10 Hours / 10 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Using the MMPI-2-RF in Public Safety Personnel Evaluations is presented by Martin Sellbom, PhD.

This program introduces the 338-item version of the MMPI-2, the MMPI-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), to psychologists working with public safety personnel. The rationale for and methods used to develop the MMPI-2-RF, the various materials available to score and interpret the test, and interpretive recommendations are covered. Moreover, a substantial portion of time is devoted to applications of the MMPI-2-RF in various public safety evaluations, including pre-employment screening and fitness for duty evaluation purposes. A recommended screening strategy is presented with a discussion of empirically validated evaluation dimensions (based on California POST guidelines) for screening purposes. A variety of workplace concerns are discussed, and empirical support for various recommendations is reviewed. Finally, participants have an opportunity to practice the recommended strategy for MMPI-2-RF interpretation with case examples.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the rationale for and methods used to develop the MMPI-2-RF
  • 2 Describe the 51 MMPI-2-RF scales
  • 3 Describe the interpretative framework for the MMPI-2-RF
  • 4 Describe recommended procedure for evaluating public safety personnel
  • 5 Describe a rational strategy for interpreting MMPI-2-RF under reporting scales in pre-employment contexts
  • 6 Describe typical responding to the MMPI-2-RF in pre-employment contexts
  • 7 Describe the research literature supporting recommendations for MMPI-2-RF application in pre-employment evaluations
  • 8 Describe procedures and best practices in pre-employment psychological evaluations using the MMPI-2-RF

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for clinicians and professionals seeking to enhance their expertise in using the MMPI-2-RF for evaluating public safety personnel, with a focus on forensic, organizational, and clinical assessment within public safety, law enforcement, and related fields. The course is relevant for those involved in psychological evaluations and assessments in contexts such as criminal justice, security, health care, social services, education, and human resources.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Forensic Psychologists
    • Organizational Psychologists
    • Clinical Psychologists
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Police Psychologists
    • Correctional Psychologists
    • Public Safety Assessment Specialists
    • Human Resources Professionals in public safety sectors
    • Social Workers involved in public safety evaluations
    • Criminal Justice Professionals
    • Security Consultants

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience with the MMPI-2-RF and public safety evaluations.

    • Beginner: Participants new to the MMPI-2-RF or public safety evaluations who seek foundational knowledge of test development, structure, and basic interpretive strategies.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience administering or interpreting the MMPI-2-RF who wish to deepen their understanding of its application in public safety settings, including pre-employment and fitness for duty evaluations.

    • Advanced: Participants with substantial experience in psychological assessment and public safety evaluations who are looking to refine their interpretive skills, apply empirically supported strategies, and engage with complex case examples.

  • Practice Setting

    Practitioners use the MMPI-2-RF in high-stakes public-sector assessment environments to support evidence-based screening and consultation for safety‑sensitive roles. Day-to-day work includes pre-employment screening, fitness-for-duty evaluations, and workplace risk/behavioral health consultations within agency-embedded services, occupational health programs, or consulting practices that interface with multidisciplinary stakeholders.


    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • Police, sheriff, and state law enforcement psychological services units
    • Corrections, probation, and parole agencies
    • Fire/EMS and 911/dispatch centers
    • Federal security and protective services
    • Airport and transit security organizations
    • Occupational health and employee assistance programs serving public safety
    • Hospital-based behavioral health and occupational medicine clinics
    • Court-affiliated forensic assessment clinics and pretrial services
    • Social services and child protection units with public safety interfaces
    • University and campus public safety departments
    • Corporate and critical infrastructure security departments
    • Human resources and risk management units in public entities
    • Independent forensic and organizational consulting practices
    • Pre-employment testing vendors serving public safety agencies
Presented By

Martin Sellbom, PhD

Martin Sellbom is a Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2007 from Kent State University (USA). His research focuses on personality disorders, contemporary psychopathology models, and personality assessment with the MMPI instruments. Professor Sellbom's work has been featured in over 300 publications that includes four books, including the forthcoming (co-authored with Dustin Wygant) Forensic Mental Health Assessments using the MMPI-3. He has won several awards, including the American Psychological Foundation’s Theodore Millon mid-career award for advancing personality science, American Psychology-Law Society’s Saleem Shah Award and Society for Personality Assessment’s Samuel and Anne Beck Award for early career achievement. Professor Sellbom serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Personality Assessment. For his clinical practice, he specializes in forensic psychological evaluations.



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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • MMPI-2 (Restructured Form)
    Rationale
    Methods
    Development

  • Applications of the MMPI-2-RF:
    Pre-employment screening
    Fitness for duty

  • Recommended Screening Strategy and recommendations:
    Workplace concerns
    Empirical support
    Interpretation
    Case examples

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.