Tag Archives: Florida

Telehealth – New Online CE Course

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Telehealth: Ethics and Best Practices is a new 3-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that examines ethical principles and best practices in remote online therapy.

Telehealth: Ethics and Best Practices is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that examines ethical principles and best practices in remote online therapy.

Telehealth, also known as teletherapy, telepractice, telepsychology, telerehabilitation (and a variety of other names), involves participating in therapeutic services through a digital platform. Patients can consult with their healthcare provider via computer, tablet, or smartphone without needing to visit their office. Telehealth is particularly beneficial for individuals in remote areas or those who have difficulty accessing traditional medical facilities. It encompasses a range of services, including virtual visits, health education, and remote patient monitoring.

The primary and most obvious difference between telehealth and in-person treatment is the fact that the patient is not in the same room as the clinician. This lack of physical presence can limit the range of information available or how accurately it is observed. Communication can be influenced by camera angle, screen size, room characteristics, and other technical factors like bandwidth that may result in poor-quality video and/or audio and prohibit the observation of all behaviors.

This course will provide an introduction to telehealth, discuss the pros and cons, address ethical considerations (such as competence, informed consent, HIPAA, etc.), how to get started with telehealth (including when to use, not use, or when to combine services), offer practice tips (including camera positioning and cultivating trust), and discuss evidence-based uses for mental health, nutrition, speech, and occupational therapy.

A final section will offer best practices for telehealth in mental health, nutrition therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. Self-efficacy, and how to enhance it, is also discussed.

Telehealth Outline:

  • Introduction
  • Section 1: Pros (and Cons) of Telehealth
  • Section 2: Ethical Considerations
  • Section 3: Getting Started with Telehealth
  • Section 4: Telehealth Practice Tips
  • Section 5: Evidence-Based Uses for Telehealth
  • Section 6: Best Practices
  • Summary and Conclusions
  • Resources

Florida: This course meets the “telehealth” license renewal requirement for counselors, social workers, and MFTs (we report to CE Broker for you – for all other professions it will count for “ethics” credit when applicable).

RDNs/SLPs/OTs: This course is undergoing approval by CDR/ASHA/AOTA.

Course #31-57 | 2026 | 20 posttest questions | Mobile-Friendly

Telehealth: Ethics and Best Practices

Professional Development Resources, a small Florida nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992, 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). 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.

Domestic Violence CE Now Approved for Dietitians

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Domestic Violence: Child Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that is now approved for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs).

Domestic Violence: Child Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that details how to identify and help victims of domestic violence.

Healthcare professionals in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories are mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect.

This course teaches healthcare professionals to detect abuse when they see it, screen for the particulars, and respond with definitive assistance in risk assessment, safety planning, and providing referrals to available resources.

Domestic Violence: Child Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence awards 2.25 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program (Activity #191607 | Performance Indicators: 11.6.1, 13.1.3, 5.2.1, 8.1.3). Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Council and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported next business day, currently reporting for 47 boards).

Domestic Violence: Child Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence

This course is also approved for psychologists, school psychologists, counselors, social workers, and MFTs and meets the Florida license renewal requirement.

Professional Development Resources, a small Florida nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992, 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). 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.

Domestic Violence CE – New Online Course

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Domestic Violence: Child Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence is a new 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that details how to identify and help victims of domestic violence.

Domestic Violence: Child Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that details how to identify and help victims of domestic violence.

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories have child abuse and neglect reporting laws that mandate certain professionals and institutions refer suspected maltreatment to a child protective services (CPS) agency. Some states use more specific definitions of who is a mandated reporter. Others opt for more flexible verbiage to cast a wider net. In all states, healthcare providers are mandated reporters.

Child abuse remains a dire social issue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that at least one in seven children experience child abuse or neglect in the United States, with that number likely being an underestimate because many cases go unreported. To make matters worse, the long-term sequelae include a wide range of serious consequences, such as physical injuries, impaired brain development, behavioral disturbances, substance use disorders, and a variety of psychological disorders.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is, unfortunately, also a pervasive part of life in U.S. society. Approximately 41% of women and 26% of men have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Survivors of these forms of violence may experience physical injury, mental health consequences like depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and suicide attempts. Other health consequences like gastrointestinal disorders, substance abuse, sexually trans­mitted diseases, and gynecological or pregnancy complications are also common.

