This introductory text provides a broad overview of basic issues in psychological and educational assessment and includes coverage of the pertinent tests needed by professional counselors to conduct thorough and effective assessments. Chapter topics on basic concepts; ethical, legal, and diversity issues; reliability; validity, and test construction help familiarize students with the essentials of testing. Students learn how and when to use the correct assessment tools with diverse clients and settings through guidance on basic procedures such as test selection, and examples and applications relevant to a range of practices and clientele. In addition, the author and other contributors focus on the importance of counselor identity and the essentials of this complex field. The text is aligned with the assessment curriculum standards required by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Full chapters discuss the finer points that professional counselors need to understand when engaging in all forms of assessment. Current American Counseling Association ethical standards and positions statements from the ACA and other professional organizations appear throughout the text.