Can a continuing education course approved by a specific organization be counted toward licensure renewal?

The assertion that a continuing education course must be APA approved for licensure renewal is not accurate in the context of Pennsylvania law. While APA (American Psychological Association) approved courses are widely recognized and beneficial, Pennsylvania does not mandate that all continuing education requirements must strictly be from APA sources.

In Pennsylvania, the primary criterion for counting continuing education courses toward licensure renewal is that they must be recognized and approved by the State Board of Psychology. This means that if a course is sanctioned by another reputable organization that the State Board recognizes, it can indeed fulfill the continuing education requirements.

Continuing education serves to ensure that licensed psychologists stay current with developments in their field, including best practices and ethical considerations. Understanding this allows practitioners to select courses from a broader range of organizations, provided those organizations are recognized by the State Board, thereby giving them flexibility in their professional development options.

This highlights the importance of verifying whether a specific continuing education course is approved by the State Board rather than assuming that only APA approved courses are eligible for licensure renewal.