Continuing Education

Requirements | Frequently Asked Questions 

Requirements

A licensed psychologist must complete and document 60 hours of continuing education (CE) every three years, including a minimum of:

Every six years, psychologists must complete six hours in suicide prevention. The six-hour training must be taken from the Model List. Review WAC 246-924-180 through WAC 246-924-330 to ensure you comply with all CE requirements and maintain proper documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Extensions and Waivers | CE Audits | Documentation | Approved Courses

Extensions and Waivers

What are the rules around submitting a request for a CE waiver or extension?

The Examining Board of Psychology (board) may extend the due date for the continuing education (CE) training required for license renewal or issue an indefinite waiver in certain circumstances. In either case, the licensee must provide the board with enough information and time to evaluate the request. WAC 246-924-330 describes the requirements for a request. Note: Requests made to the board less than two months prior to the renewal due date may not be processed in time for license renewal.

How do I request an extension?

A licensee may request an extension of the CE due date in the event they need additional time to meet their CE requirements in order to renew their license or in other extenuating circumstances. Each case will be considered by the board on an individual basis, and when circumstances justify it, a time extension may be granted.
To request an extension, the licensee shall complete and submit a Continuing Education Extension Request form (PDF).

How do I request an indefinite waiver?

A licensee may request a CE waiver for an indefinite period of time due to illness. The board may grant an indefinite waiver in these instances if it receives a waiver request form indicating the licensed psychologist is not providing psychological services to consumers. To qualify for an indefinite waiver, the psychologist must not be providing any services included in the definition of the practice of psychology in RCW 18.83.010(1). If the Board approves a request and the licensee’s illness status is changed or consumer psychological services are resumed, the psychologist must immediately notify the board and resume meeting CE requirements for re-licensure. CE credit hours will be prorated for the portion of that three-year period involving resumption of such services.
To request an extension, the licensee shall complete and submit a Continuing Education Waiver Request form (PDF).

CE Audits

I've been audited for the latest CE period. What do I do? 

You must provide documentation showing the continuing education (CE) courses you completed. This documentation must clearly show that the courses were taken during the audit period. 
You are required to complete 60 hours of CE, which must include:

  •  4 hours in ethics; 
  • 2 hours in health equity; and 
  • 6 hours in suicide prevention (must be from the Model List) 

The suicide prevention training is required once every six years. To meet this requirement, you must show that you completed the training either during the current audit period or the one immediately before it. 
If you took the suicide prevention training before the current audit period, it will not count toward the 60 required CE hours for this period, but it can still be used to show you met the six-year suicide prevention requirement.

If I'm selected for a continuing education audit, may I still practice while the audit is ongoing?

Yes, if your continuing education activities are under review by the board, you may continue to practice until the review is complete. 

Documentation

Do I need to send certificates or documentation of my continuing education activities along with my renewal?

You aren't required to send continuing education documentation along with your renewal, only in the case of an audit. The board will audit a percentage of renewing licensees each month. You’ll be notified if your renewal is selected for an audit, in which case at that point you will need to submit your CE documentation.

How long do I need to keep my original continuing education documentation?

You're required to retain original documentation of attendance and completion of continuing education activities for four years after your renewal date.

Approved Courses

I'm licensed in another state. How do I know if the board will accept the CE in my state to count toward Washington requirements?

Most CE can be used to meet the CE requirements of multiple licensing jurisdictions. If the CE meets the requirements listed under WAC 246-924-230 then it can be used to meet the WA CE requirements regardless if it was completed for another jurisdiction.

Does the board accept courses the American Psychological Association hasn't approved?

WAC 246-924-240 allows the board to accept courses, seminars, workshops, and post-doctoral institutes sponsored by the American Psychological Association, regional or state psychological associations or their subchapters, psychology internship training centers, other professionally or scientifically recognized behavioral science organizations, and the board.
As with all of the CE psychologists take, the burden is on psychologists to show what they have completed meets the requirements listed in rule. In the event that you're audited, you would be asked to show the verification of your CE and demonstrate how it met the requirements set forth in rule.

Is there a different calculation for credits if I do an online continuing education activity, or does the board count the number of credits listed on my certificate?

Online and in-person CE activities are calculated the same way. The board will count the credits as listed on the certificate.

May I take all of my continuing education activities online?

Yes, you may complete all 60 continuing education activities online.

May a psychologist earn CE for teaching? 

A psychologist may earn one credit hour CE for each 60 minutes of teaching or participating in a continuing education course panel discussion. The total may not exceed 30 hours every three years. A psychologist may earn CE for teaching the same continuing education course on more than one occasion, only if the psychologist has spent an equal or greater amount of preparation time updating the subject matter to be taught on a later occasion.