Do mandates matter? The impact of continuing education mandates on participation in continuing professional development activities.

Abstract

Recent research has noted that psychologists in continuing education (CE)-mandating jurisdictions have higher rates of participation in CE than those in nonmandating jurisdictions. The current study capitalized on an "experiment of nature" by examining the impact of CE mandates in a state that had just recently enacted, but had not yet implemented, mandated CE. A survey of 410 licensed psychologists obtained from the Illinois Psychological Association compared those who were aware of the mandate with those who were not yet aware of it. Results indicated that an awareness of the impending mandates was associated with higher levels of participation in formal CE, but not in informal, forms of professional development. Findings are discussed in relation to the role of CE in maintaining professional competencies and public trust, and recommendations are outlined for future research that would contribute to the development of evidence-based continuing education.

Exploring the impact of continuing education mandates: A longitudinal look.

“…To better determine the effects of CE mandates on the percentage of what Phillips (1987) referred to as CE laggards, a χ 2 test was conducted using what Neimeyer et al (2012) defined as CE minimalists (operationalized as those who completed five or fewer CE credits in a given year), and CE nonminimalists (operationalized as those who completed six or more CE credits in a given year; see also Neimeyer et al, 2009). The result of the analysis was significant, χ 2 (5, N = 736) = 39.93, p < .001.…”

“…In addition to cross-sectional and retrospective studies of CE mandates, Neimeyer, Taylor, Zemansky, and Rothke (2012) provided a third type of study, a prospective investigation of CE mandates. In their study, Neimeyer et al (2012) surveyed a sample of 410 licensed psychologists in a jurisdiction that had just recently enacted, but not yet implemented, CE mandates. Approximately half of their sample was aware of the recently enacted CE mandates, and the other half was not.…”

Do continuing education mandates matter? An exploratory study of the relationship between CE regulations and disciplinary actions.

“…In short, the weight of the field's commitment both to professional competency and to public accountability is borne substantially by mechanisms of continuing education. But as it currently stands, this weight is not adequately counterbalanced by the weight of the empirical evidence regarding the outcomes of CE that would support its central objectives (Barnett, 2009; Neimeyer et al, 2009, 2010, in press; Neimeyer, Taylor, Zemansky, & Rothke, 2012). Further research is needed to document the impact of CE and to address what Wise (2010) have referred to as “a promise that largely remains unfulfilled” (p. 292).…”

Career development for psychologists.

“…In some states, continuing education (CE) is required for relicensure, presumably to maintain clinical competence and protect the public. Psychologists practicing in states without mandatory CE still participate in professional improvement programs, but there is evidence that a board's requirement of CE for relicensure motivates psychologists to engage in more formal CE than in states in which it is not compulsory (Neimeyer, Taylor, Zemansky, & Rothke, 2013). Furthermore, evidence does not support that those who are diligent in pursuit of formal CE show higher levels of professional competence or lower levels of disciplinary actions (Neimeyer, Taylor, & Orwig, 2013;Neimeyer, Taylor, Zemansky, & Rothke, 2013).…”

“…Psychologists practicing in states without mandatory CE still participate in professional improvement programs, but there is evidence that a board's requirement of CE for relicensure motivates psychologists to engage in more formal CE than in states in which it is not compulsory (Neimeyer, Taylor, Zemansky, & Rothke, 2013). Furthermore, evidence does not support that those who are diligent in pursuit of formal CE show higher levels of professional competence or lower levels of disciplinary actions (Neimeyer, Taylor, & Orwig, 2013;Neimeyer, Taylor, Zemansky, & Rothke, 2013). Perhaps most important is that proper postlicensure assessment of competence is virtually nonexistent in professional psychology (Kerns et al, 2009).…”