This course reviews the prevalence rates, definitions, outcomes, risk and protective factors, screening procedures (including signs and symptoms clinicians should look out for), as well as best practices in responding to and reporting abuse of both children and adults. Bullying, cyberbullying, the increase in online crimes against children, the likelihood of abused children becoming abusers, behavioral and physical indicators that a child on your caseload is a victim, and treatment interventions for victims of child abuse are also discussed. Primary prevention strategies are included to prevent IPV from arising initially and to reduce the adverse effects on survivors. There is a special section on the complexity of an abuse victim’s decision about if, and when, to leave an abuser.

Healthcare professionals will learn to detect abuse when they see it, screen for the particulars, and respond with definitive assistance in risk assessment, safety planning, and providing referrals to available resources.

This course meets the domestic violence license renewal requirement of Florida psychologists, school psychologists, counselors, social workers, and MFTs.

Course #21-70 | 2026 | 34 pages | 15 posttest questions | Mobile-Friendly

https://www.pdresources.org/product/domestic-violence-child-abuse-and-intimate-partner-violence/

Click here to learn more.

This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. The 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 document).

Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. 

Have a question? Contact us. We’re here to help!

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Professional Development Resources, a small Florida nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992, 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). 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.

New Medical Errors CE for Florida Psychologists

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Preventing Medical Errors in Behavioral Health is a new 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course for Florida psychologists.

https://www.pdresources.org/product/preventing-medical-errors-in-behavioral-health/

This course is intended to increase clinicians’ awareness of the many types of errors that can occur within mental health practice, how such errors damage clients, and numerous ways they can be prevented. Its emphasis is on areas within mental health practice that carry the potential for “medical” errors.

Examples include improper diagnosis, breaches of privacy and confidentiality, mandatory reporting requirements, managing dangerous clients, boundary violations and sexual misconduct, use of technology, the informed consent process, and competence. Most errors arise from inadequate attention to the various educational, clinical, ethical, and legal resources available. This course will illustrate the kinds of “medical” errors that can occur in psychotherapy practice and will offer strategies for avoiding them.

Also included are sections on root cause analysis, suicide assessment, medical conditions presenting as a psychological disorder, psychotherapy in the digital age, including the use of social networking platforms, the challenges of maintaining and transmitting electronic records, email, text messaging, best practices for teletherapy, and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in practice. Case examples are included throughout.

* This course satisfies the medical errors requirement for license renewal of Florida mental health professionals (psychologists, counselors, social workers, MFTs, and school psychologists.

Course #21-68 | 2026 | 37 pages | 15 posttest questions | Mobile-Friendly

Professional Development Resources, a small Florida nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992, 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). 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.

Florida Psychologists License Renewal & CE Info

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Florida psychologists have an upcoming license renewal deadline of May 31, 2026. The following continuing education (CE) requirements must be met prior to renewal:

CE Required: 40 hours every 2 years, including:
3 hours Florida Psychology Ethics & Law each renewal
2 hours Preventing Medical Errors in Behavioral Health each renewal
2 hours Domestic Violence every third renewal 
Online CE Allowed: No limit @ PDR 
License Expiration: 5/31, even years

Florida Psychologists Save 20% on CE

Ready to Renew?

If you have already met your CE requirements and are ready to renew, click here to renew your license with the Florida Board of Psychology.

Still Need CE?

Florida psychologists can earn all 40 hours per renewal through online CE courses @ PDR. We report to CE Broker for you and are currently offering 20% off all courses:

Florida psychologists save 20% on CE @pdresources.org

Enjoy 20% off ALL Online CE courses for your Florida Psychologist license renewal. Apply coupon code PDR496 at checkout to redeem 20% discount. Offer valid on future orders only. Coupon expires 12/31/2026.

First Renewal?

Psychologists initially licensed within the biennium are exempt from continuing education with the exception of the two-hour course relating to the prevention of Medical Errors.

CE Broker

The Department of Health verifies continuing education records in the electronic tracking system (CE Broker) at the time of license renewal.

PDR reports all course completions to CE Broker next business day.

Required Background Screening

As of July 1, 2025, all healthcare professionals in Florida must comply with background screening requirements when applying for initial licensure or renewing their license. Your license renewal will not be approved until this requirement, along with all other licensure criteria, has been met. For more information on background screening, visit MQA’s Background Screening website.

Click here to view all online courses approved for Florida Psychologists

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.

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Ethics & Law in Florida Psychology 2026 Edition

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The 2026 edition of the required course, Ethics and Law in Florida Psychology, is now available for Florida-licensed psychologists.

