Mandatory Continuing Education Requirements for Licensed Psychologists
A new law requires all licensed psychologist to complete continuing education (CE) requirements beginning January 1, 2021. Information for licensees and prospective CE providers is outlined briefly below. More information can be found in our frequently asked questions and answers at /professions/psychology/continuing-education.
The proposed regulations were discussed by the Board of Regents at their September 2020 meeting. The proposed regulations may be found at www.regents.nysed.gov/common/regents/files/920brd3.pdf. A summary of the proposed regulations was published in the State Register on September 30, 2020 for a 60-day public comment period.
Information for Licensees:
Starting January 1, 2021, in order to register and practice the profession, each psychologist, licensed under the Education Law, must complete 36 hours of CE from a Department approved provider during each triennial registration period.
The law exempts from the triennial continuing education requirement those licensees who are inactive (not practicing the profession or using the restricted title) and newly licensed practitioners in their first registration period after licensure. In addition, the CE requirement is phased in, so that licensees, who must complete CE, can satisfy this requirement by completing a pro-rated number of hours, based on the number of months between January 1, 2021 and the starting date of the licensees’ next registration period. For instance, a licensee registered from March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2021 must complete 2 hours of acceptable CE to register for the period starting March 1, 2021.
A licensee seeking to register for a period starting on or after January 1, 2021, who is not exempt from the requirement as noted above, may only meet the requirement by completing CE activities from Department-approved providers or other allowed education activities on or after January 1, 2021. If your next registration period starts on or after January 1, 2021, you should not submit the registration application and fee until you have met the CE requirement on or after January 1, 2021, to avoid a hold on your registration application.
Licensees should review the FAQs and specific requirements that define acceptable continuing education for licensed psychologists. This includes not only courses offered by approved providers, but other activities defined in the proposed regulations, such as teaching a continuing education course for a Department approved provider for the first-time, completing a structured mentorship in psychology, and other activities. As a licensee, you are responsible for meeting the requirement and affirming this in your registration application; certificates and documentation are only submitted at the request of the Department.
It is important to note that courses must be taken from providers approved by the Department to offer continuing education to psychologists licensed in New York. Courses offered by another organization are not acceptable. Please make sure you read the FAQs on our website for more information.
Information for CE Providers:
You will find links to the requirements that must be met by individuals and organizations that wish to offer CE courses to licensed psychologists, including the application form on our website at /professions/psychology/continuing-education.
A prospective provider of CE must submit to the Department an application, with the required $900 fee, that demonstrates that it meets the profession-specific requirements in section 7607 of the Education Law and the proposed Commissioner’s Regulations. A complete application and $900 fee must be submitted by an individual or organization that wishes to become a Department-approved CE provider. The State Board Office will review prospective provider applications in the order received, so that licensees can complete their required pro-rated hours of CE starting on January 1, 2021.
Prospective providers should review the FAQs and specific requirements that define acceptable continuing education for licensed psychologists. It is important to note that a provider approved by the Department may not approve other organizations to offer continuing education to New York licensed psychologists.