Continuing Education for Psychologists

INTERNAL APPLICATION FORM

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS

All program proposals must meet the following basic criteria:

CE courses must be pertinent to the theory, practice, and methodology of psychology; must be taught at the post-doctoral level; and must enable a psychologist to provide better psychological care to the consumer. Materials submitted must clearly demonstrate how the course meets these requirements.

Date of Application: ______

Individual Requesting Approval: ______

Contact Person: ___

Mailing Address: ______

City: ______State: __ Zip: __

E-Mail______Telephone: ______Fax: ______

Title of Program: ______

Date of Program: ______

Presenter/Faculty Names: ______

(Designate primary presenter if more than one.)

Target Audience: ______

Degree of Content Sophistication: Advanced Intermediate _Introductory .

(All must be at postdoctoral level.)

Credit Hours of CE Requested: ______

Program Description:This should be about 100 words and will be used for marketing purposes. Focus on what your program is about and how the attendee will benefit.Make it accurate but interesting to motivate the reader.

Brief Bio:Submit a 50 word bio of each attendee to also be used for marketing.Highlight your expertise and experience in the content area you are presenting.

Promotional Materials/Brochure (If this is for the Fall Convention this does not apply): Please submit a copy of your program’s brochure, promotional materials, or email announcement, etc. This should contain the program information, amount of CEs, objectives, schedule, cost, instructor credentials, clear indication of activities not offered for CEs, and a description of the target audience or instructional level.You may also write “For more information call xxx-xxx-xxxx”

Curriculum Vitae:Attach each presenter’s complete CV.

Description of Content:A brief abstract describing the content and the intent of the workshop. This description should clearly address the basic criteria listed above. Please indicate if/how this course addresses the theory, practice and methodology pertaining to your topic. Please also indicate how this course extends knowledge beyond a pre-doctoral level of training on your topic.

Syllabus/Time Outline:A detailed syllabus with an hour-by-hour time outline of workshop activities, breaks, lunch, etc. This outline should identify exactly what will be covered in the presentation and how much time will be spent on each item.Break time does not accrue CE credit.(beginning and ending times can be altered:we can begin at 8:45 to break for lunch at noon)

Course Objectives:Please list learning objectives that will clearly define what the participant will know or be able to do as a result of having attended the program. (3-4 objectives appropriate for 4 hours CE; 5-6 objectives appropriate for 7-8 hours CE) See standards and guide for writing objectives.

Method(s) of Instruction(check all that apply):
__Lecture __Role Play

__Demonstration __Small Group Discussion

__Video/DVD __OtherDiscussion Throughout the Workshop

A/V:Please list any Audio Visual Equipment you wish to request.

Books:Please include the complete reference material for any book we can recommend to the bookstore to have available for purchase on your subject matter.

Assessment of Participant Learning:This is a means for participants to gauge what they have learned from the presentation.Some ways of assessing learning include informal discussions between instructor(s) and participants, questions and answer of attendees at the end of a program, post-tests (These can take the form of multiple-choice questions, true/false, short answer, etc. It is best to have one post-test question per hour of instruction), etc.

Disclosures: During the CE session, how will you disclose to participants the accuracy and utility of the materials being presented, the basis of such statements, the limitations of the content being taught and the severe and most common risks?

Is there any commercial support for CE program, presentation or the instructor?

? Yes ? No

If Yes, will you clearly describe this support to program participants at the beginning of the CE program?

? Yes ? No

Are there any other relationships involving the CE program, presentation or the instructor that could be reasonably construed as a conflict of interest?

? Yes ? No

If Yes, how will you disclose this relationship?

Will you (or your co-presenters) be supported financially by a manufacturer or any commercial product?

? Yes ? No

If Yes, please explain the support, as well as the way you plan to disclose it to workshop participants.

Will you gain financially (beyond honoraria received) by the sale of any product or publication as a result of this workshop?(While the workshops are not to be used as opportunities for commercial advancement, it is not necessarily inappropriate for you to obtain some indirect financial benefit from presenting your workshop—e.g. royalties.It is important, however, that you disclose this information.)

? Yes ? No

If Yes, please explain the financial gain, as well as the way you plan to disclose it to workshop participants.

Has any of the research to be presented been funded by external sources (e.g. university, industry)?If so, by whom?

? Yes ? No

If Yes, please explain how you plan to disclose this information to workshop participants.

Are you presenting information about your practice or research?

? Yes ? No

If Yes, please explain.Case examples will be provided.

Has privacy been safeguarded?(e.g. disguise of identities in videotapes or case histories, etc.) ? Yes ? No

Have you obtained the appropriate consent? ?X Yes ? No

Have you ensured the security of tests and proprietary information used in this research/practice? ? Yes ? No

In submitting this Proposal, I have subscribed to and supported the objectives of the American Psychological Association set forth in Article 1 of the Bylaws and the Ethical Principles of Psychologists, as adopted by the Association.(Copies of the Bylaws and Ethical Principles are available from the APA Order Department, 1-800-374-2721, ext. 5510.The Bylaws are also accessible online at The Ethical Principles are available at

Signatures (Required):______

(Primary presenter or designee)

Date:______

For Staff Use Only:

Date application received: __ /__/__

Date sent to reviewers: __/__/__

Approved

Not Approved

Date applicant notified: __/__/__

Standards and Criteria
for Approval of Sponsors ofContinuing Education for Psychologists

April 2005

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

WASHINGTONSTATE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

CONTINUING EDUCATION SPONSOR APPROVAL SYSTEM

Standards and Criteria

February 2005

______

PREFACE

This document is the most recent revision of the document originally entitled APA Approval of

Sponsors of Continuing Education for Psychologists, first approved by the American Psychological

Association Council of Representatives in January 1987.

