Continuing education
Resources below
SDPA presents continuing education (CE) courses throughout the year that are listed in Events. These courses are intended to meet the professional education needs of psychologists, however are intended to meet the interests of members of the public as well. CE courses may be presented as stand-alone CE courses or as Conferences. Stand-alone CE courses are typically less than a day in length and are held at the SDPA Office. Conferences include multiple CE courses presented in a day or two. SDPA generally presents a Spring Conference in May or June and a Fall Conference in October or November.
Navigating licensure renewal requirements can be complex. To streamline your renewal process, we have compiled a selection of key resources and quick-reference links directly from the California Board of Psychology to assist you in maintaining your credentials.
What is CPD?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) refers to the ongoing process of learning, reflection, and skill development that professionals engage in throughout their careers. CPD goes beyond required Continuing Education hours and includes activities such as advanced training, consultation, research, teaching, and self-directed learning to enhance competence, effectiveness, and ethical practice over time.
Interested in joining the CPD Committee
The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Committee ensures SDPA compliance with the standards and criteria for APA approved sponsors of continuing education for psychologists. The Committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding the continuing professional development needs of SDPA members.
We meet on the second Saturday of March, April, May, September, October, November from 10:00 to 11:30 am.
Chair: Bruce Liese, PhD, ABPP
Present with SDPA
Thank you for your interest in presenting a Continuing Education (CE) course with the San Diego Psychological Association (SDPA).
To begin the review process, please download and complete the CE application and return it to Tami at ce@sdpsych.org along with your current CV and a professional photo.
If your proposal appears to be a good fit for our organization, it will be forwarded to our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) reviewers for formal evaluation.
Please note the following important information for prospective presenters:
- Presenting CE programs with SDPA is a volunteer opportunity and is not a paid engagement.
- SDPA may request permission to also offer your presentation through our Home Study program. If so, you will be asked to complete the Home Study application and provide a post-test for participants.
- This is a valuable way to extend the reach of your presentation and increase your visibility within our professional community.
- We maintain high standards for our CE offerings. Content must be educational for licensed psychologists and grounded in evidence-based practice.
- Your course title, description, and learning objectives should be clearly aligned and reflective of the material presented.
SDPA promotes CE events to our network of more than 4,700 contacts. We also encourage presenters to promote their event to help ensure strong attendance.
We appreciate your interest in contributing to the professional development of our community and look forward to reviewing your application. Please feel free to reach out with any questions to Tami Magaro the CPD Program Administrator
Board of Psychology
The Board of Psychology has now created extremely helpful materials that include specific, detailed descriptions of every possible combination of requirements in each of the categories, along with the number of hours that can be claimed in each category. They’ve also now developed a video, FAQ page, and slides from a webinar on the subject.
Here is the link to this rich source of information:
- CA Licensure Information
- 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
- CPD Reporting Form
- Full Text of Continuing Professional Development Regulations
Questions on your Licensure please contact the Board of Psychology.
CE Course Policies
Attendance Policy: CE Credit and Certificates will not be issued to those who arrive later than 10 minutes or leave early from any course scheduled time. This policy is strictly enforced to ensure compliance with APA Guidelines.
Cancellation Policy: No refund will be given to any registered individual who is a no-show to a course. Any individual canceling within 72 hours of a course will be refunded 50% of the course fee.
CE Conflicts of Interest Policy:
As an APA-approved sponsor of continuing education, SDPA is committed to the identification and resolution of potential conflicts of interest in the planning, promotion, delivery, and evaluation of continuing education. Consistent with concepts outlined in the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, potential conflicts of interest occur when an individual assumes a professional role in the planning, promotion, delivery, or evaluation of continuing education where personal, professional, legal, financial, or other interests could reasonably be expected to impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness. Any questions regarding conflicts of interest related to a CE course presentation should be directed to the SDPA Office.
