Psychologists licensed to practice in the State of Florida are required to complete – upon each biennial renewal of their professional license – a three-hour CE course covering professional ethics and Florida Statutes and rules affecting the practice of psychology. The continuing education course, Ethics and Law in Florida Psychology, was written to meet this requirement and is based on these four documents:
- The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association
- The Florida Health Professions and Occupations General Provisions
- The Florida Psychological Services Act
- The Florida Administrative Code: Board of Psychology
“The intent of the biennial CE requirement, according to the Florida Administrative Code, is to ‘to enhance the psychological skills and/or psychological knowledge of the licensee,’” says Leo Christie, PhD, founder of Professional Development Resources. “As an example, a critical issue in healthcare ethics is the concern for privacy in handling clients’ personal information. This is far more challenging today than it was even a decade ago. The pervasive use of electronic communication technologies like cell phones, laptops, email, the Internet, and social networking has created an environment in which new protections must be implemented. Psychologists need to be trained in the most current procedures for safeguarding their clients’ protected health information in the recording, storage, and transmission of electronic communications.”
The new Professional Development Resources online CE course Ethics & Law in Florida Psychology includes sections on distinguishing between the concepts of law and ethics, deciding what to do when ethics and the law are in conflict, understanding multiple relationships, knowing when a client’s confidentiality can – and should – be broken, resolving ethical dilemmas, and identifying legal restrictions placed upon sexual intimacies between psychologists and clients.
“I am occasionally asked why it is necessary to keep taking an ethics and law course again and again over one’s career,” says Christie. “My response is always the same: There are five fundamental reasons for psychologists to study ethical theories, principles, and laws on a regular basis. First, therapy is important work; it can never be taken lightly. Second, ethical and legal practice is not simple; in fact it is occasionally overwhelmingly complex. Third, psychologists – like all human beings – are subject to certain prejudices, biases, and blind spots; they must be discovered and understood. Fourth, the practice and process of psychotherapy is a dynamic – not a static – process; the world and the psychologists in it change with time and technology. And, fifth, to the extent that psychologists effectively regulate themselves, they will be able to maintain professional autonomy and avoid undue intrusions by outside parties.”
By May 31, 2026 all Florida psychologists must complete their required 40 hours of continuing education courses and renew their professional licenses. In addition to the ethics and law course, they are also required to complete a course on Preventing Medical Errors, and – every six years – a course on Domestic Violence.
Professional Development Resources (PDR) offers Florida psychologists 20% off online CE to help licensees meet state renewal requirements.
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for all programs and content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB #1046, ACE Program); the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA #AAUM); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Prior Approval Program); the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling, Board of Psychology, Office of School Psychology, Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, Board of Occupational Therapy, and Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Council; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145), State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135) and marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100), and the State Board for Social Workers as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists (#193); the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported next business day, currently reporting for 47 boards).
PDR is a small nonprofit that offers over 100 accredited online CE courses for healthcare professionals. Learn more about us.
Target Audience: Psychologists, School Psychologists, Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists (MFTs), Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), and Teachers
Enjoy 20% off all online continuing education (CE/CEU) courses @pdresources.org! Click here for details.