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California Board of Psychology details 36‑hour CPD rules, recordkeeping and audit process
Summary
At a March 27, 2026 CPD informational webinar, the California Board of Psychology outlined the 36‑hour continuing professional development requirement, category definitions, recordkeeping expectations and the audit process including documentation and potential sanctions.
The California Board of Psychology held a March 27, 2026 informational webinar explaining how licensees must meet continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for renewal.
Troy Pulk, the board’s CPD renewals coordinator, told attendees that “the general requirements for licences include completion of 36 hours of CPD during each 2‑year renewal period,” and that hours must come from at least two of the four CPD categories unless a licensee earns a specialty certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABP). He said the renewal cycle requires at least four hours in law and ethics and four hours in cultural diversity/social justice each period.
Why it matters: The board stressed that licensees need to keep records for four years because only those selected for a random audit must submit documentation. Pulk noted the board will not issue attendance certificates for this webinar and that attendees should record the date (March 27, 2026), medium (webinar) and title for their CPD records.
What the categories require: The webinar summarized four CPD categories and key limits: Category 1 (professional activity) includes pure consultation (maximum 18 hours credited), practice outcome monitoring (credit based on number of distinct clients; 1 client = 1 hour; up to 9 hours), unpaid professional services (program development, boards; reporting rules apply) and conference/convention attendance (one conference day = 1 CPD hour; 6‑hour maximum for the activity). Category 2 (academic) covers graduate coursework, supervision (hour‑for‑hour when trainees are accruing licensure hours), publications (one publication = 9 hours) and self‑directed learning (books, podcasts, recorded video; 6‑hour maximum). Category 3 is sponsored continuing education (approved CE providers such as APA/CPA/ACCME; up to 27 hours). Category 4 (board certification) allows ABP specialty certification earned during the renewal period to count for all 36 hours; a senior ABP option can count for 18 hours.
Audit, penalties and appeals: Pulk said about 2% of renewing active psychologists are randomly selected for CPD audit and that all board members are audited each cycle. Audited licensees receive certified‑mail notice and have 60 days (with a 30‑day reminder) to submit documentation. If the board finds deficiencies, outcomes range from an educational letter to a citation with an order of abatement and a fine; citation appeals follow the administrative hearing process. “Approximately 2% of renewing active psychologists are selected for a CPD audit,” he said.
What attendees asked: Common questions included whether short consultations can be combined (yes: board accepts multiple shorter consultations so long as at least one hour is completed when using that activity), whether conferences without CEUs can count (days of attendance may count under conference attendance even if CEUs are not issued), and how practice outcome monitoring should be documented (provide dates, a non‑identifying client identifier and the measure used). Pulk recommended contacting the licensing unit for borderline cases and provided the board email (bopce@dca.ca.gov).
Next steps: The board will upload webinar slides and a recording to the Board of Psychology website for reference. Attendees were reminded to preserve records and to respond promptly if selected for audit.
