How to Obtain CE credit

At the ABCT Annual Convention, there are ticketed events (meaning you usually have to buy a ticket for one of these beyond the general registration fee) and general sessions (meaning you can usually get in by paying the general registration fee), the vast majority of which qualify for CE credit. Below is a list of organizations that have approved ABCT as a CE sponsor. Note that we do not currently offer CMEs. Attendance at each continuing education session in its entirety is required to receive CE credit. No partial credit is awarded; late arrival or early departure will preclude awarding of CE credit. For those who have met all requirements according to the organizations that have approved ABCT as a CE sponsor, certificates will be mailed early in the new year following the Annual Convention.

ABCT is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. ABCT maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Social Work: This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886427222-2563) for 49 continuing education contact hours.

The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5797. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

ABCT is recognized as a California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)-approved Continuing Education Provider (#133136). The ABCT Annual Convention meets the qualifications for 28 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

All ticketed events offer CE in addition to educational opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills. These events are targeted for attendees with a particular level of expertise (e.g., basic, moderate, and/or advanced). Ticketed sessions require an additional payment beyond the general registration fee. For ticketed events, attendees must scan in and scan out, and complete and return an individual evaluation form. It remains the responsibility of the attendee to sign in at the beginning of the session and out at the end of the session. CE will not be awarded unless the attendee scans in and out.

Clinical Intervention Training

A 1-day event emphasizing the "how-to" of clinical interventions. The extended length allows for exceptional interaction. Participants attending a full-day session can earn 7 continuing education credits.

Institutes

Leaders and topics for Institutes are selected from previous ABCT workshop presentations. Institutes are offered as a 5- or 7-hour session on Thursday and are generally limited to 40 attendees. Participants in the full-day Institute can earn 7 continuing education credits, and in the half-day Institutes can earn 5 continuing education credits.

Workshops

Covering concerns of the practitioner/educator/researcher, these remain an anchor of the Convention. Workshops are offered on Friday and Saturday, are 3 hours long, and are generally limited to 60 attendees. Participants in these Workshops can earn 3 continuing education credits per workshop.

Master Clinician Seminars (MCS)

The most skilled clinicians explain their methods and show video demonstrations of sessions. These 2-hour sessions are offered throughout the Convention and are generally limited to 40 to 45 attendees. Participants in these seminars can earn 2 continuing education credits per seminar.

Advanced Methodology and Statistics Seminars (AMASS)

Designed to enhance researchers' abilities, there are generally two seminars offered on Thursday or during the course of the Convention. They are 4 hours long and limited to 40 attendees. Participants in these courses can earn 4 continuing education credits per seminar.

There are 200 general sessions each year competing for your attention. All general sessions are included with the registration fee. Most of the sessions are eligible for CE, with the exception of the poster sessions, Membership Panel Discussions, the Special Interest Group Meetings (SIG), and a few other sessions. You are eligible to earn 1 CE credit per hour of attendance. General session attendees must scan in and out and answer evaluation questions in the CE booklet regarding each session attended. The booklets will be distributed via e-mail and must be returned to ABCT by the end of December. General session types that are eligible for CE include:

Clinical Grand Rounds

Clinical experts engage in simulated live demonstrations of therapy with clients, who are generally portrayed by graduate students studying with the presenter.

Invited Panels and Addresses

Speakers well-established in their field, or who hold positions of particular importance, share their unique insights and knowledge on a broad topic of interest.

Mini-Workshops

Mini Workshops address direct clinical care or training at a broad, introductory level. They are 90 minutes in length and occur throughout the meeting.

Panel Discussion

Discussions (or debates) by informed individuals on a current important topic that are conceptual in nature, rather than pertaining directly to clinical care. Examples of topics for panel discussions include (but are not limited to) supervision/training issues, ethical considerations in treatment or training, the use of technology in treatment, and cultural considerations in the application of CBTs. Some topics may be appropriate for either Clinical Round Tables or Panel Discussions, and authors are invited to use their judgment in making this decision. These are organized by a moderator and include between three and five panelists with a range of experiences and attitudes. The total number of speakers may not exceed 7.