Ethics and Law in Florida Psychology

Ethics and Law in Florida Psychology 2026

The purpose of this course is to ensure that Florida-licensed psychologists are fully aware of the ethical and legal privileges and constraints under which they are licensed to practice in the State of Florida. It provides the opportunity for a comprehensive reading of the APA Code of Ethics and the three sets of statutes and rules governing the practice of psychology in Florida:

  1. The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association
  2. The Florida Health Professions and Occupations General Provisions
  3. The Florida Psychological Services Act
  4. The Florida Administrative Code

These documents set forth the licensure requirements, definitions, principles, standards, competencies, limitations, and guidelines for legal and ethical practice in the areas of privacy and confidentiality, professional boundaries, record keeping, scope of practice, use of testing instruments, clinical supervision, sexual misconduct, and all aspects of psychotherapy. Disciplinary actions and guidelines are detailed in the 490 Practice Act and in the 64B19 Administrative Code.

The 2026 edition of the required course, Ethics and Law in Florida Psychology, is now available for Florida-licensed psychologists.

Case examples are included for the purpose of illustrating the types of practice errors that occur in real life and their real consequences for clients. They are actual cases found in the official public records of the Florida Department of Health Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA).

Completing this course will fulfill the requirement that licensed psychologists in Florida complete each biennial renewal period three hours of continuing education on professional ethics and Florida Statutes and rules affecting the practice of psychology. * This course satisfies the ethics and law requirement for biennial re-licensure of Florida psychologists. Course #31-64 | 2026 | 57 pages | 20 posttest questions | Mobile-Friendly

Customer Reviews:

“One of the best CEs I have taken. Excellent.” – P.S. (Florida Psychologist)

“The course was very well-done, and your support staff were very helpful.” S.R. (Florida Psychologist)

“I loved that the content was written at a professional level, and that questions were unique and, at times, challenging.” J.R. (Florida Psychologist)

Click here to learn more and enroll!

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.

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Florida SLPs License Renewal & CEU Info

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Florida SLPs Save 20% on CEUs @pdresources.org

Florida-licensed speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists have an upcoming license renewal deadline of December 31, 2025. The following continuing education (CE/CEU) requirements must be met in order to renew:

CE Required: 30 hours every 2 years (50 if dual-licensed), of which:

  • 2 hours on Preventing Medical Errors are required each renewal
  • 18 hours must be clinically related (all 28 “general” hours can be)
  • 10 hours are allowed from non-clinical coursework

Online CE Allowed: No limit if ASHA-approved

License Renewal Deadline: 12/31, odd years

“Clinically Related” is defined as providing the licensee with information, techniques, procedures, or protocols that can be applied in the direct assessment, treatment, diagnosis, or counseling of patients.

All continuing education hours must be reported to CE Broker prior to licensees being able to renew (we report to CE Broker for you).

Florida SLPs can earn all 30 hours required for renewal through ASHA-approved online CEUs offered @pdresources.org. Order now and save 20% on ALL courses:

Florida SLPs can earn all 30 hours per renewal through ASHA-approved online CEUs @ PDR. We report to CE Broker for you and are currently offering 20% off all courses.

Enjoy 20% off ALL Online CE courses for your Florida SLP license renewal! Use coupon code PDR494 at checkout to redeem. Valid on future orders only. Offers expire 12/31/2025.

ASHA-Approved Online CEUs for Florida SLPs:

More courses available @pdresources.org

Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as an approved provider of continuing education (#AAUM). ASHA CEUs are awarded by the ASHA CE Registry upon receipt of our monthly completion report. The date that appears on ASHA transcripts is the last day of the month in which the course was completed.

Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – all courses are reported within two business days of completion).

ASHA Reporting: We report to ASHA monthly as long as you check the box to “Submit Credits to ASHA” and provide your 8-digit ASHA account number under the Licensee Details of your account dashboard.

Required Background Screening

As of July 1, 2025, all healthcare professionals in Florida must comply with background screening requirements when applying for initial licensure or renewing their license. Your license renewal will not be approved until this requirement, along with all other licensure criteria, has been met. For more information on background screening, visit MQA’s Background Screening website.

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 Provider #1046, ACE Program); the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA Provider #AAUM); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA Provider #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Prior Approval Program); 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 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 – all courses are reported within two business days of completion).

Enjoy 20% off all online continuing education (CE/CEU) courses @pdresources.org! Click here for details.

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Florida Background Screening Requirements for Healthcare Professionals

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As of July 1, 2025, all healthcare professionals in Florida must comply with background screening requirements when applying for initial licensure or renewing their license.

