Psychology Continuing Education – Stay Sharp and Effective

No one ever reaches the point where they can stop learning and growing in their professional field. Psychology continuing education credits must be earned on a regular basis as a means for staying current and effective. While time and money must be invested in order to maintain credibility and certification, most psychologists would agree that staying sharp and effective is beneficial personally and professionally.

Earning psychology continuing education credits can be done in a couple different ways. Perhaps the best way to earn credits quickly is to attend workshops at approved conventions. Workshops are offered on a variety of topics, and you can attend several workshops in one day. While attending conventions can be inconvenient on the schedule, you may find that stepping away from the office for a few days can be refreshing.

Another way to earn psychology continuing education credits is to complete independent studies. You can study via book, magazine, DVD or CD-ROM. The primary benefit of learning in this manner is that it can be done in the evenings or on weekends when you have time available. Since you are working at your own pace, you can decide when you want to work on the credits and make it fit your schedule in a way that suits you best.

When you are ready to start earning psychology continuing education credits, you can find an approved sponsor by which to access courses. Approved sponsors are usually accessible online and offer multiple choices for classes. Additionally, you can find discussion forums and blogs by which to interact with others who are working to complete the credits that they need.

While you are working on your psychology continuing education credits, be sure to keep receipts for each class, convention, exam and fee. It is helpful to create a file where you keep this important information, because these documents will be helpful when it comes time to prove that you have taken the classes. Additionally, there may be tax incentives or employer reimbursements for the credits earned, and you will need receipts for documentation in either of these cases.

If you are unsure of how many credits you need to earn each year, keep in mind that the credits needed varies by state. You will need to research what is required by the state where you live/practice. Also, if you are considering independent study you should check to see if that is allowed (credited) in your state as well.

Do not wait until the last minute to try and complete your credits. It is best to work on your credits slowly or at least paced so that you are not working up against a deadline. Neglecting to complete your credits in the time allotted could be detrimental to your career.