Clinical Round Tables

Discussions (or debates) by informed individuals on a current important topic directly related to patient care, treatment, and/or the application/implementation of a treatment. Examples of topics for Clinical Round Tables include (but are not limited to) challenges/suggestions for treating a certain disorder or group of patients, application of a treatment protocol or type of treatment to a novel population, considerations in applying CBTs to marginalized communities and/or minority groups. Some topics may be appropriate for either Clinical Round Tables or Panel Discussions, and authors are invited to use their judgment in making this decision. Clinical Round Tables are organized by a moderator and include between three and six panelists with a range of experiences and attitudes. The total number of speakers may not exceed 7.

Spotlight Research Presentations

This format provides a forum to debut new findings considered to be groundbreaking or innovative for the field. A limited number of extended-format sessions consisting of a 45-minute research presentation and a 15-minute question-and-answer period allows for more in-depth presentation than is permitted by symposia or other formats.

Symposia

Presentations of data, usually investigating the efficacy or effectiveness of treatment protocols. Symposia are either 60 or 90 minutes in length. They have one or two chairs, one discussant, and between three and five papers. The total number of speakers may not exceed 6.

Membership Panel Discussions

Organized by representatives of the Membership Committees, these events generally emphasize training or career development.

Poster Sessions

One-on-one discussions between researchers, who display graphic representations of the results of their studies and interested attendees. Because of the variety of interests and research areas of the ABCT attendees, between 1,100 and 1,500 posters are presented each year.

Special Interest Group (SIG) Meetings

More than 40 SIGs meet each year to accomplish business (such as electing officers), renew relationships, and often offer presentations. SIG talks are not peer-reviewed by the Association.

Special Sessions

These events are designed to provide useful information regarding professional rather than scientific issues. For more than 20 years the Internship and Postdoctoral Overviews have helped attendees find their educational path. Other special sessions often include expert panels on getting into graduate school, career development, information on grant applications, and a meeting of the Directors of Clinical Training. These sessions are not eligible for continuing education credit.

Other Sessions

Other sessions not eligible for CE are noted as such on the itinerary planner and in the program book.

ABCT is proud to offer you opportunities to learn from proven educators. Here is an efficient and effective way to hone your clinical skills, learn the results of the latest research, and earn continuing education credits as well.

The continuing education fee is included in your general registration fee this year. All attendees will be sent an access code to the Cadmium Survey Magnet where they can complete their sessions quizzes, complete their evaluations, and keep track of continuing education credits. The magnet also includes a certificate listing all your sessions that can be saved and/or printed.

Ticketed sessions require an additional payment beyond the general registration fee. For ticketed events, attendees must complete an individual evaluation form and a session quiz. Attendees must remain in the virtual session for the entire period in order to receive CE credit.

ABCT is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists. ABCT will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be nondiscriminatory 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 Coordinator of Convention and Continuing Education Issues in conjunction with the Convention Manager.

Although ABCT 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 Convention staff that require intervention and/or action on the part of the convention staff or an officer of ABCT. This procedural description serves as a guideline for handling such grievances.

All grievances must be filed in writing to ensure a clear explanation of the problem.

If the grievance concerns satisfaction with a CE session, the Convention Manager shall determine whether a full or partial refund (either in money or credit for a future CE event) is warranted. If the complainant is not satisfied, their materials will be forwarded to the Coordinator of Convention and Education Issues for a final decision.

If the grievance concerns a speaker and particular materials presented, the Convention Manager shall bring the issue to the Coordinator of Convention and Education Issues, who may consult with the members of the education issues committees. The Coordinator will formulate a response to the complaint and recommend action if necessary, which will be conveyed directly to the complainant. For example, a grievance concerning a speaker may be conveyed to that speaker and also to those planning future educational programs.

Records of all grievances, the process of resolving the grievance, and the outcome will be kept in the files of the Convention Manager. A copy of this Grievance Procedure will be available upon request.

If you have a complaint, please contact Stephen R. Crane, Convention Manager, at scrane@abct.org or (212) 647-1890.