Oklahoma Psychological Association
"Thinking Psychologically, Serving Responsibly"  

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OPA Approved Continuing Education Activities

The fee for CE application has changed as of June 1, 2003. It is $40.00 for Agencies and OPA non-member applicants, and $20 for OPA Member applicants.  If a seminar is free to psychologists there is no fee for a CE application.


Other Sources of Continuing Education--The linked page lists ongoing sources of CE which can be used at any time.

 

Excerpts from the OPA Rules Regarding Continuing Education Procedure (a full hard copy of OPA rules is available from Dana Foley:

The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists has approved the OPA as a continuing education provider effective March 17, 1990.  CE credits approved by OPA are applicable to license renewal in Oklahoma.

Continuing education certification may be granted for educational activities relevant to psychological practice (including administration, community service and teaching), theory or methods which are at a post-graduate level.   The educational program or activity must be designed to accomplish at least one of the following goals

1. improve competence in professionally relevant ways

2. make possible the acquisition of new skills and knowledge required to maintain competence

3. strengthen the habits of critical inquiry and balanced judgment that denote the professional and scientific person

4. provide exposure to new ideas, research or techniques which increase the knowledge of those attending

Continuing education certification is limited to formally organized learning experiences targeted toward a professional audience.   Activities designed to promote personal growth and development, which may be valid and valuable, may not be appropriate for continuing education certification.   Experiential workshops must train the psychologist to directly utilize the experiential methods or techniques as opposed to primarily benefiting the personal growth and adjustment of the psychologist.

OPA CE certification is for specific workshops and no general or blanket approval may be extended.  However, a specific workshop may be certified for more than one date provided these dates are specified at the time of application.

CE certification is not provided for academic courses or programs of study.

Under certain circumstances, a provider may choose to offer an activity in segments across a time period.  Certification of a series of activities may be permitted to the degree that the sections are logically and legitimately connected, serve specific unifying goals and objectives, and are sufficiently close together in time to provide a coherent and functioning training experience.

At major conventions or symposia, several workshops or break out sessions may be combined under one activity certification provided that all of the activities meet learning experience requirements, that they are related to a unifying theme, and that proper provisions are made to ensure participant attendance.  At such workshops, credit is not given for business meetings or social activities.

CE programs must meet the ethical and professional standards of OPA and the APA.

As a general rule, CE credit will be awarded only for activities attended by six or more professional participants.

Following approval of the CE activity, the sponsor will be provided with an OPA CE Approval number and a Verification of Attendance form.   The sponsor will be responsible for providing participants with an appropriately completed Continuing Education Approval Verification of Attendance form in addition to any other attendance form or certificate awarded by the sponsor.  The participant's name and license number will entered in the appropriate spaces in the presence of the sponsor or sponsor's representative..

All continuing education activities should have formally stated learning objectives.  Such objectives define the intended outcome of the training experience.

Category A credit is awarded for formally organized learning experiences which meet the general requirements already stated and which provide

1.specified content, topic, or objectives

2. a format or curriculum which demonstrate a reasonable probability of translating program objectives into action

3. instructors with demonstrated special competence or expertise in the area taught by virtue of academic preparation and/or work-related experience

4. a sufficient duration (minimum 3 hours ) to explore one subject or a closely related group of subjects in reasonable depth

5. an evaluation of participant satisfaction and the effectiveness of the activity

Activities which may be appropriate for category A credit include formal workshops, training institutes, and professional seminars or conferences.
 

Category B credit is awarded for formally organized learning experiences which meet the general requirements already stated and which provide

1.specified content, topic, or objectives

2. a format or curriculum which demonstrate a reasonable probability of translating program objectives into action

3. instructors with demonstrated special competence or expertise in the area taught by virtue of academic preparation and/or work-related experience

4. a sufficient duration (minimum 1 hour) to explore the subject matter in reasonable depth

Activities which may be appropriate for category B credit include symposia, invited speakers, colloquia, and professional or scientific meetings.
 

CONTINUING EDUCATION CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE

If  you are interested in obtaining continuing education certification for your program through the
Oklahoma Psychological Association, you may request an application packet from the person below.  Hours from OPA approved workshops can be used by Oklahoma psychologists for licensure renewal requirements.
 

Contact:
Dana D. Foley, Ph.D.
Veteran's Affairs Medical Center
921 N.E. 13, #116A
Oklahoma City, OK  73104
Fax:  (405) 270-1523
Telephone:  (405) 270-5171

The following materials will need to be submitted.

1. A completed and signed application form (in the packet).

2. A detailed and accurate schedule of activities with times clearly
indicated.  Be certain your documentation indicates any breaks or
adjournments, as credit cannot be awarded for such time.

3. Vitae and/or other documentation of the presenters' special
qualification or expertise.  Please be certain to document the presenters'
licensing (what type of license, by what agency, etc.).

4. Adequate descriptions of program content and learning objectives.

5. A copy of the program evaluation form (Category A only).

6. Payment schedule as follows:

* a review fee of $40.00 per program or event for agencies and non-OPA
members
* a review fee of $20.00 per program for application from OPA members
* no review fee if the seminar is offered free of charge to
psychologists

 

OKLAHOMA PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OFCONTINUING EDUCATION ACTIVITY
 

Sponsoring Organization/Individual:______________________________

_________________________________________________________________

OPA member? (applies to individual application only) YES NO

Address:_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Telephone:_______________________________________________________

Category Approval Requested:______________ (A or B)

Will the program be free of charge to psychologists? YES NO

Activity Title:__________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Location:________________________________________________________

Date:____________________________________________________________

Clock Hours:_____________________________________________________

Presenter(s) (Name, academic degree, profession, and whether

licensed):_______________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
(attach additional sheets as necessary)

On separate sheet(s), please provide a brief summary of the content of the
activity, the learning objectives, description of format/teaching method,
and credentials of presenter (vita is acceptable). If more than one session
or workshop is included in the activity, this documentation must be provided
for each session and presenter. An accurate schedule of activities,
including any break periods, must be provided for verification of clock
hours. A copy of any brochure or other advertising, as well as a workshop
program must be provided as soon as available. 

"I certify that the information provided is accurate. I agree to abide by
the conditions of continuing education approval as established by the
Oklahoma Psychological Association."


_______________________________________ ___________________
Sponsor/Presenter Date

Checks for fees should be made payable to : Oklahoma Psychological
Association