Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Continuing Education Providers

Act 31 of 2014 requires the health-related boards to complete 3 hours of approved training on child abuse recognition and reporting.

All health-related licensees/certificate holders and funeral directors are considered “mandatory reporters” under section 6311 of the Child Protective Services Law (23 P.S. § 6311). Therefore, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license or certificate from any of the health-related boards (except the State Board of Veterinary Medicine) or from the State Board of Funeral Directors are required to complete, as a condition of licensure, 3 hours of training approved by the Department of Human Services (DHS) on the topic of child abuse recognition and reporting.

As a condition of biennial renewal, you are required to complete 2 hours of approved training on the topic of child abuse recognition and reporting from an approved provider. If your license is close to expiration, we recommend that you check with the approved provider of your course to confirm the time-frame in which they plan to submit the results.

Continuing education results must be submitted electronically from the provider. This process can take up to seven days. If you have questions regarding the submission of the continuing education, please contact the approved provider directly before contacting the Board.

For more information on the mandatory reporting requirements, please visit keepkidssafe.pa.gov or read our FAQs.

DHS Curriculum Approval Guidelins and List of Approved Trainins (pa.gov)
Act 31 of 2014 - BPOA Child Abuse Training Providers Process (PDF)
Act 31 of 2014 - Child Abuse CE Import File Layout (PDF)
Mandated Reporter Training Under Act 31 of 2014 Relating to Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting (PDF)
Trainings for Mandated Reporters (pa.gov)
Act 31 of 2014 - Exemption Request (PDF)

Special Notice to all Health-Related Licensees and Funeral Directors

ACT 31 OF 2014 – INITIAL TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION IN CHILD ABUSE RECOGNITION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA), in conjunction with the Department of Human Services (DHS), is providing advance notice to all health-related licensees and funeral directors that are considered "mandatory reporters" under section 6311 of the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) (23 P.S. § 6311), as amended, that EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DHS-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure.

Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.

Please note that Act 31 applies to all health-related licensees, regardless of whether they are subject to the continuing education requirements of the applicable board.

More information regarding this requirement will be posted on the BPOA website when it is available.