Continuing Professional Development Information
As of January 1, 2024, licenses expiring thereafter must adhere to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to fulfill the 36-hour renewal requirement.
LAWS & ETHICS REQUIREMENT
Licensees must complete a minimum of 4 hours in the subject of laws and ethics as they apply to the practice of Psychology. This requirement can be met using any combination of CPD categories. The 4 hours are considered part of the 36-hour CPD requirement.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND/OR SOCIAL JUSTICE
Licensees must complete a minimum of 4 hours in the subject of Cultural Diversity/Social Justice as they apply to the practice of Psychology. Cultural Diversity pertains to differences in age, race, culture, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion/spirituality, and physical ability. Social Justice pertains to the historical, social, and political inequities in the treatment of people from non-dominant groups, while addressing the various injustices and different types of oppression that contribute to individual, family and community psychological concerns. This requirement can be met using any combination of CPD categories. The 4 hours are considered part of the 36-hour CPD requirement.
CPD ACTIVITIES
With the exception of 100% American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) Board Certification, a licensee shall accrue hours during each renewal period from at least two of the four CPD activity categories.
| CPD Activity | Maximum # of Hours Allowed Each Renewal Period | Hours Credited by Activity |
|---|---|---|
| CPD Learning Category #1 – Professional Activity | ||
| Peer Consultation
Including, but not limited to case consultation, reading or research groups. Licensees shall maintain a record of hours. The record shall include the following: date(s), type of activity, and total number of hours. |
1 hour minimum, if used 18 hours maximum |
1 hour of activity = 1 hour credited |
| Practice Outcome Monitoring
Assessing patient/client outcomes via protocol, including the use of repeated standardized outcome assessment protocols to assess patient/client outcomes. Licensees shall maintain a record of this activity as documentation of compliance. This record shall include the following: date(s) of monitoring, client identifier, and how outcomes were measured. |
9 hours maximum | 1 patient/client of practice outcome monitoring = 1 hour credited |
| Professional Services
Including, but not limited to, serving on psychological association boards or committees, editorial boards or peer-reviewed journals related to psychology, scientific grant review teams or board member of regulatory body, program development and/or activities in service of psychology, separate and apart from a fee-for-service arrangement. Licensees shall maintain a record of this activity as documentation of compliance. This record shall include the following: board or program name, role of licensee, dates of service, and term of service (six months or one year). |
4.5 hours minimum, if used 12 hours maximum |
1 year = 9 hours credited 6 months = 4.5 hours credited |
| Conference/Convention Attendance
Attendance at professional gatherings, either in person or via electronic means, that consists of multiple concurrent or sequential free-standing presentations related to the practice of psychology. Hours in this activity are in addition to hours provided at the conference or convention. Licensees shall maintain a record of this activity as documentation of compliance. This record shall include the following: name of conference/convention attended, proof of registration, and date(s) of conference/convention attended. |
6 hours maximum | 1 full convention day attendance = 1 hour credited |
| Examination Functions
Serving in any function related to examination development for the Board or for the development of the EPPP. For information on becoming a Subject Matter Expert, please visit https://www.psychology.ca.gov/licensees/sme.shtml. Licensees shall maintain a record of this activity as documentation of compliance. This record shall include the following: name of exam, dates of service, and number of hours. |
12 hours maximum | 1 hour of service = 1 hour credited |
| Expert Review/Consultation
Expert Review/Consultation means serving in any expert capacity for the Board. For information on becoming an Expert Reviewer, please visit https://www.psychology.ca.gov/licensees/expertrev.shtml. Licensees shall maintain a record of this activity as documentation of compliance. This record shall include the following: dates of service and number of hours. |
12 hours maximum | 1 hour of service in expert capacity = 1 hour credited |
| Attendance at a California Board of Psychology Meeting
Attendance at a California Board of Psychology Meeting (full Board or Committee). For upcoming meeting dates, please visit https://psychology.ca.gov/about_us/meetings/index.shtml. Licensees shall maintain a record of hours as documentation of compliance. This record shall include the following: date of meeting, name of meeting, and number of hours attended. A psychologist requesting CPD credit pursuant to this subdivision shall have signed in and out on an attendance sheet providing their first and last name, license number, time of arrival and time of departure from the meeting. |
8 hours maximum | 1 day of Board of Committee meeting = 6 hours credited
For Board or Committee meetings that are 3 hours or less, 1 hour of attendance = 1 hour credited |
| CPD Learning Category #2 – Academic | ||
| Academic Coursework
Completing and earning credit for a doctoral-level course related to psychology. Licensees shall maintain a record of this activity. This record shall include a transcript with evidence of a passing grade (C or higher or “pass”). |
