Florida Mental Health Laws and Rules
$39.00
Learning Level : Intermediate
Online
Course Abstract
Florida Mental Health Laws and Rules is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course that reviews the legal and regulatory framework that governs Florida-licensed clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors.
Content of this course centers on Chapter 491, Florida Statutes; Chapter 64B4, Florida Administrative Code; and Chapter 456, Florida Statutes, and applies those authorities to everyday clinical decisions. Related duties under Chapters 39 and 394 are included as statutory obligations that commonly arise in mental health practice.
The course addresses scope of practice and title protection; intern and supervisory requirements; sexual misconduct and the duration of the psychotherapist-client relationship; record retention and practice-closure rules; continuing-education obligations; grounds for discipline and Board investigation procedure; unlicensed practice; and the impaired-practitioner path. It then turns to confidentiality under § 491.0147, the psychotherapist-patient privilege under § 90.503, the mandatory duty to notify law enforcement when specified threat criteria are met, Baker Act initiation including the 48-hour examination rule, and mandatory reporting of child abuse, abandonment, and neglect.
Instruction emphasizes ethical, legal, and competent service delivery and prudent risk management. Composite case examples illustrate advertising and title violations, records and dual-relationship failures, duty-to-protect decisions, improper Baker Act certificates, and reporting dilemmas. This course is intended for the every-third-biennium renewal laws-and-rules requirement in Rule 64B4-6.001 and is offered by a Board-approved provider that reports completions to CE Broker.
In consideration of reader convenience and comfort (and sanity), this course will be organized by topic, gathering various parts and pieces strewn across multiple regulatory documents into a concise and logical flow.
Course #31-69 | 2026 | 25 posttest questions
Learning Objectives
- Identify the scopes of practice, protected titles, and principal disciplinary grounds in Chapter 491, F.S.
- Apply Chapter 64B4 rules on records, supervision, sexual misconduct, and continuing education to a practice scenario
- Recognize Chapter 456 duties related to discipline, unlicensed practice, investigations, and impaired colleagues
- Determine when client information must be kept confidential, may be released, or must be disclosed under Florida law
- Apply Baker Act criteria and the 48-hour examination rule to decide if a professional certificate is authorized
- Decide whether a clinical situation requires an immediate report to the Florida Abuse Hotline under Chapter 39
Course Directions
This course is text-based (reading), and the CE test is open-book (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course materials). Successful completion of this course involves passing an online test (80% required, three chances to take) and we ask that you also complete a brief course evaluation. Contact us with any questions – we are here to help!
About the Author(s)
CE Information
Counseling
Professional Development Resources (PDR) has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5590. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. PDR is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
Marriage and Family Therapy
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB #1046, ACE Program); the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling; and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
Social Work
Professional Development Resources, #1046, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 6/12/2025 - 6/12/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credits. ACE format: Reading-based asynchronous distance learning. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
Customer Testimonials
I love the course. I feel this was an excellent way to refresh memories.
Very good course and it brought me up to date on some of the requirements from the state for Counselors. Thank you.
Great course. Organized very well.
Excellent course!
Good course, clearly presented, with useful links and pertinent reference information for professionals.
More Testimonials
This is an excellent course and I re-learned information that is going to be very beneficial to me in my practice, especially with the Intern students that I supervise. This course provided a valuable update on state requirements for counselors. Thank you again for such a knowledgeable course.
Well written and organized. Complex regulatory statutes clarified. Thanks.
Many positive comments. I find the format very helpful for my learning because I can have the printed text in front of me. This enables me to review and underline relevant issues. The course was very well written, used appropriate language, and was organized. I like the format, the visual presentation, the relevant references to consult later on and, the fact that it was easy to read. Your website was easy to navigate after the customer service representative gave me a tour. Thanks.
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