Continuing Education for Psychologists- Know the Rules

 Continuing education for psychologists is important for everyone in the profession. Before you can take CE courses you must know what is required of you.

As a licensed psychologist you are required to obtain the proper education and training. You are also expected to pursue continuing education for psychologists to ensure that your skills are as current and as cutting edge as they could possibly be. Even if you did extremely well in school and have been granted your certification continuing education is still a must.

The requirements for continuing education for psychologists are in place to guarantee that all of those individuals who choose to study, train, and find employment in the behavioral sciences remain knowledgeable about advancements that are taking place. This could be advancements in technology, theory, or in regards to techniques used to treat patients.

Psychology CE is very versatile and can be pursued by way of workshops (found online and off), conferences, seminars, lectures in the classroom, video conferencing, independent learning opportunities, and the conventional means of grand rounds of a medical nature. You may decide to combine more than one method in order to accumulate the number of continuing education credits that are required of you.

All those who are licensed psychologists are expected to complete what amounts to a minimum of 36 hours of CE units every time that their license is up for renewal. To find out exactly what is expected of you it is best to get in touch with the American Board of Psychology.

The topics you can choose from will be varied and should be chosen based upon your area of specialization. The one requirement that you must adhere to when it comes to continuing education for psychologists is that all of the courses you take must receive the stamp of approval from the MCEPAA or else the approved sponsors of the American Psychological Association (APA) must offer them.

It is very important for all psychologists to take their continuing education needs seriously and to make them a priority. You must maintain your certification and this can only be done if you fulfill the requirements as stipulated by the board. The courses you take through MCEPAA must automatically be reported to the Board of Psychology. However there are other kinds of courses you may decide to take such as courses through independent learning avenues that you must visit the MCEPAA website in order to report that you have signed up for.

The MCEPAA will in turn help you in making sure that you satisfy all of the continuing education for psychologists requirements. They will track your credit hours and will make sure it all goes towards the total. If you have any questions then do not hesitate to get in touch with the MCEPAA to ask for clarification before you proceed forward with your CE work.

The 36 CE hours that all psychologists are required to receive in order to get their credits must be taken within a two year period that precedes the expiration of the license. Be aware that because you are given 24 months in which to complete your CE modules, extensions are not allowed. If you do not complete the requirements that the board expects of you to complete, then your license to practice in the field of psychology will not be renewed. 

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