During its 2012 legislative session, Washington State passed ESHB 2366, otherwise known as the Matt Adler Suicide Assessment, Treatment, and Management Act of 2012. ESHB 2366 is a significant legislative achievement as it is the first law in the country to require certain health professionals to obtain continuing education in the assessment,…

Although controversial, mandatory continuing education (MCE) can support the effective practice of professionals and the ideal of lifelong learning. MCE has flaws but the benefits outweigh the problems. (JOW)

Discusses Kansas' three-year experience with mandatory continuing education for relicensure for all nurses. Includes information on the law as well as the effects and problems of mandatory continuing education. (JOW)

This article applies the principle of cost-benefit analysis to mandatory continuing education in nursing. The costs and benefits, real and hypothetical, to the nurse, to the consumer of nursing care, to institutions which supply health care, and to society, are explored. (Author/CT)

Looks at the trend toward compulsory continuing education for teachers and at a court case in which a teacher lost her job for refusing to take courses. Urges teachers to take action to oppose mandatory continuing education. (IRT)

Compulsory continuing professional education (CPE) is inappropriate because (1) it reproduces conformity and dependency-producing practices; (2) a professional is essentially self-directed and autonomous; and (3) CPE will not reform "unprofessional" professionals who lack lifelong learning attitudes. (SK)

Voluntarism, historically a fundamental principle and characteristic of adult education, is at risk with the development of mandated continuing professional education. Education is mandated by (1) direct regulation in state licensure laws; (2) indirect regulation through professional membership, employment requirements, and specialized…

In Australia, continuing professional education policy and provision are not integrated in relation to professional education, other education sectors, cross-professional contact, or purpose. Debates about mandatory continuing education and competence have exacerbated the lack of integration. Closer ties with professional education could improve…

In Brockett's opinion, mandatory continuing education does not ensure effective and competent performance, and it violates adult education principles. Le Grand finds it a natural extension of preprofessional preparation. (SK)

Experience with nuclear power plant workers for whom continuing education is mandated yielded techniques for incorporating self-direction to overcome resistance: educate management, involve workers, know the audience, incorporate feedback in training plans, be consistent, use learning contracts, motivate learners, use alternative methods, build…

Continuing education consultant Louis Philips talks about changes in licensure and certification in professions, the increase in mandatory continuing education, and tends in relicensure and recertification. (SK)

Mandatory continuing education is found to be generally inexpensive, not detracting from practice time, undertaken for a variety of positive reasons, and worthwhile for upgrading skills. Many states are increasing continuing education requirements as a means of increasing professional accountability. (MSE)

Continuing professional education has proven to be an acceptable control mechanism to assure professional competence. Officially recognized first under the Engineering, Science, Management War Training Act of World War II, the continuing education movement is still gaining attention in the United States with 16 professions in the 50 states…

The arguments for and against mandatory continuing education for professionals and critiques of these arguments are presented. A cybernetic model based on comparison of practice performance to standards of practice, educational remedies for weaknesses, and evaluation for relicensure or recertification is presented. (Author/MLW)

Smith describes the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education's provider approval program, a mechanism for assessing the quality of available continuing education programs. She maintains that the issue is not one of mandatory continuing education, but of ensuring the existence of programing which uses accepted principles of adult education. (SK)