Preventing Medical Errors in the GLP-1 Era is a new 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that examines common sources of error associated with GLP-1 use in mental health and dietetics.
This course was created for behavioral health clinicians and registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) who collaborate on GLP-1 care by pairing medical nutrition therapy – managing gastrointestinal side effects, protecting muscle and nutrient intake, and building sustainable eating habits – with psychological support for body image, emotional eating, identity shifts, and eating disorder risk that can arise with appetite suppression and rapid weight loss.
It is not a pharmacology course and not a course on weight-loss treatment. It addresses how rapidly expanding use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (including semaglutide and tirzepatide) can change the meaning of familiar clinical signs – appetite, weight, reward, mood, body image, and alcohol use – and thereby create preventable errors in assessment, diagnosis, documentation, and interprofessional communication.
The course applies core patient-safety methods – root cause analysis, error reduction, and systems thinking – to ordinary therapy and nutrition-care encounters. Participants learn to keep medication use and dose changes visible in formulation; distinguish expected pharmacologic effects from depression, malnutrition, and eating-disorder pathology; reassess suicide risk and substance use without relying on outdated or overstated safety claims; and communicate observations to prescribers using structured handoffs while remaining within scope of practice. Special attention is given to high-risk gaps: missed or minimized eating disorders in higher-weight bodies, malnutrition labeled as “successful” weight loss, compounded or poorly monitored product sources, discontinuation and weight-regain distress, and weight bias that shapes who is screened and what is dismissed.
Through case examples, checklists, and practice prompts, the course shows how to build repeatable safeguards – updated medication review, reassessment triggers after rapid physical change, clearer documentation of differential reasoning, and referral pathways – so safer care does not depend on extra vigilance alone.
Course #21-72 | 2026 | 15 posttest questions
Disclosure Statement
The authors have no financial relationships with any pharmaceutical company, device manufacturer, or commercial entity related to the content of this course. No manufacturer of any glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist or other medication funded, reviewed, or influenced this material. Brand names are used only for clarity and recognition and do not constitute endorsement. This course is educational and does not constitute medical, legal, or clinical supervision advice. Clinical and legal decisions depend on jurisdiction, board rules, agency policy, and individual client context.
Course Directions
This course is text-based (reading), and the CE test is open-book (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course materials). Successful completion of this course involves passing an online test (80% required, three chances to take) and we ask that you also complete a brief course evaluation. Contact us with any questions – we are here to help!
CE Information
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 Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners, and Board of Psychologist Examiners; the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and State Medical Board for Occupational Therapy; 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 Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians and Licensed Nutritionists, Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and MFTs, State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, and State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for Marriage & Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, Psychology, and Social Work, and Board of Healing Arts for Occupational Therapy; the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners for Occupational Therapy; the Michigan Board of Occupational Therapy, Board of Psychology, Board of Speech-Language Pathology, and Board of Social Work; the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors, the Bureau of Professional Licensure for Occupational Therapists, and Dietitians; the New Hampshire Board of Licensed Dietitians, Board of Mental Health Practice, Board of Psychologists, and Occupational Therapy Governing Board; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology (#PSY-0145), State Board for Mental Health Practitioners for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135) and marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100), and the State Board for Social Workers (#SW-0664); the North Carolina Psychology Board; the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners, State Board of Occupational Practice, and State Board of Psychologist Examiners; the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Family Therapist Board and Speech and Hearing Professionals Board; the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision for Occupational Therapy; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists (#193), Board of Examiners in Psychology, Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Board of Occupational Therapy, and Board of Social Work Examiners; the Tennessee Board of Examiners of Psychology, Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists, Board of Occupational Therapy, and Board of Social Workers; the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114), State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678), State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, and State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling and Board of Social Work; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
PDR offers over 100 accredited online CE courses for healthcare professionals.
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.