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Continuing professional developmentLearning formats and course contentContinuing education and licensureWhere to find CE activitiesInteractive planning toolThe essentials
Use continuing education to keep your knowledge current and meet renewal requirements. Check what your board accepts before paying for an activity.
Use the dated sources below for current career facts, and confirm program or licensing requirements with the responsible institution.
Source check: November 5, 2026
What was checked: California continuing-professional-development example.
This is an editorial source check, not a clinical peer review. Program and licensing decisions should use the current official requirements. How this site handles sources and updates.
Plan your remaining education hours.Open the interactive tool when you need it.
Use this guide
Plan your remaining education hours.
Use the total required by your board and the hours it has accepted toward that requirement. This arithmetic worksheet does not check provider approval, subject requirements, or license renewal eligibility.
Skim the key points. Open a section for the full explanation.
Continuing professional development
- Keep learning: Research and professional practice continue to develop throughout a career.
- Choose useful topics: Look for learning that supports your actual work and development needs.
Read the details about Continuing professional development
Continuous research in the field of psychology makes it necessary for a person in a psychology career to continue his or her education throughout the life of his or her career. This professional development is maintained by accruing credits of continuing education (CE).
Learning formats and course content
- Several formats: Courses, conferences, publications, and online activities may offer learning opportunities.
- Review the content: Check the learning objectives, presenter qualifications, and conflict disclosures.
Read the details about Learning formats and course content
CE activities can take the form of a conference, online course, review of publications, or participation in some form of electronically available training. The content for CE activities is put together and presented by psychologists and researchers who are experts in the material. Typically, at the outset of the presentation, there is a disclosure of financial backing as it may relate to the material.
For example, a psychologist’s research might be funded in part by a pharmaceutical company. Any presentation of research by that psychologist must include a conflict of interest disclosure.
Keeping up with research
CE activities can serve as outlets for researchers to share their discoveries with colleagues and disseminate new information as it may relate to everyday practice. Some psychologists may choose to engage in CE activities outside their areas of expertise to keep current in other fields.
For example, a psychologist that focuses in education may benefit from CE activities focused in pediatrics as this may aid in his or her practice as well.
Continuing education and licensure
- Start with your board: Confirm the renewal period, required hours, topics, and accepted formats.
- Keep records: Save completion certificates and track what remains before renewal.
Read the details about Continuing education and licensure
Continuing education or professional development is part of license renewal. California, for example, requires 36 hours for an active renewal cycle, with specific subject and activity rules. Other jurisdictions set their own requirements.
California’s current CPD rules use four activity categories and generally require participation in at least two, with a board-certification exception. The former 75% independent/25% face-to-face split is not the current rule. Use the board’s CPD guidance for category limits and documentation.
Where to find CE activities
- Places to look: Professional associations, conference organizers, and approved course providers.
- Before enrolling: Confirm that the activity meets your board’s current rules.
Read the details about Where to find CE activities
CE activities are available through a variety of means.
- Attendance of a conference can be a source of CE credit.
- Additionally, many websites keep listings of available online courses.
- Professional societies, like the American Psychological Association (APA) also have course offerings.
- Another source of CE credit activities may come from for-profit sources, such as pharmaceutical companies or laboratories.
- While some may consider this last source to be problematic in terms of conflicts of interest, it can still be beneficial to psychologists to have exposure to these activities.
CE activities allow psychologists to continue their training in the field through conferences and online course offerings. It is advantageous for psychologists to keep abreast of the latest research and also may be a requirement to maintain state licensure.