the need. Once your report goes to an employer, school, or testing agency, HIPAA may no longer protect it.
Reading your own report
It can feel strange to read a document about yourself written in clinical language. People who read their mental health clinicians' notes have reported understanding and remembering more, and feeling more involved in their care. A minority reported worry, or feeling judged by the wording [18]. That research was about therapy notes, not testing reports, but the practical lesson carries over: if a phrase stings or confuses you, ask about it. If you were evaluated here, our clinicians can walk you through any part of your report.
Next step - questions about your evaluation
Your report is meant to be used: to explain what has been hard, to guide treatment, and to support the accommodations you need. If you are not sure what to request, who should receive it, or what a section of your report means, you do not have to work it out alone.
If you are considering an evaluation, or want help making sense of one you have had, you are welcome to contact us to talk about fit, process, and next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a psychological evaluation report?
It depends on the practice and the evaluation, so ask at intake. In a survey of 184 US neuropsychologists published in 2023, most said they give written feedback to the patient, most commonly through the written report within three weeks after testing. That is a survey of what clinicians report doing, not a legal deadline. The legal deadlines in this article apply once you request a copy of records the practice already has; no law we cite sets how long a report takes to write.
Can I get the raw data from my psychological testing?
In many cases, yes, but it works differently from your report. Test data is the raw testing record: your scores as recorded, your answers, and the examiner's notes. Under the APA Ethics Code, psychologists provide it to you or someone you name once you sign a release, and may hold it back to prevent substantial harm or misuse. Tennessee's psychology board rule lists test data as outside the patient record, so ask the practice how it handles raw-data requests.
Can a psychologist refuse to give me my records?
Only on specific grounds. Under HIPAA, worry that you might misunderstand the report or be upset by it is not enough to deny access. The grounds include a professional finding that access is reasonably likely to endanger someone's life or physical safety, or to cause substantial harm when a parent or other representative is asking. A denial must be in writing, and denials based on harm can be reviewed. Psychotherapy notes and records compiled for a legal case are handled differently.
Do I have to pay for a copy of my psychological evaluation?
You may be charged, but only within limits. HIPAA allows a reasonable, cost-based fee that covers copying labor, supplies, and postage, and it does not allow a charge for searching for or retrieving your records. A provider also cannot refuse to give you a copy because you still owe for the evaluation itself, though Tennessee lets a provider ask you to pay the copying charge before it releases the copy. Ask for the fee in advance; we will explain ours in writing if you ask.
How long does a psychologist keep my records in Tennessee?
At least seven years from your last clinical contact, under the Tennessee psychology board's patient-records rule, and longer for someone who was a minor. That rule covers the patient record, which includes test results and diagnostic summaries. The same rule defines raw test data as outside the patient record, so if you may want your raw data later, ask sooner. If you might need your report years from now, keep your own copy.
About ScienceWorks
ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare was founded by Dr. Kiesa Kelly, a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in psychological assessment and evidence-based treatment. Our clinical team conducts evaluations for adults and adolescents, including for ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, and insomnia, and provides the feedback and follow-up support that turn a report into a plan.
We operate a telehealth-forward model serving Tennessee, with an in-person option at our Nashville office. Every patient-facing article on this site is reviewed by a licensed clinician for accuracy before it is published.
References
1. Code of Federal Regulations. 45 CFR 164.524, Access of individuals to protected health information. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations; current as of 2026 Sep 25. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-C/part-164/subpart-E/section-164.524
2. Code of Federal Regulations. 45 CFR 164.501, Definitions (psychotherapy notes; designated record set). Electronic Code of Federal Regulations; current as of 2026 Sep 25. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-C/part-164/subpart-E/section-164.501
3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. How timely must a covered entity be in responding to individuals' requests for access to their PHI? HIPAA FAQ. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/how-timely-must-a-covered-entity-be/index.html
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Under what circumstances may a covered entity deny an individual's request for access to the individual's PHI? HIPAA FAQ. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/under-what-circumstances-may-a-covered-entity/index.html
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Is $6.50 the maximum amount that can be charged to provide individuals with a copy of their PHI? HIPAA FAQ. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/is-650-the-maximum-amount-that-can-be-charged/index.html
6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Your medical records. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/medical-records/index.html
7. Tennessee Code Annotated § 63-2-101. Release of medical records; definitions. 2025 Tennessee Code (Justia). https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-63/chapter-2/section-63-2-101/
8. Tennessee Code Annotated § 63-2-102. Costs of reproduction, copying or mailing of records. 2025 Tennessee Code (Justia). https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-63/chapter-2/section-63-2-102/
9. Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1180-01-.06, Patient records. Legal Information Institute. https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/tennessee/Tenn-Comp-R-Regs-1180-01-.06
10. Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1180-01-.09, Professional ethics. Legal Information Institute. https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/tennessee/Tenn-Comp-R-Regs-1180-01-.09
11. American Psychological Association. Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct (2002, amended effective June 1, 2010, and January 1, 2017). Standards 9.04, 9.10, and 9.11. https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
12. Behnke S. Release of test data and APA's new Ethics Code. Monitor on Psychology. 2003;34(7):70. https://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug03/ethics
13. Code of Federal Regulations. 45 CFR 164.508, Uses and disclosures for which an authorization is required. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-C/part-164/subpart-E/section-164.508
14. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Employers and health information in the workplace. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/employers-health-information-workplace/index.html
15. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Important notice regarding individuals' right of access to health records. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/court-order-right-of-access/index.html
16. Varela JL, Sperling SA, Block C, O'Leary K, Hart ES, Kiselica AM. A survey of neuropsychological assessment feedback practices among neuropsychologists. Clin Neuropsychol. 2024;38(3):529-556. https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2023.2233738
17. Boone KB, Sweet JJ, Beattey RA Jr, Kaufmann PM, Hebben N, Marreiro C, et al. Release of protected test information under protective order: viable solution or illusory safeguard? An interorganizational position paper. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2025;40(4):723-733. https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acae101
18. Monaci M, Javaher S, Barello S. Open notes in mental health: a scoping review of stakeholder experiences and implications for clinical practice. Healthcare (Basel). 2025;13(21):2777. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13212777
19. Armstrong K, Lanca M, Sheer JB, Kovacs K. Neuropsychological feedback as a therapeutic intervention: the effective communication of assessment results to maximize patient outcome. Neurol Clin. 2024;42(4):919-930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ncl.2024.05.003
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for professional legal, medical, or mental health advice. Records laws and regulations change, and how they apply depends on your situation; for a specific legal question, consult a licensed attorney. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.