4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Improving Use of the POST Psychological Screening Dimensions in Pre-Employment Psychological Evaluations is presented by Nancy Ryba Panza, Ph.D.

The focus of this program is to increase evaluators’ understanding of the 10 POST Psychological Screening Dimensions and to provide an interactive experience that allows for practice and training in consistently and effectively using the dimensions to support qualification decisions in pre-employment psychological evaluations for public safety candidates. 

This program demonstrates clinical cases, and participants submit ratings for each dimension and make Q/D decisions for each case. This program also covers the benefits and challenges of applying the dimensions.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe their knowledge of the 10 POST Psychological Screening Dimensions
  • 2 Describe research on the use of the dimensions in clinical practice
  • 3 Describe the dimensions to qualification decisions in pre-employment psychological evaluations
  • 4 Describe strategies to increase consistency and efficacy of the use of the dimensions in clinical practice

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who work with or have an interest in police and public safety psychology, particularly those focused on pre-employment psychological evaluations and qualification decisions for public safety candidates. It is relevant for individuals seeking to develop, enhance, or refine their assessment skills and competencies in police and public safety contexts.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist specializing in police and public safety psychology
    • Social worker
    • Counselor
    • Marriage and family therapist
    • Allied professional involved in police and public safety assessment

  • Experience Level

    This CE training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals seeking to enhance their understanding and application of the 10 POST Psychological Screening Dimensions in pre-employment psychological evaluations for public safety candidates.

    • Beginner:Participants are new to the POST Psychological Screening Dimensions, have limited experience applying them in pre-employment evaluations, and seek foundational knowledge and practical strategies for consistent and effective use.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some familiarity with the dimensions and have applied them in practice but wish to deepen their understanding, improve consistency in ratings, and integrate current research findings into their evaluation process.

    • Advanced: Participants have extensive experience using the dimensions in pre-employment evaluations, are familiar with relevant research, and seek to refine their expertise, address complex cases, and contribute to discussions on best practices and challenges.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who participate in this training typically work in environments where psychological assessment and evaluation are integral to public safety hiring and qualification processes. These settings may include private practices, group practices, government agencies, police departments, public safety agencies, or consulting firms specializing in police and public safety psychology. The work environment is often office-based, with access to secure records, assessment tools, and confidential interview spaces. Professionals may collaborate with law enforcement agencies, human resources, and other allied professionals to conduct pre-employment psychological evaluations, provide consultation, and support decision-making regarding candidate suitability for public safety roles.

    • Private practice specializing in police and public safety psychological evaluations
    • Police department or public safety agency psychological services unit
    • Government agency or civil service commission responsible for public safety hiring
    • Consulting firm providing psychological assessment services to law enforcement agencies
    • Hospital or mental health clinic with a public safety assessment program
    • University or research center conducting training and research in police and public safety psychology
Presented By

Nancy Panza, PhD, ABPP

Dr. Nancy Ryba Panza is a Board-Certified Police and Public Safety Psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with first responders. Her educational background includes BS and MA degrees from Towson University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Psychology and Law from the University of Alabama. Dr. Panza spent four years as an Assistant Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City and 16 years as a Professor at California State University, Fullerton. After 20 years in academia, Dr. Panza moved into the private sector as Director of Clinical Research and Development for the family of companies that includes First Responder Wellness, The Counseling Team International, and Shift Wellness.

Dr. Panza’s clinical work and research has focused on criminal forensic assessment and police and public safety psychology. Dr. Panza has worked within county, state, and federal correctional facilities, providing clinical and forensic services for juvenile and adult offenders and has provided clinical and consulting services for public safety agencies across the US and internationally. She has a great passion for promoting modern policing practices and supporting the health and well-being of all first responders.


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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Introduction to POST and the Psychological Screening Dimensions (PSD)

  • Review of Clinical Cases and Dimension Ratings

  • Research findings on the Frequency of Use of the 10 PSDs in PPPEs

  • Present and Discuss Case Ratings

  • Practical Advice for Examiners

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.