Continuing Education

CE Course Policies

CE ATTENDANCE/CANCELLATION POLICY

CE Course Attendance/Cancellation Policy

To receive CE credit and certificates, participants must sign-in and sign-out of the course.  CE credit and certificates will not be issued to those that arrive more than ten minutes after the start time or leave prior to sign-out.  Sign-in sheets will be taken up ten minutes after the start time and replaced for sign-out at the end of the program.  This policy is strictly enforced.  No refund will be given to any registered individual who is a no-show to a course.  Any registrant canceling within 72 hours of a course will be refunded 50% of the course fee. 

CE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY

CE Conflicts of Interest Policy

As an APA-approved sponsor of continuing education, SDPA is committed to the identification and resolution of potential conflicts of interest in the planning, promotion, delivery, and evaluation of continuing education. Consistent with concepts outlined in the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, potential conflicts of interest occur when an individual assumes a professional role in the planning, promotion, delivery, or evaluation of continuing education where personal, professional, legal, financial, or other interests could reasonably be expected to impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness.  Any questions regarding conflicts of interest related to a CE course presentation should be directed to the SDPA Office.

CE DIVERSITY POLICY

CE Diversity Policy

SDPA selects presenters and develops program content for its continuing education that respects cultural, individual and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status.  SDPA maintains committees whose focuses are on diversity issues.  These committees are encouraged to work with the CPD Committee and the President and Board to propose culturally competent educational programming.  In addition, the President and Board work to increase recruitment of psychologists. from diverse communities into membership and leadership positions in SDPA; to recruit prospective continuing education course presenters from these communities as well as those with education, training and clinical experience working with persons from these diverse communities.

CE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABILITY POLICY

CE Accommodations for Disability Policy

SDPA ensures that all continuing education programs accommodate individuals with disabilities, according to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Particular attention is paid to issues of accessibility, customer service and publicity.  Most continuing education programs are presented at the SDPA Office that is located in an ADA compliant building.  When larger continuing education events are scheduled, the CPD Committee ensures that the venues selected are accommodating as well.  Signage is utilized to communicate the locations of accessible parking, toilets and communication resources.

Course promotion materials clearly state SDPA's commitment to nondiscrimination and accessibility and work to communicate to prospective participants the availability of ADA compliant resources.  Course registration materials request specific information regarding accommodations necessary for participants.

SDPA prepares all staff and volunteers at the continuing education events to serve individuals with disabilities in a knowledgeable and sensitive manner.  This includes respect for autonomy and agency: accommodation for the need for more time to communicate, complete required tasks, and move from one location to the next; and availability of information regarding the location of communication equipment, accessible bathrooms, and ramps.  Program staff members ensure the identification and availability of staff members to handle inquiries and requests related to disability.

Course promotional materials are offered in multiple formats and media (print, internet based, radio or television) to ensure wide dissemination.  Print materials are reviewed to increase accessibility for the visually impaired and are also disseminated on internet-based platforms (website, social media) to increase accessibility.  When necessary, CPD Committee staff members will work with local disability advocacy groups to publicize events to members of the community who may not be reached by traditional media.

CE GRIEVANCE POLICY

CE Grievance Policy

SDPA is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists. SDPA will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants. The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of the chair(s) of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Committee, the chair(s) of the Ethics Committee and the chair(s) of the Workshop/Conference, if applicable.

While SDPA goes to great lengths to assure fair treatment for all participants and attempts to anticipate problems, there will be occasional issues that come to the attention of the CE Course or workshop/conference staff which require intervention and/or action on the part of the CE Course or workshop/conference staff or an executive officer of SDPA. This procedural description serves as a guideline for handling such grievances.

When a participant, either orally or in written format, files a grievance and expects action on the complaint, the following actions will be taken. 

1.  If the grievance concerns a speaker, the content presented by the speaker, or the style of presentation, the individual filing the grievance will be asked to put their comments in written format.  The chair(s) of the CPD Committee or the chair(s) of the workshop/conference will then pass on the comments to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the grieved individual.

2.  If the grievance concerns a CE Course or a workshop/conference course offering, it's content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the CE Course or the workshop/conference was offered, the chair(s) of the CPD Committee or the chair(s) of the workshop/conference, respectively, will mediate and will be the final arbitrator.  If the participant requests action, the chair(s) of the CPD Committee or the chair(s) of the workshop/conference will:

a.  Attempt to move the participant to another course or

b.  Provide a credit for a subsequent year's course or

c.  Provide a partial or full refund of the course fee.

Actions 2b and 2c will require a written note, documenting the grievance, for record keeping purposes.  The note need not be signed by the grieved individual.

3.  If the grievance concerns the SDPA CE program, in a specific regard, the chair(s) of the CE Committee will attempt to arbitrate.

Please contact the SDPA Office Manager (see below) to submit a complaint, or if you have additional questions.

CE Complaint Form