Podcast Continuing Education
Q & A: 5 Questions about Mental Health Continuing Education
Continuing education is an important part of being a mental health professional. Thanks to the internet, you now have a lot of options for how you earn it. But all these options can also lead to more questions. In this blog, we answer some of your basic questions about mental health continuing education as well as questions about getting started with Find Empathy.
Common questions about mental health continuing education include:
- What is mental health continuing education?
- What is the difference between CE credits and CE units?
- What are some examples of approved CEs?
- How do I get credit hours through Find Empathy’s podcast?
- What CE courses are available from Find Empathy?
1. What is Mental Health Continuing Education?
You may have heard the terms professional development and continuing education used interchangeably. While they share some similarities, they also have some very significant differences that you should be aware of. This is especially important if you are a mental health counselor in social work, psychiatry, psychology, or another type of mental health professional.
Think of professional development as an umbrella term. It can refer to gaining knowledge or learning a new skill that will help to further your career. Continuing education (CE), on the other hand, is more specific. It is a specific type of professionaldevelopment where someone who already has a degree pursues more education from an approved group or institution.
Continuing education for mental health professionals is important due to the nature of the field. Although you have already earned your degree and license, research is continuously ongoing and best practices can change over time. With continuing education courses (CE courses), you can stay up-to-date and provide the best mental health treatment possible for your patients.
Click here to read our blog on continuing education for mental health professionals passionate about helping people with chronic illnesses!
2. What is the Difference Between CE Credits & CE Units?
Short for continuing education credits and continuing education units, CE credits and CEUs are measurements for continuing education. They break down like this:
- One CE credit = One hour of continuing education. Two hours of continuing education courses would equal two CE credits, and so on.
- One CE unit (CEU) = 10 hours of continuing education credit.
These numbers are based on the standards set by the American Psychological Association (APA). Similarly, the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) defines one CE credit as equaling one hour and one CEU as equaling ten hours of participation in an education program. The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) only permits the following CE credit measurements: NBCC hours, clock hours, credit hours, CE hours, or contact hours.
You’ll notice that Find Empathy does not use the term CEU to describe our continuing education courses for counselors, therapists, psychologists, and social workers. This is because the organizations named above do not allow approved CE providers like Find Empathy to use the term CEU. It is seen as misleading, or potentially confusing a one hour CE course with academic courses.
Despite this, the term CEU is still often used in the continuing education industry. But we want to maintain the highest standards and align with the goals of protecting consumers looking for quality continuing education!
Bear in mind that your required credit hours may vary from state to state. For instance, the Washington State Department of Health requires that psychologists complete 60 hours of continuing education every three years. However, the North Carolina Psychological Board only requires 24 total hours for every two-year license renewal cycle.
3. What are Some Examples of Approved CEs?
It’s important to seek continuing education courses that have been approved by a licensing agency. This ensures that they actually count toward your continuing education requirements. You can receive courses from a variety of educational and psychological organizations as well as from special interest groups. For instance, a veterans group may offer courses on treating homeless veterans suffering from mental illness.
You have a wide range of options available to meet your CE requirements including:
- Seminars
- Distance learning programs
- Community service
- Research
- Workshops
- University courses
- Peer consultation
It’s important to keep in mind that the specific criteria required for continuing education can vary from state to state. When asking questions about mental health education, be sure to know what your state requires so that you can maintain your license and continue providing the highest quality of mental health care to your patients.
View your state’s CE requirements here!
4. How Do I Get Credit Hours Through Find Empathy’s Podcast?
The first step to getting continuing education credit hours with Find Empathy is listening to our podcast. After that, you will need to create an account with us and complete all of the continuing education course requirements. You will also need to complete the post-test assessment and continuing education course evaluation to ensure you receive full credit.
To access the course, simply click the link in the podcast’s show notes. You can also access the course by:
- Clicking here to sign in or create an account
- Finding the podcast episode
- Finishing your course requirements
At Find Empathy, we want to make mental health continuing education as easy as possible. Whether you want to dive right into our podcasts or create an account and explore, the process will always be simple and straightforward.
Click here to get started with Find Empathy today!
5. What CE Courses are Available from Find Empathy?
You can find a range of CE course topics from professional ethics to addiction online. At Find Empathy, we specialize in continuing education that prepares mental health professionals to support patients with severe medical conditions. We offer a wide range of continuing education courses to help to do just that, providing the best care possible.
This includes courses on:
- Multiple sclerosis
- PSYPACT
- Inpatient and outpatient technology
- Teleneuropsychology
At Find Empathy, we offer continuing education courses that are as engaging as they are easy to digest. We know that the intersection of mental health and chronic illness can be hard. That’s why we’re passionate about equipping mental health professionals with the tools they need to meet patients where they’re at and help them on their journey.
Are you ready to start your continuing education for mental health professionals with Find Empathy? Listen to our podcast and get started today!
Continuing education is important for mental health professionals since research is continuously ongoing and best practices can change over time. CE credits and CE units are measurements for your continuing education and requirements can vary depending on your state. Seminars, distance learning programs, and peer consultation can all qualify as CEs. You can start your continuing education with Find Empathy by listening to our podcast and creating an account. We offer continuing education courses to better serve the needs of patients with severe health problems.
Find Empathy’s purpose is to empower mental health professionals to better serve patients living with challenging chronic illnesses and medical diagnoses. Through our easy and accessible continuing education courses and credits, mental health providers are able to become medically informed on health psychology topics to help improve patient care and clinical outcomes.
Meghan Beier, PhD
Subscribe to Get Alerts When New Stuff Happens