APA Continuing Education – Earn Credits and Improve Your Skills

Some professions require you to keep learning throughout your career. As a psychologist, you will need to earn APA continuing education credits in order to maintain your certification. While these requirements vary by state, they must be completed according to the specifications that the individual state requires. There are several ways that these credits can be earned.

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to work on your APA continuing education credits is through independent study. DVD and book based studies are available. You will need to see if your state approves of credits earned via independent study, and if they do, you can work on your credits at your own pace. To find appropriate courses and studies, you will need to work through an approved sponsor. Approved sponsors adhere to the requirements set forth by the American Psychological Association and provide quality courses in a timely, efficient manner. Sponsors provide courses that are relevant to your particular field. Resist enrolling with an unapproved sponsor, as there is no guarantee that the credits will be accepted. Time and money spent on unapproved courses would be wasted.

Another easy way to earn APA continuing education credits is by attending workshops at approved conventions. After the convention, you can claim your credits online. At each convention there are numerous workshops that will provide valuable training and insight. While not as directly convenient as independent study, one benefit to a convention is that you can get much done in a very short amount of time. You will need to figure travel into your plans as well, but a few days away can be a nice break from the office. Be sure to keep receipts with your records, because costs incurred may be reimbursable or you might need to receipts during tax season.

You may be wondering why, after completing your degree, you still need to be completing courses towards your profession. Psychologists are not alone in this requirement, and in fact, many professions require such credits. It is not all for naught, however. Lifelong learners do not get “rusty” and as time goes by, a lot changes in the professional fields. As studies are completed and more information is available, you can increase your skills and ability to help people in need.

APA continuing education courses are sometimes reimbursed by employers. Other times, taking steps to improve your performance will increase your salary. However, even if there is no financial incentive or reward, you can be confident that you are at the top of your game because you are continuing to learn and grow in your field.