Conduct, communication, impairment, reporting duties and license obligations for U.S. licensees
3CPD hours
20final questions
80%pass mark
PDFcertificate
What you will learn
Explain how state practice acts and board rules define unprofessional conduct, using examples from California, New York and Texas.
Describe the main stages and outcomes of a state board complaint, including NPDB reporting of adverse actions.
Recognize overt and passive behaviors that undermine a culture of safety and apply Joint Commission and AMA expectations.
Use structured, respectful communication with patients and colleagues and document professionally.
Distinguish illness from impairment and describe how physician health programs and alternative-to-discipline programs work.
Apply ethical and legal duties to report colleagues and to self-report, and raise concerns factually and in good faith.
Apply FSMB, AMA and NCSBN guidance to social media use and public statements on health, including misinformation.
Answer license application and renewal questions honestly and maintain CE compliance across states.
Respond to a professionalism concern and plan credible, evidenced remediation.
About this course
This course explains what professionalism means for licensed health care professionals in the United States and how state boards judge it. It covers what "unprofessional conduct" means in state practice acts and board rules, behaviors that undermine a culture of safety, civility and teamwork, communication with patients and colleagues, impairment and substance use, the duty to report colleagues and to self-report, online conduct and health misinformation, honesty on license applications and renewals, CE compliance, and how to respond and remediate when your professionalism is questioned.
It is written for physicians (MD and DO), nurses (RN, LPN/LVN and APRN), PAs, pharmacists, dentists and other licensed health professionals, whether you want to strengthen everyday practice, are preparing for a conversation with an employer, or are responding to a concern. Examples are drawn from several professions and from states including California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania.
In the U.S., licensing and discipline belong to the states, and boards can act on conduct even when no patient is harmed. A single lapse in behavior, honesty or administrative compliance can lead to an investigation, a board order and a National Practitioner Data Bank report that follows you across states. Rules vary by state and profession, so the course teaches the shared principles and shows you where to check your own board's requirements.
Course facts
CPD value
Approximately 3 CPD hours (estimated learning time including knowledge checks, reflection and assessment)
Audience
U.S. licensees: physicians (MD/DO), nurses (RN, LPN/LVN, APRN), PAs, pharmacists, dentists and other licensed health professionals
Standards covered
State practice acts and board rules (e.g. Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2234; NY Regents Rules Part 29; 22 Tex. Admin. Code §217.12; Fla. Stat. §456.076; 16 CCR §1358.1); Joint Commission LD.03.01.01 / NPG.02.03.01 (hospitals, from January 2026) and Sentinel Event Alerts 40 and 57; FSMB policies on impairment (2021), wellness (2018), social media (2019) and misinformation (2022); NCSBN guidance; NPDB; AMA Code of Medical Ethics; ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses; APhA Code of Ethics; ADA Code; AAPA Guidelines
Format
Self-paced, gated lessons with knowledge checks, case studies and reflection
Assessment
20 scenario-based questions, 80% to pass (16 of 20)
Outcome
Certificate of completion and a written reflection for your CPD record
Alignment
Mapped to the conduct expectations used by state boards of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and dentistry and to national professional codes; independent education, not board-approved
Syllabus
11 sections, 3 CPD hours, 20-question final assessment
1Professionalism, the law and your license3 lessons
Professionalism as a licensing obligation in the United States
What "unprofessional conduct" means in state law
How boards respond to professionalism concerns
2Disruptive behavior, civility and teamwork3 lessons
Behaviors that undermine a culture of safety
Civility and teamwork under pressure
When behavior becomes a formal matter
3Professional communication2 lessons
Respectful communication with patients and families
Communication with colleagues, handoffs and records
4Impairment, substance use and well-being3 lessons
Illness, impairment and your duty to practice safely
Physician health programs and alternative-to-discipline programs
Recognizing concerns in a colleague and acting with compassion
5The duty to report and to speak up2 lessons
The duty to report colleagues and to self-report
How to raise a concern well
6Online conduct and public statements2 lessons
Social media and online conduct
Public statements and health misinformation
7License renewal honesty, CE compliance and shared standards3 lessons
Honesty on license applications and renewals
Continuing education compliance
Professionalism across professions
8When professionalism is questioned: response and remediation2 lessons
Responding when your professionalism is questioned
Remediation and rebuilding trust
9Conclusion and key points1 lesson
Conclusion and key points
10References and further reading1 lesson
References and further reading
11Your reflective account1 lesson
Your reflective account
Who this course is for
U.S. licensees: physicians (MD/DO), nurses (RN, LPN/LVN, APRN), PAs, pharmacists, dentists and other licensed health professionals.
Certificate of completion. Not CE or CME credit unless accepted by your board.
Your name, the course title and the CPD hours
Completion date and a unique certificate ID that can be verified
Downloads as a PDF; save it to your portfolio
Fitness To Practice
Certificate of Completion
This certifies that
Your Name
has successfully completed
Professionalism in U.S. Healthcare Practice
Completed12 Oct 2026
3CPD hours
Certificate IDFTS-7Q4K-2M9X
Certificate of completion — United States
Questions about this course
What counts as unprofessional conduct under a state practice act?
Each state defines it in its practice act and board rules. Common grounds in the FSMB list include substance misuse and impairment, sexual misconduct, neglecting patients, care that falls below the accepted standard, inappropriate prescribing, dishonesty on applications, fraud and poor record keeping. The course uses examples from several states to show how boards apply these terms.
Does the course address disruptive behavior and incivility?
Yes. It covers overt and passive behaviors that undermine a culture of safety, such as intimidation, refusing to answer calls or demeaning comments, using Joint Commission and AMA expectations. You learn structured, respectful communication techniques and how to document professionally when working relationships become strained.
Am I required to report a colleague I believe is impaired?
Many state laws and professional codes create reporting duties, and PAs' AAPA guidelines expect them to spot impairment and report illegal or unethical behavior. You learn how illness differs from impairment, and how PHPs and the alternative-to-discipline programs run for nurses operate, and how to raise concerns factually and in good faith.
Will the professionalism course resolve a board complaint against me?
No course can guarantee that. It can help you understand the concern, reflect honestly and plan evidenced remediation that you or your attorney may present as mitigation. It is not accredited for CE or CME credit or approved by any board, so check with your board or attorney before using it to satisfy an order.
How is the professionalism course delivered?
Entirely online and self-paced, with instant access after enrollment. Around 3 hours of material, quick checks per module, then 20 final questions where you need 16 (80%). Passing releases a completion certificate and your reflective account. $89.
Honesty where it is tested: records and late entries, license and DEA attestations, billing under federal fraud and abuse law, and conflicts of interest.
What happens after a state board letter arrives: investigation, your written response, settlement conferences, consent orders, hearings and NPDB reporting.