18 hours maximum Each course counts only once for each renewal period |
1 semester unit course = 6 hours credited 1 quarter unit course = 4.5 hours credited |
| Academic/Sponsor-Approved CE Instruction
Academic Instruction means teaching a doctoral-level course. Sponsor-Approved CE Instruction means teaching a sponsored CE course that relates to the practice of psychology as defined in 1397.60.1(c) of the California Code of Regulations. Refer to CPD activity Sponsored Continuing Education for approved entities. Licensees shall maintain a record of this activity. This record shall include the following: course syllabus, title of course, name of institution, and dates of instruction. |
18 hours maximum | Academic instruction: 1 quarter or semester academic course = 18 hours credited
Sponsor-Approved CE Instruction: 1 hour of instruction = 1.5 hours credited |
| Supervision
Overseeing the professional experience of a trainee who is accruing hours towards licensure as a Psychologist, Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Licensed Educational Psychologist, or Physician and Surgeon. Licensees shall maintain a record of this activity. This record shall include the following: dates of supervision and a trainee identifier. |
18 hours maximum | 1 hour of supervision = 1 hour credited |
| Publications
Publications means authoring or co-authoring peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, book(s), or editing or co-editing a book, related to psychology or related discipline within the licensee’s applicable renewal period. Licensees shall maintain a record of this activity. This record shall include the following: either a letter of acceptance for publication, or proof of publication with publication date in the renewal period for which it is being submitted. |
9 hours maximum | 1 publication = 9 hours credited |
| Self-Directed Learning
Independent educational activities focused on maintaining, developing, or increasing conceptual and applied competencies that are relevant to psychological practice, education, or science, such as reading peer-review journal articles or books, watching videos or webcasts, or listening to podcasts. Licensees shall maintain a record of this activity. This record shall include the following: date(s), medium (e.g. webinar), topic or title, and total number of hours. |
6 hours maximum | 1 hour of activity = 1 hour credited |
| CPD Learning Category #3 – Sponsored Continuing Education | ||
Includes any approved structured, sequenced learning activity, whether conducted in-person or online. Approved entities include:
There is no live requirement. The licensee shall maintain proof of attendance provided by the sponsor of the continuing education. |
27 hours maximum | 1 hour of sponsored continuing education = 1 hour credited |
| CPD Learning Activity #4 – Board Certification | ||
| American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) Board Certification
Can count for 100% of required CPD in the renewal cycle that certification is awarded. The licensee shall maintain proof of specialty certification. |
36 hours | Certification awarded = 36 hours credited |
| “Senior Option” ABPP Board Certification
Can count for 50% of required CPD in the renewal cycle that certification is awarded. The licensee shall maintain proof of specialty certification. |
18 hours | Certification awarded = 18 hours credited |
CPD RESOURCES
The CPD Video, CPD Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), and Attendance at a California Board of Psychology Meeting FAQ, Recordings of CPD Informational Webinars held on March 3, 2023 and January 22, 2024, Presentation Slides from the CPD Informational Webinar, CPD Reporting Form, and full text of CPD regulations are valuable resources designed to help licensees understand the new model for accruing 36 hours for renewal. The CPD Video is an engaging visual guide that explains the key elements of the CPD model and provides helpful tips for planning and completing CPD activities. The CPD FAQ provides concise answers to common questions about the CPD requirements and helps licensees understand how to meet their CPD obligations. Additionally, the Attendance at a California Board of Psychology Meeting FAQ offers further information and guidance specific to attending Board and Committee Meetings. The CPD Reporting Form provides the necessary information to track and report CPD credits. It is important to keep accurate records of CPD activities as the Board conducts audits on the 36 hours required for renewal.
Continuing Professional Development Video
Continuing Professional Development Frequently Asked Questions
Attendance at a California Board of Psychology Meeting FAQ
Recording of CPD Informational Webinar — March 3, 2023
Recording of CPD Informational Webinar – January 22, 2024
Presentation Slides from the CPD Informational Webinar
Full Text of Continuing Professional Development Regulations
AUDITS & RETENTION OF RECORDS
Licensees must retain their CPD records for a minimum of four (4) years; the Board conducts random audits and, if selected, will contact the licensee for proof of completion. (1397.61.1(k)(1))
REACTIVATION
If a license is inactive, the licensee must provide proof of 36 hours of CPD in order to reactivate. The hours must be completed in the 24 months immediately preceding reactivation. Additional information regarding reactivation can be found on the License Reactivation Application Form.
For more information regarding CPD, see §1397.60.1 through 1397.70 in the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 16. If you have questions, you may contact the board by email at BOPCE@dca.ca.gov.
