3 Hours / 3 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Advanced Topics in the Assessment of Competency to Stand Trial - Part 2: Neurocognitive Complications, Testing Considerations, and Data Caveats is presented by Terry Kukor, PhD, ABPP, and Lori L. Hauser, PhD, ABPP, in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP).

This is Part 2 of a three-part workshop series that focuses on more nuanced topics and issues that arise in evaluations of competence to stand trial in adults. Symptoms (and signs) of various neurocognitive disorders are presented, and their impact on competency-related capacities is discussed. Careful selection of appropriate – i.e., relevant, useful, necessary – psychological and forensic assessment instruments is covered, including those situations in which testing may be unnecessary or unwarranted. Situations in which continuous clinical data must be mapped to dichotomous legal criteria are discussed in terms of how to best apply caveats and recommend accommodations for the court’s benefit. Case examples are used throughout to illustrate the concepts and encourage discussion among participants.

Participants are strongly encouraged to participate in the Part 1 training before registering for this event. Full event details can be found here. 

This is not an introductory workshop series on competency assessment. The target audience includes forensic mental health professionals at any stage in their career, provided they have some basic understanding of the fundamentals of competency assessment.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe signs of possible neurocognitive problems that impact functional legal capacities related to competency to stand trial
  • 2 Describe specific circumstances when psychological testing may be relevant/useful in addressing a particular question related to a CST evaluation, including situations in which such may be unnecessary
  • 3 Describe situations in which evaluation results should be caveated and accommodations recommended for the court’s benefit

Training Instructors:

Terry Kukor, PhD, ABPP

Terry Kukor, PhD, ABPP

Terry Kukor, Ph.D., ABPP, is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. In late 2023 he retired from his salaried position at the Netcare Forensic Center in Columbus, Ohio, where he had held a variety of roles including Director of Forensic Services, Senior Forensic Psychologist, and Training Director for the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology. He is now in independent practice.

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Lori L. Hauser, PhD, ABPP

Lori L. Hauser, PhD, ABPP

Lori L. Hauser, PhD, ABPP, is a board-certified forensic psychologist employed at Whiting Forensic Hospital in Middletown, Connecticut. There, she oversees the competency restoration service and conducts forensic evaluations – competency, as well as general and sexual violence risk management – for the hospital.

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  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for forensic mental health professionals—including psychologists, psychiatrists, and those in related fields—who have a basic understanding of competency to stand trial evaluations and have completed Part 1 of this series. It is intended for those who work with adults with possible neurocognitive disorders and need to consider how these conditions affect competency-related capacities, including selecting assessment tools, interpreting results for legal purposes, and making recommendations or accommodations for the court.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Forensic Psychologists
    • Forensic Psychiatrists
    • Neuropsychologists
    • Clinical Psychologists working in forensic contexts
    • Psychiatrists specializing in forensic assessments
    • Licensed Clinical Social Workers involved in forensic evaluations

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with foundational knowledge of competency assessment, and is appropriate for a range of experience levels:

    • Beginner: Participants have basic familiarity with competency to stand trial evaluations and are seeking to deepen their understanding of nuanced issues, such as neurocognitive disorders and the selection of assessment instruments.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience conducting competency evaluations and are looking to refine their skills in identifying complex clinical presentations, making informed decisions about psychological testing, and applying legal criteria to clinical data.

    • Advanced: Participants have substantial experience in forensic mental health and competency evaluations and are interested in advanced discussion of challenging cases, integrating nuanced clinical findings, and providing sophisticated recommendations and caveats to the court.

  • Practice Setting

    Practitioners typically operate in secure inpatient or jail-based settings, court-affiliated clinics, and community or hospital outpatient services that interface directly with criminal courts. They evaluate adult defendants with possible neurocognitive disorders, integrate clinical and testing data, and communicate competency-related opinions and accommodations to legal stakeholders.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • State hospital forensic units and competency restoration programs
    • Jail-based mental health services or court clinics
    • Court-affiliated forensic evaluation centers
    • Community outpatient forensic clinics
    • Private practice conducting court-ordered evaluations
    • Academic medical centers with forensic psychiatry/neuropsychology services
    • Veterans Health Administration clinics providing forensic assessments
    • Mental health or problem-solving court consultation services
We are proud to partner with

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

We are proud to partner with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for this training. AAFP is a non-profit organization of board-certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research, and practice. The Academy does this by providing high-quality continuing education workshops, providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.

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CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.