How to Start a Background Screening

Screening Process Timeline

The full process typically takes 5 to 7 business days. While fingerprint transmission from the Livescan vendor to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) can take 24 to 72 business hours, the Background Screening Unit generally completes its review within 5 to 7 business days after receiving the results.

Check Screening Status

You can check the status of your screening with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) by entering your Transaction Control Number (TCN) here:
cchinet.fdle.state.fl.us/search/app/tcnlookup?3

If you are unable to view the status, please confirm with the Livescan provider that they have submitted your fingerprints to FDLE and that your TCN is correct. You may search for screenings completed within the last 6 months. They cannot research the status of your screening until it shows as ‘Complete’ on the TCN lookup site.

Helpful Links:

Background Information

Section 456.0135(6)(1), Florida Statutes, requires that applications for initial licensure received on or after January 1, 2013, include fingerprints.

  • Fingerprints must be submitted electronically to the Department of Law Enforcement for state processing and forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for national processing.
  • The Department of Law Enforcement retains the fingerprints and may request the FBI to process them for national checks.
  • The costs associated with fingerprint processing, including retention, are borne by the applicant.
  • All fingerprints submitted must be entered into the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse.

2025 Amendments

As of July 1, 2025, all healthcare professionals must comply with background screening requirements when applying for initial licensure or renewing their license.

Beginning July 1, 2025, the amendments made by this act to s. 456.0135, Florida Statutes, apply to applicants seeking initial licensure in any of the healthcare professions specified in that section. To ensure that all healthcare practitioners practicing in the health care professions subject to the background screening requirements for initial licensure under s. 456.0135, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act, are screened, healthcare practitioners who were already licensed in such health care professions before July 1, 2025, must submit to background screening in accordance with s. 456.0135, Florida Statutes, by their next licensure renewal that takes place on or after July 1, 2025, notwithstanding the fact that s. 456.0135, Florida Statutes, applies to initial licensure only. The Department of Health may not renew the license of such a health care practitioner after July 1, 2025, until he or she complies with these background screening requirements.

Changes as of July 1, 2025

If applying for initial licensure: You must complete the new background screening as part of your application.

If renewing your license: Be prepared to complete the screening requirements ahead of your next renewal date.

The renewal period begins approximately 90-120 days before your license expires. Visit the “Florida Boards” tab at www.FLHealthSource.gov, select your board, click on renewals, and choose your profession for more details about the renewal process.

About the Clearinghouse

The Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse) is a first-in-the-nation enterprise system for background screening results of individuals required by law to undergo screening for employment in positions that provide services to vulnerable populations.

Instructions on how to register an account and initiate a new screening in the Clearinghouse Results Website (CRW) are provided @ https://devfloridaclearinghouse.com/.

There is also a ‘contact us’ chat bot available to submit questions.

Fingerprint Retention

All screened professions are required to retain their fingerprints every 5 years and may do so at a cost of $43.25. The window to retain your fingerprints opens 75 days prior to the expiration date and closes 15 days prior to the expiration date. This provides a full 60 days to complete the renewal process. If you do not retain your fingerprints, you are required to complete a new screening. The Department cannot extend your retention window.

The cost of a new screening is almost double the retention cost and set by the LiveScan Provider. You can manage this requirement by registering on the Clearinghouse Applicant Initiated (CHAI) website. After your account is created, you will be able to view the date of your most recent screening and check renewal availability to learn if the window of opportunity to retain your fingerprints is open.

Fingerprint retention is separate from the licensure renewal process. The results of your initial fingerprint screening are stored in Florida’s Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse). Under section 456.0135, Florida Statutes, licensees are required to retain their fingerprints every 5 years and may do so at a cost of $43.25.

Learn more and initiate a screening >

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) is managing the Clearinghouse and provides instruction guides on their website. Contact ACHA.

Questions?

For questions regarding background screening, please email: [email protected]

For questions regarding fingerprint retention, please email: [email protected]

Professional Development Resources is a Florida nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. PDR 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).

Enjoy 20% off all online continuing education (CE/CEU) courses @pdresources.org! Click here for details.