This revision is effective as of April 1, 2005, and supersedes all previous versions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION ONE

A. Introduction......

B. Background of the APA Sponsor Approval System (SAS) ......

SECTION TWO

Standards and Criteria

Standard A (Goals) ......

Standard B (Program Management) ......

Standard C (Educational Planning and Instructional Methods)......

Standard D (Curriculum Content)......

Standard E (Program Evaluation) ......

Standard F (Standards for Awarding Credit) ......

Standard G (Promotion and Advertising of Programs)......

WASHINGTONSTATE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

APA SPONSOR APPROVAL SYSTEM

STANDARDS AND CRITERIA

SECTION ONE

A. INTRODUCTION

The American Psychological Association (APA), founded in 1892, is the largest psychologicalorganization in the United States. According to the APA By-Laws, Article

I.1:The objects of the American Psychological Association shall be to advance psychology as a scienceand profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare by theencouragement of psychology in all its branches in the broadest and most liberal manner; by thepromotion of research in psychology and the improvement of research methods and conditions; bythe improvement of the qualifications and usefulness of psychologists through high standards ofethics, conduct, education, and achievement; by the establishment and maintenance of the higheststandards of professional ethics and conduct of the members of the association; by the increase anddiffusion of psychological knowledge through meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers,discussions, and publications; thereby to advance scientific interests and inquiry, and the applicationof research findings to the promotion of health, education and the public welfare.

B. THE APA CE SPONSOR APPROVAL SYSTEM (CE-SAS) AND THE APA

CONTINUING EDUCATION COMMITTEE

APA recognizes the responsibility of psychologists to continue their educational and professionaldevelopment, building upon the foundations of a completed doctoral program in psychology. TheAPA CE Sponsor Approval System and the APA Continuing Education Committee work together toestablish standards for those organizations wishing to offer continuing education for psychologistsand to maintain the highest level of quality in those programs.

Mission Statement of the Continuing Education Committee

The Continuing Education Committee shall have responsibility for developing policy and programrecommendations for the Association’s continuing education program and for workingcollaboratively with the APA Office of Continuing Education in Psychology and CE Sponsor

Approval System to implement these policy and program recommendations. The Committee’s tasksshall include, but not be limited to, (a) developing and delivering continuing education programs andproducts; (b) providing educational and technical assistance to APA Directorates, Divisions, StateAssociations, and other sponsors; (c) collaborating with organizations that seek to become approvedsponsors of continuing education; (d) providing review of all APA approved sponsors and organizations seeking APA sponsor approval; (e) periodically reviewing the Association’s sponsorapproval guidelines, and (f) identifying, promoting, implementing and evaluating research,development and innovations in continuing education.

Definition of Continuing Education for Psychologists

Continuing education (CE) in psychology is an ongoing process consisting of formal learningactivities that (1) are relevant to psychological practice, education and science, (2) enablepsychologists to keep pace with emerging issues and technologies, and (3) allow psychologists tomaintain, develop, and increase competencies in order to improve services to the public and enhancecontributions to the profession.

Continuing education builds upon a completed doctoral program in psychology. It is not a substitutefor the basic academic education and training needed for entry to the field of psychology, nor shouldit be the primary vehicle for career changes from one APA-recognized specialty area (e.g. clinical,counseling, school psychology) to another.

SECTION TWO

WASHINGTONSTATE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONAMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONSPONSOR APPROVAL SYSTEMSTANDARDS AND CRITERIA

Sponsors must meet the Standards provided below in order to receive approval from the WashingtonState

Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association as a sponsor of continuingeducation for psychologists. Each standard includes a general principle followed by the relatedcriterion/criteria. These Standards, Principles, and Criteria are applicable to all CE programs offered topsychologists under the auspices of APA approval.

Association Rule 120-4 gives responsibility for the provision of educational and technical assistanceconcerning continuing education to the Continuing Education Committee, and the commentaryfollowing each standard is provided pursuant to that authority granted to the Committee by the APACouncil of Representatives. The various boxes containing educational and technical assistance donot contain Standards of the Sponsor Approval System and, as such, are not approved by Council.They are designed to provide a living document elaborating upon, interpreting and operationallydefining the Standards to provide such educational and technical assistance to sponsors. TheContinuing Education Committee may revise them from time to time.

Standard A: Goals

PRINCIPLE

Continuing education in psychology builds upon a completed doctoral program in psychology.

CRITERION

Sponsors must have a statement of goals for their CE program that reflects this Principle.

