Question 1

Does Illinois require Implicit Bias Awareness training for psychologists?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Illinois Licensed Clinical Psychologists must complete 1 hour of Implicit Bias Awareness training as part of the 24-hour CE requirement each license cycle. This requirement is established under 68 Ill. Admin. Code Section 1130.500 and 20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7.

Question 2

What is implicit bias?

Accepted Answer

Under 68 Ill. Admin. Code Section 1130.500(a), implicit bias is defined as a form of bias that occurs automatically and unintentionally, but nevertheless affects judgments, decisions, and behaviors.

Question 3

What topics must the Implicit Bias Awareness training course cover?

Accepted Answer

Per 68 Ill. Admin. Code Section 1130.500(f), the course must include, at minimum: an explanation of implicit bias and the difference between explicit and implicit biases; the causes of implicit bias, including how it forms and operates; the effects of implicit bias, including the harms it causes; and methods for recognizing, interrupting, and mitigating implicit bias.

Question 4

Does the Implicit Bias Awareness training requirement apply to psychologists who provide maternal health care services?

Accepted Answer

Yes, effective July 1, 2026. Under 20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7(b), a health care professional, including a clinical psychologist licensed under the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act, who reports to IDFPR that they provide maternal health care services and seeks to renew a license must complete a 1-hour Implicit Bias Awareness training course that includes training on potential maternal health risk factors associated with childbearing individuals who are part of a marginalized racial or ethnic group with increased maternal mortality rates. Maternal health care services means prenatal care or postnatal care, with postnatal care defined as an office visit for post-pregnancy care occurring within 12 months after a person has given birth.

Question 5

How often must Illinois psychologists complete Implicit Bias Awareness training?

Accepted Answer

Every renewal period. Per 68 Ill. Admin. Code Section 1130.500(i), completion of the course is a condition of renewing a license and must be repeated for each subsequent renewal period. This requirement has applied to license renewals occurring on or after January 1, 2023.

Question 6

Can one Implicit Bias Awareness course satisfy the requirement for multiple professional licenses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Per 68 Ill. Admin. Code Section 1130.500(a), a licensee who holds multiple licenses subject to this requirement may count one completed course toward the requirement for each license, without repeating the course separately for each license.

Question 7

Who is required to complete Implicit Bias Awareness training in Illinois?

Accepted Answer

68 Ill. Admin. Code Section 1130.500(b) applies the requirement to health care professionals holding any of 38 listed licenses, including clinical psychologist. 20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7(a) separately defines health care professional to include persons licensed under the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act, among numerous other licensing Acts administered by IDFPR.

Question 8

Who is approved to provide Implicit Bias Awareness training courses?

Accepted Answer

Per 68 Ill. Admin. Code Section 1130.500(c), the course may be provided by a Division-approved CE provider, an entity recognized as a CE provider under a licensing Act administered by the Division, a State of Illinois agency, an Illinois county agency, an Illinois municipality, a federal agency, an accredited community college, college, or university, or a licensed health care institution for its own employees or associates. Subsections (d) and (e) also allow a licensee to count a qualifying implicit bias course taken to satisfy another state licensure, accreditation, certification, or institutional practice requirement, or one developed by the licensee's employer meeting the minimum topic requirements, toward this 1-hour requirement.

Question 9

What format can the Implicit Bias Awareness training course be delivered in?

Accepted Answer

Per 68 Ill. Admin. Code Section 1130.500(g), the course may be presented in a classroom setting, a webinar, or online.

Question 10

Does Implicit Bias Awareness training count toward the 24-hour CE requirement?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Per the IDFPR CE-PSY fact sheet, the 1 hour of Implicit Bias Awareness training is one of the mandated topics counted within the 24 total CE hours required each license cycle, not in addition to it.

Question 11

Where can Illinois psychologists complete Implicit Bias Awareness training?

Accepted Answer

Spring Advisory is an APA and IDFPR-approved CE provider, Illinois Psychologist CE Sponsor #268.000141, offering a course that satisfies this requirement: Implicit Bias Awareness and Strategies Towards Culturally Responsive Care (1 CE Credit Hour). This course is also included in Spring Advisory's Illinois Psychologist License Renewal 10 CE Bundle, which covers all mandated CE topics for Illinois psychologists.

Illinois Psychologist Implicit Bias Awareness Training CE FAQ

Based on Illinois Administrative Code
68 Ill. Admin. Code Section 1130.500, an 1-Hour Implicit Bias Awareness Course is:

Required for All Healthcare Workers

Include Mandated Course Content

A Repeated Requirement for Every Renewal

Ok to Take One For All of Your IL Licenses

Regulatory Source and Verification

Fulfill the 1 CE Implicit Bias Training Requirement