As a mental health professional, you know keeping your license up to date is vital to ensure you can continue working with clients.. If a mental health professional doesn’t keep up with their continuing education (CE) requirements, they will face several consequences, possibly even including license suspension. But what many therapists don’t realize is that there are steps you can take to keep yourself on track with CE credits and avoid facing negative consequences with your board in the first place. Here are 10 simple ways to keep yourself organized when it comes to CE credits.
Keep a List of All Your CE Credits
Keeping a list of all the CE credits you’ve completed is an easy way to make sure you don’t miss out on anything. If your state requires 30 hours of continuing education every year, for example, you’ll need to complete at least 30 different credits during that time period. Some courses are 1 unit, some are 5 units, and others are 12 units. If you can remember everything that you’ve done since your last license renewal, that’s great! If not, though, it’s important to take the time to sit down and write everything out.
Organizing your Certificates
One of the most annoying things about continuing education is having to organize all those darn certificates. Some states require you to print them out, while others ask for them via email. Either way, it’s important to be able to produce these certificates when your state board asks for them – which can be at any time. If you have an online account where the provider sends the certificate directly to you, store that information in case you need it later on.
Research Your CE Credits
It’s easy to just register for webinars, seminars, or online classes whenever you get the chance. However, if you’re not careful about what classes you choose, it may be months before you even look at them again. Before signing up for anything, do your research and think carefully about why you need this particular type of credit and whether or not you’ll actually use it down the road.
Keep a Calendar
If you’re like most people, your days are already planned out pretty tightly with clients, family commitments, and everything else you have going on. If that’s the case, it can be easy to forget about continuing education altogether because there’s no room for it. But make time anyway! Mark your calendar with deadlines, registration dates, and anything else related to CE credits so you don’t find yourself scrambling at the last minute to get everything done.
Plan Ahead
It’s human nature for us to be more productive and motivated when we’re working towards a goal. If you plan out your continuing education far in advance, instead of just signing up for classes whenever you get the chance, it will make the process that much easier. You can even create a schedule that allows you to space out each type of credit, like seminars and online classes.
Be Flexible
There will be times when you absolutely cannot attend a live event or webinar because you’re too busy. Don’t worry; there are other options! It’s amazing how much material is available via podcasts these days. Not only that but many providers offer CE credit for online courses as well. The course you’re interested in may even be offered later in the year. Make sure to check the provider’s schedule to see if the course is being offered at a more convenient time.
Don’t Give Up
This may sound like an obvious statement, but it’s worth repeating because it’s true. If there are classes or events that you want to attend, don’t give up! Schedule your life around them if you need to. It may mean having a night out with friends moved an hour earlier, but it’s worth it when you get the CE credits that you need.
Check Your State’s Licensing Requirements
Every state has different licensing requirements for mental health professionals. It’s important to be familiar with these requirements so you can get the CE credits that you need in a timely manner. Not only that, but it’s also a good idea to see what your state requires so you can ensure a seamless renewal.
Search for CE Providers Online
There are so many providers out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of education opportunities available. However, you can narrow down your search by simply typing your state, profession, and “CE credits” into any search engine online and checking out what comes up. From there, you should be able to find a reputable provider and explore your options.
Get an App That Reminds You When It’s Time For New Credits
It’s as simple as that. Having a reminder right on your phone about when you need new CE credits can be incredibly helpful and will save you time, energy, and possibly even license suspension if you don’t have the proper certification to practice anymore. There are plenty of apps out there to choose from so just pick one and start using it! (We’re pretty proud of ours. Want to learn more? Click here to download it for free and try it out.
Discuss CE Credits With Other Professionals
You’re not alone! Talk to other practitioners in your area about how they stay updated on their CE credits. You’ll find that a lot of them have the same struggles as you do and may have even developed some creative ways to get it done, so ask around and see what you can learn from each other. Plus, having a community is great for accountability.
Do Something You Enjoy
When it comes to CE credits, you should never feel like you’re being forced to do something. Make sure your educational activities are things that you enjoy so you won’t dread doing them every year. If the content doesn’t interest you, try different options until you find courses and events that do. Stay motivated and make your educational experience as easy as possible.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
Finding time to get your CE credits is hard enough without also getting stressed out about it. If you miss an opportunity to take the course that you wanted, don’t stress about it. It’s not a big deal and you can still find a way to get those credits down the road. Remember that learning is an ongoing process, so as long as you’re always trying your best, you’ll be fine.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Finding time and energy to get your CE credits may seem impossible, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’ve got a family to take care of or responsibilities that keep you busy, you can still find a way to get those credits done. From hiring a personal life coach to help you organize your time and a professional organizer to help you stay on track, there are plenty of options out there.
Courses Are Only Valuable If You Take Them
Remember that these courses are only valuable if you take them! So make sure to pay attention during the seminars and webinars you attend, because your future self will thank you for it. Make note of any information or studies that may come in handy later down the road and don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything that isn’t clear to you. The point is to learn, so make it count!
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of ways to stay organized with CE credits, it’s just a matter of finding the ones that work best for you. Whether it’s setting up reminders on your phone or talking to your colleagues about what courses they’re taking, remember that learning is ongoing. If you’re looking for the best way to keep your credits organized, check out our app! Eliminate the guesswork of keeping track of the credits you’ve earned, stop spending your time looking for misplaced certificates, and never again miscount when it’s time to renew your credits! Click here to download the app for free and try it out.
