6 Hours / 6 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Evaluation of Fitness for Duty: Foundations & Methods is presented by David M. Corey, PhD, ABPP, in partnership with The American Academy of Forensic Psychology.

This program provides an overview of the major legal foundations and practice standards pertaining to fitness-for-duty evaluations (FFDEs), followed by an introduction of a three-step model for assessing the psychological fitness of incumbents in any position. Finally, participants practice applying the law, practice standards, and the integrative model to comprehensive case material. Each case includes employment and other collateral records, mental health/medical records, findings from the clinical interview, and an MMPI-2-RF protocol.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the legal threshold for mandating a FFDE
  • 2 Describe the competing interests of the principal parties in FFDEs and strategies for balancing them
  • 3 Describe the key federal statutes and case law relevant to FFDEs
  • 4 Describe the benefits and primary goals of a referral conference preceding a FFDE
  • 5 Describe the importance of, and strategies for, considering the impact of the examinee’s cultural self-identification when assessing fitness
  • 6 Describe the utility of a model for assessing FFDE and the elements of one that is useful
  • 7 Describe the appropriate legal and ethical limitations to be considered when preparing a written FFDE report for an employer

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who specialize in occupational or forensic psychology, with a focus on fitness-for-duty evaluations and workplace psychological safety. It is relevant for those involved in assessing employee mental health and workplace risk.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental health professionals (psychologists, counselors, social workers)
    • HR specialists
    • Occupational health staff
    • Legal consultants
    • Professionals conducting fitness-for-duty or workplace psychological evaluations

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at varying levels of experience with fitness-for-duty evaluations (FFDEs).

    • Beginner: Participants new to FFDEs or with limited exposure to legal and ethical standards will gain foundational knowledge of relevant laws, practice standards, and the three-step assessment model.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience conducting or supporting FFDEs will deepen their understanding of complex legal and ethical considerations, cultural factors, and the application of integrative assessment models to case material.

    • Advanced: Participants with extensive experience in FFDEs will refine their skills in balancing competing interests, applying nuanced legal and ethical standards, and preparing comprehensive, culturally informed reports.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals practice in organizational and safety-sensitive environments where employee psychological fitness, workplace risk, and legal/practice standards are central. They conduct FFDEs and risk assessments within corporate, public safety, and governmental contexts, coordinating with leadership, HR, and occupational health to guide return-to-work and mitigation decisions.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Corporate HR, risk management, and compliance units
    • Occupational health clinics/employee health services
    • Public safety agencies (police, fire, corrections)
    • Transportation and other safety-sensitive industries (aviation, rail, utilities)
    • Government agencies/regulatory bodies
    • Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
    • Forensic and organizational consulting practices
    • Healthcare systems and academic medical centers
Presented By

David M. Corey, PhD, ABPP

Dr. David Corey is a board certified specialist in both forensic psychology and police and public safety psychology with the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, founding president of the American Board of Police & Public Safety Psychology, and current chair of the Specialty Council for Police & Public Safety Psychology. Dr. Corey’s practice consists primarily of conducting and researching evaluations of suitability and fitness for duty for local, state, and federal police and other public safety agencies. He chaired the California POST Subject Matter Expert Panel on Implementation of AB-846 and is co-author of the California POST Psychological Screening Manual (Spilberg & Corey, 2020), in addition to more than 30 peer-reviewed books, chapters, and journal articles.
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.

Learn More About Our Partner

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.