diff --git a/backend/app/services/assistant_chat_service.py b/backend/app/services/assistant_chat_service.py
index 184fd744..1e8a5e04 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/assistant_chat_service.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/assistant_chat_service.py
@@ -154,6 +154,23 @@ To create a fork, append this marker AFTER your [QUESTIONS]/[ACTIONS] markers:
 - If a question is clearly outside your domain, say so briefly and redirect.
 - Never fabricate error codes, KB article numbers, or CLI flags. If unsure, say so.
 
+## SPIN-OFF TICKET CREATION
+
+When you identify a second distinct issue that is clearly separate from the primary topic \
+of this session, suggest creating a spin-off ticket using the [ACTIONS] marker below. \
+Use this sparingly — only when the issue is genuinely independent, not for every tangential mention.
+
+Format:
+[ACTIONS]
+[
+  {
+    "label": "Create ticket: <brief issue title>",
+    "command": "create_spin_off_ticket",
+    "description": "<one sentence description of the separate issue>"
+  }
+]
+[/ACTIONS]
+
 ## FINAL REMINDER — THIS OVERRIDES EVERYTHING ABOVE
 Every single response MUST contain [QUESTIONS] and/or [ACTIONS] markers with valid JSON. \
 No exceptions. Not even when forking. A response without at least one of these markers \
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_psa_tickets.py b/backend/tests/test_psa_tickets.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ac551373
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_psa_tickets.py
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+# backend/tests/test_psa_tickets.py
+"""Routing and auth tests for new ticket management endpoints."""
+import pytest
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_create_ticket_requires_auth(client):
+    """POST /tickets returns 401 without auth."""
+    response = await client.post(
+        "/api/v1/integrations/psa/tickets",
+        json={
+            "summary": "Test", "company_id": 1, "board_id": 1,
+            "status_id": 1, "priority_id": 1
+        },
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 401
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_list_resources_requires_auth(client):
+    response = await client.get("/api/v1/integrations/psa/tickets/1/resources")
+    assert response.status_code == 401
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_search_tickets_returns_paginated_shape(client, auth_headers):
+    """search endpoint returns TicketListResponse shape when no PSA connected."""
+    response = await client.get(
+        "/api/v1/integrations/psa/tickets/search",
+        headers=auth_headers,
+    )
+    # No PSA connection → 400 or 502; with PSA → 200
+    assert response.status_code in (200, 400, 502)
+    if response.status_code == 200:
+        data = response.json()
+        assert "items" in data
+        assert "total" in data
+        assert "page" in data
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_update_status_requires_auth(client):
+    response = await client.patch(
+        "/api/v1/integrations/psa/tickets/1/status?status_id=5"
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 401
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_ai_parse_requires_auth(client):
+    response = await client.post(
+        "/api/v1/integrations/psa/tickets/ai-parse",
+        json={"prompt": "New ticket for Acme"},
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 401