Florida School Psychologists Renewal & CE Info

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Florida School Psychologists have an upcoming license renewal deadline of November 30, 2025. Thirty (30) hours of continuing education are required in order to renew:

Florida Board of School Psychology 
CE Required: 30 hours every 2 years, of which:
2 hours Preventing Medical Errors is required each renewal
2 hours Domestic Violence is required every third renewal
Online CE Allowed: No limit if APA-sponsored
License Expiration: 11/30, odd years 
National Accreditation Accepted: APA
Date of Info: 8/11/2025

Florida-Licensed School Psychologists can earn all 30 hours for renewal through board-approved online CE courses @pdresources.org. Order now and enjoy 20% off all courses:

Florida School Psychologists - Enjoy 20% off online CE for your 11/30/2025 license renewal deadline

Use coupon code PDR493 at checkout to redeem 20% discount. Coupon valid on all future orders thru 12/31/2025. We report to CE Broker for you! 75 courses to choose from @pdresources.org

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 CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145).

Click here to view all online CE courses for Florida-Licensed School Psychologists.

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Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

PDR offers over 150 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.

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Why Should SLPs Study Medical Errors?

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Why should Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) study medical errors? Florida SLPs are required to complete 2 hours of continuing education (CE) on the prevention of medical errors every 2 year for license renewal.

Why Should SLPs Study Medical Errors?

We are educated, we are trained, we are credentialed, and we are experienced. Our focus has been on learning and doing what is right in clinical practice and avoiding what we know to be harmful to our patients. So why do we need a continuing education course on the prevention of medical errors? The answer is really quite simple. We know that in the realm of health care practice errors do happen, and they happen every day. They happen in spite of the fact that we are educated, trained, credentialed, and experienced. When they do happen, they can cause serious – even irreparable – harm to those we treat. We are all human and we all make mistakes.

But I don’t work in a hospital.

You may be reading this and thinking that your practice setting is not hospital-based, and medical errors are not likely to occur with your patients. After all, what could happen in private practice, a school setting, daycare, or an audiologist’s office? While the risk of medical errors is highest in an acute setting such as a hospital or skilled nursing facility, they can occur in almost any setting. The risk is on a continuum based on the setting. An SLP performing a swallowing evaluation in a hospital intensive care unit, for example, is on the high end of the continuum; an audiologist creating an ear mold impression is at medium risk, while an SLP working on accent reduction in a corporate setting would be the lowest risk.

There are, of course, many ways to harm patients, most of which arise from inadequate attention to the various educational, clinical, ethical, and legal resources we have available to us.

Why Study Medical Errors?

The perennial bad news about medical errors is that they continue to occur at relatively high levels, but there is good news – a high proportion of errors are preventable. Retrospective studies have shown that 3–17% of patients in acute care hospitals experience one or more adverse events caused by hospital care, resulting at least in prolonged hospital stay. In these studies, carried out in various countries, nearly 50% of those events were considered avoidable (Halfon et al., 2017). Medical errors are “reported as the third leading cause of death in the US. One study reported that approximately 400,000 hospitalized patients experience some preventable harm each year (James, 2013), while another estimated that >200,000 patient deaths annually were due to preventable medical errors” (Rodziewicz et al., 2024, para. 1).

Most SLPs and audiologists do not perform invasive tests, surgery, or dispense medication. It is easy to think that little or no harm would ever come to a patient, nor would a patient file a claim of harm. However, there is a risk in any interaction with patients, even if low risk. This means that errors maybe infrequent, but not nonexistent.

Course excerpt from Preventing Medical Errors in Speech-Language Pathology

Preventing Medical Errors in Speech-Language Pathology is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that examines how medical errors can be prevented in the practice of speech-language pathology.

Preventing Medical Errors in Speech-Language Pathology is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that examines how medical errors can be prevented in the practice of speech-language pathology.

In this course we will attempt to illustrate the kinds of errors that can occur in the various practice settings of speech-language pathology and audiology and to offer strategies for avoiding them. Through a combination of heightened awareness, increased understanding of potential problem areas, and thoughtful integration of proposed strategies, clinicians can increase their effectiveness and reduce the potential for making medical errors.

The intent of this course is to include all of the elements required for an approved medical errors course for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists, including topics and case examples that will resonate with both novice and seasoned clinicians. It is a required course for Florida licensees and satisfies their biennial requirement. It is intended to be of clinical interest to all SLPs and audiologists who wish to increase their awareness of the ways in which patients can be harmed and the many strategies for anticipating and avoiding such undesirable outcomes. Click here to learn more.

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Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved 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 Provider #1046, ACE Program); the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA Provider #AAUM); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA Provider #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Prior Approval Program); 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 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 – all courses are reported within two business days of completion).

PDR offers over 150 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.

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!