American Psychological AssociationThe San Diego Psychological Association (SDPA) is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SDPA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
LCSW, LFMT, LEP & LPCC
In California, APA approved CE’s are valid for licensed psychologists, licensed school psychologists, LCSW, LMFT, LEP & LPCC licensees. Though APA is a national organization, the out of state licensee should check with their state governing board to make sure that APA approved CE's are valid in their state for their license.
Diversity and Accommodations for Disability Policies
CE Diversity Policy: SDPA selects presenters and develops program content for its continuing education that respects cultural, individual and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status. SDPA maintains committees whose focuses are on diversity issues. These committees are encouraged to work with the CPD Committee and the President and Board to propose culturally competent educational programming. In addition, the President and Board work to increase recruitment of psychologists. from diverse communities into membership and leadership positions in SDPA; to recruit prospective continuing education course presenters from these communities as well as those with education, training and clinical experience working with persons from these diverse communities.
CE Accommodations for Disability Policy:
SDPA ensures that all continuing education programs accommodate individuals with disabilities, according to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Particular attention is paid to issues of accessibility, customer service and publicity. Most continuing education programs are presented at the SDPA Office that is located in an ADA compliant building. When larger continuing education events are scheduled, the CPD Committee ensures that the venues selected are accommodating as well. Signage is utilized to communicate the locations of accessible parking, toilets and communication resources.
Course promotion materials clearly state SDPA's commitment to nondiscrimination and accessibility and work to communicate to prospective participants the availability of ADA compliant resources. Course registration materials request specific information regarding accommodations necessary for participants.
SDPA prepares all staff and volunteers at the continuing education events to serve individuals with disabilities in a knowledgeable and sensitive manner. This includes respect for autonomy and agency: accommodation for the need for more time to communicate, complete required tasks, and move from one location to the next; and availability of information regarding the location of communication equipment, accessible bathrooms, and ramps. Program staff members ensure the identification and availability of staff members to handle inquiries and requests related to disability.
Course promotional materials are offered in multiple formats and media (print, internet based, radio or television) to ensure wide dissemination. Print materials are reviewed to increase accessibility for the visually impaired and are also disseminated on internet-based platforms (website, social media) to increase accessibility. When necessary, CPD Committee staff members will work with local disability advocacy groups to publicize events to members of the community who may not be reached by traditional media.
Grievance Policy
CE Grievance Policy
SDPA is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists. SDPA will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants. The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of the chair(s) of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Committee, the chair(s) of the Ethics Committee and the chair(s) of the Workshop/Conference, if applicable.
While SDPA goes to great lengths to assure fair treatment for all participants and attempts to anticipate problems, there will be occasional issues that come to the attention of the CE Course or workshop/conference staff which require intervention and/or action on the part of the CE Course or workshop/conference staff or an executive officer of SDPA. This procedural description serves as a guideline for handling such grievances.
When a participant, either orally or in written format, files a grievance and expects action on the complaint, the following actions will be taken.
1. If the grievance concerns a speaker, the content presented by the speaker, or the style of presentation, the individual filing the grievance will be asked to put their comments in written format. The chair(s) of the CPD Committee or the chair(s) of the workshop/conference will then pass on the comments to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the grieved individual.
2. If the grievance concerns a CE Course or a workshop/conference course offering, it's content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the CE Course or the workshop/conference was offered, the chair(s) of the CPD Committee or the chair(s) of the workshop/conference, respectively, will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action, the chair(s) of the CPD Committee or the chair(s) of the workshop/conference will:
a. Attempt to move the participant to another course or
b. Provide a credit for a subsequent year's course or
c. Provide a partial or full refund of the course fee.
Actions 2b and 2c will require a written note, documenting the grievance, for record keeping purposes. The note need not be signed by the grieved individual.
3. If the grievance concerns the SDPA CE program, in a specific regard, the chair(s) of the CE Committee will attempt to arbitrate.
Please contact the SDPA Office Manager (see below) to submit a complaint, or if you have additional questions.
