District of Columbia Psychologists CE Requirements, Accreditations & Approvals
District Of Columbia Psychologists
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided
through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association
(APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA
CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
The District of Columbia Department of Health Board of Psychology accepts courses from any provider who is approved by the American Psychological Association.
Continuing Education Requirement
Psychologists and Psychology Associates are required 30 hours every two years, 15 of which may be completed by home study. Three of the 30 hours must be in ethics or risk liability, 3 hours in cultural competence, and 2 hours must be in cultural competency focusing on patients who identify as LGBTQ.
All licensees must complete 3 of the 30 hours required for renewal on topics
designated by the Director of the DOH as a public health priority.
Current
topics include:
- Responsible opioid prescribing and effective pain management;
- Nutrition and obesity prevention;
- Identifying and reporting abuse (child and adult), neglect (child and adult), human trafficking, and domestic violence;
- Sexual health (including sexual history, discussing sexual experiences, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, HPV vaccines, connections to cancer, latent tuberculosis, safe sex, and birth control);
- Ethics and appropriate patient interactions (including boundaries, patient privacy, and telehealth communication);
- Smoking, vaping, and tobacco (including dangers, smoking cessation, and non-smoke tobacco products);
- Preparing patients for an emergency and handling vulnerable populations in an emergency;
- Identifying impairment (physical or mental) in patients and providers (including complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act);
- Vaccinations (including legal requirements and appropriate exemptions); and
- Implicit bias, cultural competence, and Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in health care.
Effective August 11, 2021, the DC Department of Health now requires all licensees to complete 2 contact hours of continuing education on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and effectiveness on or before September 30, 2021.
For More Information
Please contact the Department of Health Board of Psychology at (877) 672-2174, or refer to http://doh.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/DC%20Board%20of%20Psychology%20Current%20Regulations%20%207-25-2014.pdf - Psychologist; or http://doh.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/Psychology_DC%20Municipal_Regulations_for_Psychology_Associate.pdf - Psychology Associate; for additional information regarding your continuing education.