The American Psychological Association (APA) describes Continuing Professional Education (CPE) in psychology as an ongoing process consisting of formal learning activities that are relevant to psychological practice, education, and science, and that also enable psychology professionals to keep pace with the most current scientific evidence regarding assessment, intervention and education as well as important legal, statutory or regulatory issues, and that also allow psychology professionals to maintain, develop, and increase competencies in order to improve services to the public and enhance contributions to the profession.

1. (1) Programs offered by agencies which have been approved to provide continuing education activities by the APA qualify for continuing education credit, including, but not limited to home, independent, distance, book-based, or online study programs approved by the APA.

2. (2) Programs, other than home, independent, distance, book-based, or online study programs, will be accepted for credit if, in the opinion of the Board, the topic of the program clearly reflects the interface with the professional or scientific applications of psychology and provide the equivalent of APA-defined credit. Typically, such programs are offered or sponsored by other professional organizations, which are directly related to the practice of psychology (e.g., AMA, NASW, NIMH) and provide formal documentation of continuing education activity. The applicant will provide to the Board documentation that the program met all of the following criteria:

   1. (i) A clear statement of the relevance of the program to the science or profession of psychology.
   2. (ii) Objectives of the program are clearly and specifically stated.
   3. (iii) Programs are publicized in brochures which identify faculty and describe the educational objectives.
   4. (iv) Course leaders, teachers, or faculty are professionally qualified people who have demonstrated their ability, either by advanced degrees or publications in professional journals.
   5. (v) Provision of a certificate of continuing education that supports participation in the activity for the hours indicated.
3. (3) It is the responsibility of the licensee to provide adequate documentation that the educational activity qualifies for credit according to the criteria above.
4. (4) Credit may be given for up to six hours per annual renewal cycle for being the presenter at continuing education activities/programs provided that all of the requirements of 750-X-3A-.05 are met.

Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology; Lori H. Rall

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-26-1, et seq.

History: Filed April 5, 1990. Amended: Filed October 5, 1990; June 4, 1992. Amended: Filed November 25, 1997; effective December 30, 1997. Amended: Filed September 17, 2002; effective October 22, 2002. Amended: Filed August 27, 2003; effective October 1, 2003. Amended: Filed January 20, 2006; effective February 24, 2006. Amended: Filed May 16, 2007; effective June 20, 2007. Amended: Published December 30, 2021; effective February 13, 2022.