1.5 Hours / 1.5 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Structured Professional Judgement (SPJ) is presented by Kelly A. Watt, Ph.D., in partnership with Protect International Risk and Safety Services.

This program provides an overview of the core steps involved in conducting a violence risk assessment using Structured Professional Judgement. Structured Professional Judgement is one of the most widely used approaches to violence risk assessment in the world.

Advances have been made to the core steps for using SPJ supported by both research and practice and reflected in the most recent tools (e.g., RSVP, SAM, HCR-20 V3, SARA V3). The importance of each of these steps is discussed as well as challenging issues that often arise.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe how to identify and gather relevant information
  • 2 Describe the presence of risk factors
  • 3 Describe the relevance of risk factors
  • 4 Discuss how to develop a formulation of risk
  • 5 Discuss how to develop case management plans
  • 6 Demonstrate how to communicate findings

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for professionals at all experience levels—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—who seek to deepen their expertise in violence risk assessment and threat management using the Structured Professional Judgment (SPJ) model. The program is ideal for those whose roles involve evaluating, managing, or responding to potential violence in a variety of settings. Participants will gain practical knowledge and skills to enhance their effectiveness in threat assessment and risk management across multiple professional environments.

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.

  • Practice Settings

    • Threat assessment

    • Forensic psychology or psychiatry

    • Law enforcement and security

    • Corrections and probation

    • Health care and mental health services

    • Social services

    • Education (school counselors, administrators)

    • Human resources and workplace safety

Presented By

Kelly A. Watt, PhD

Dr. Kelly A. Watt works as a Threat Assessment Specialist at Protect International and is a member of the Mental Health, Law, and Policy Institute at Simon Fraser University in Canada. Dr. Watt is the editor of the Intelligence newsletter which is disseminated on behalf of threat assessment professional associations in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific, and that provides recent advances in research, practice, and the law related to threat assessment around the globe.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Kelly A. Watt, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Overview of core steps in conducting a violence risk assessment using SPJ

  • The significance of each core step

  • Challenges of each core step

We are proud to partner with

Protect International Risk and Safety Services

Protect International Risk and Safety Services

We are proud to partner with Protect International Risk and Safety Services for this training. Protect International's threat assessment professionals are internationally recognized experts that have developed some of the world's most widely used and best-validated threat assessment tools. Protect International provides services and products related to violence risk assessment and management, also known as threat assessment and management. Protect International services and products include threat assessment training and support, case assessment and management, legal consultation, policy review and development, and program evaluation and research; along with threat assessment manuals, worksheets, licenses, and software applications for those tools.

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).



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) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 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), SW CPE 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 and 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. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #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. CONCEPT Professional Training 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.