Educational and Technical Assistance

Many approved sponsors offer continuing education programs to a wide target audience, and there are otherprofessional licensing boards that accept CE credits earned from APA-approved sponsors (although the licensingboard in question should be contacted directly for further information). Keeping in mind that CE programs may beoffered to professionals across a range of disciplines, for this purpose the goal of a CE program must specificallyaddress the learning needs of psychologists.Sponsors must have a goals statement that reflects the type and nature of its CE offerings and target audience.

Standard B: Program Management

PRINCIPLE

Effective program management is essential for maintaining the highest quality in continuing educationprograms for psychologists.

CRITERIA

1. Sponsors must include the direct input of psychologists in all phases of the decision-making andprogram-planning process for the activities offered to psychologists for CE credit.

2. Sponsors must have a clearly designated program administrator who is responsible for ensuring thatthe organization meets the Standards described in this document.

3. Sponsors must ensure the security of tests and proprietary information, and the confidentiality ofindividuals and organizations.

4. Sponsors must have written procedures for addressing participant complaints in a reasonable, ethical,and timely fashion.

5. Sponsors must select instructors and develop program materials that respect cultural, individual, androle differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture,national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status.

6. Sponsors must make all CE programs accessible to individuals with disabilities, according to therequirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

7. Sponsors must adhere to all Standards in this document in all aspects of CE programs offered underthe auspices of their WSPA/APA approval.

Educational and Technical Assistance

Psychologists must have input in all phases of the decision-making and program-planning process for the activitiesoffered to psychologists for CE credit. This can be achieved in a variety of ways, including involvement by psychologistson staff, advisory boards, or planning committees. In cases where the organization is owned and operated by onepsychologist, it is strongly recommended that an advisory board be used to provide feedback regarding programplanning and areas where a conflict of interest might occur (e.g., resolution of participant complaints). Involvement mustbe on an active and on-going basis.

Inherent in adhering to the Principle of Standard B is the sponsor’s responsibility to maintain a continuing awareness ofthe policies and procedures of the WSPA/APA Sponsor Approval System. This includes, but is not limited to, having a copyof the most recent submissions to the Sponsor Approval System (application, status report, etc.), being aware of report andfee submission deadlines, and keeping the Sponsor Approval System aware of any changes in contact information so thatwe may inform your organization of these deadlines in a timely manner. Sponsors must have a clearly designatedadministrator of the program, although it is not required that this individual be a psychologist.

Sponsors are required to have written procedures for dealing with participant complaints. While these procedures neednot be elaborate, they must clearly indicate the steps that will be taken to resolve complaints, and these procedures mustbe available in written format for anyone who requests them. See the application for becoming an approved sponsor fora sample grievance procedure.

In order to make available high-quality CE programs to as many psychologists as possible, sponsors are encouraged tojointly collaborate with other organizations as appropriate. “Joint collaboration” should be understood as the mutualplanning of an activity by two or more organizations. Regardless of the level of involvement of the sponsor, however, it isultimately the responsibility of the approved sponsor, WSPA, to ensure that all the Standards of the APA Sponsor ApprovalSystem are met. Any degree of joint collaboration does not, in any way, absolve the sponsor of its responsibilities as anapproved sponsor.

Sponsors are required to make their programs accessible to all individuals. Facilities used by a sponsor must be incompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Sponsors must also, to the best of their ability, provideaccommodation for individuals with sensory impairments.

Standard C: Educational Planning and Instructional Methods

PRINCIPLE

Successful continuing education in psychology requires: (1) careful educational planning that resultsin a clear statement of educational objectives; (2) the selection of appropriate instructional methodsto achieve those objectives; and (3) the selection of instructional personnel with demonstratedexpertise in the program content.

CRITERIA

1. Sponsors must develop educational objectives that clearly describe what participants areexpected to learn.

2. Sponsors must select instructors with expertise in the program content and who are competent toteach this program content at a level that builds upon a completed doctoral program inpsychology.

Educational and Technical Assistance

Every program offered for CE credit must have predetermined learning objectives. Rather than a description oftopics to be covered, learning objectives should clearly define what the participant will know or be able to do as aresult of having attended the program, and these objectives must be stated in measurable terms. As a guideline,there should be three to four objectives for a four hour program; five to six objectives for a seven to eight hourprogram, etc.

CE activities can be delivered via numerous methods which include, but are not limited to: workshops, seminars,conferences, conventions, grand rounds, lectures, books, videotapes, audiotapes, CD-ROMs, and web-basedactivities. All CE activities, regardless of the delivery method, must adhere to the Standards of the APA Sponsor

Approval System

Although it is not required that instructors be psychologists, they must have expertise and be competent in the areasin which they teach. Competencies might be demonstrated by some combination of the following: relevanteducational experience such as holding a doctoral degree in psychology, review of records of previous teachingexperiences, years of clinical experience, publications in areas relevant to the content being taught, evaluation formsfrom previously offered programs, personal knowledge of the instructor’s teaching ability, and references.

How To Write Behavioral Learning Objectives and Assessments

• Learning objectives, or learning outcomes, are statements that clearly describe what the learner

will know or be able to do as a result of having attended an educational program or activity.