Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors
Online, self-paced continuing education for Pennsylvania licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and associate licensees. Pennsylvania licensees complete 30 hours every two years, including 3 hours of professional ethics, 1 hour of suicide prevention under Act 74 of 2016, and 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting from a Department-approved provider. The Board has had no live continuing education requirement since November 2019. Dr. Paulson Professional Counseling LLC is an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7987. These courses are designed around Pennsylvania requirements but are not approved or endorsed by the Pennsylvania Board. Licensees verify current requirements with the Board.
AI in Behavioral Health: Ethics, Risks, and Responsible Use (3 Clock Hours) -Pennsylvania
Explains how existing Pennsylvania ethics, confidentiality, and recordkeeping rules apply to AI tools
Reviews pending Pennsylvania bills (HB 1925 and SB 1090) and Department of State action on unlicensed chatbots, with other states' laws as examples
Covers HIPAA business associate agreements and privacy risks for AI scribes and chatbots
Couple and Family Therapy: Systemic Assessment, Evidence-Based Models, and Ethical Practice (5 Clock Hours) -Pennsylvania
Five clock hours of marriage and family therapy content for Pennsylvania LMFTs, LPCs, and social workers
EFT, Gottman, IBCT, FFT, MST, BSFT, MDFT, ABFT, and more
Practical tools and case studies in every module
Gambling Addiction Treatment: A Brief Review (2 Clock Hours) -Pennsylvania
Explains why Gambling Disorder moved from impulse control disorders to addictive disorders, and the brain changes it shares with substance use.
Reviews the nine diagnostic criteria for Gambling Disorder, including chasing losses and bailouts.
Trains clinicians on screening and assessment tools such as the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and the NODS.
Foundations of Crisis Intervention (4 Clock Hours) -Pennsylvania
Specialized instruction on field-based models, de-escalation techniques, and lethality assessment are provided.
Professionals learn to evaluate physical safety risks and manage intense affective flooding during active emergencies.
Structured protocols guide the assessment of suicidal intent and homicidal ideation to protect the broader community.
Assessment and Diagnosis of Trauma (4 Clock Hours) -Pennsylvania
Course highlights include specialized instruction on the neurobiology of trauma, differentiating posttraumatic stress from acute stress, and recognizing comorbid disorders.
Professionals utilize standardized screening instruments like the PCL-5 and conduct structured clinical interviews safely.
Formulating actionable objectives based on the SMART goal framework ensures treatment plans directly address immediate safety and long-term stabilization needs.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Co-Occurring Disorders (6 Clock Hours) -Pennsylvania
Uses the Quadrant Model of Care to match clients with co-occurring disorders to the right level of services.
Builds skills in differential diagnosis, separating substance-induced symptoms from independent psychiatric disorders.
Clarifies Pennsylvania scope of practice for LPCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, LSWs, and LBSWs, and how they work with DDAP-licensed drug and alcohol programs.
Pennsylvania Professional Ethics for Counselors, MFTs, and Social Workers (3 Clock Hours)
Clinicians apply the Pennsylvania codes of ethical practice and the CE rules for the February 28, 2027 renewal, including the 20 clock hour home study limit.
Practitioners handle releases, records requests, and subpoenas under the Mental Health Procedures Act, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and Act 65 of 2020.
Professionals identify when Pennsylvania law calls for a warning or a mandated report and document the decision with a step by step template.
Suicide Risk Assessment, Treatment, and Management for Pennsylvania Clinicians: Act 74 (1 Hour)
Designed around the Act 74 suicide prevention hour required at each Pennsylvania renewal
Covers assessment, treatment, and management of suicide risk, the three areas named in the law
Includes Pennsylvania's Mental Health Procedures Act, 302 process, and minor consent rules