Cultural Awareness and Responsiveness Training Opportunities, Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credits, and Resources for Providers
Why cultural awareness and responsiveness are important
The cultural background of the members of your patient community can impact how they respond to, accept, and manage their health care needs. It can impact:
- Adherence to care plans
- Proactive health measures
- Unconscious biases
- Patient trust
As a service to our providers, we have curated a collection of no-cost CME-accredited classes and learning resources that support continuing education in this area. All courses have been vetted or recommended by leading best practice organizations for practitioners and health care professionals.
No-cost training resources for CME
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health: Think Cultural Health Training
- 9 hours of CME credits offered.
- Certificate provided upon completion.
- Training: A Physician's Practical Guide to Culturally Competent Care
This online cultural competency training offered by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health is accredited for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. You can earn up to nine no-cost CME credits (physicians and physician assistants) or nine contact hours (nurse practitioners), while exploring engaging cases and learning about cultural competency in health care.
The Fenway Institute: National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center
- CME credits offered.
- Various training topics.
- View free resources
The Health Education Center offers no-cost webinars, publications, and talks led by clinicians and leading researchers on providing supportive LGBTQ health care.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health: Improving Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals
- 4 to 5.5 contact hours for counselors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. Other professionals may earn a Statement of Participation.
- Training: Improving Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals
This e-learning program is designed to assist behavioral health professionals with increasing their cultural and linguistic competency.
Learning and supportive resources
The following resources are not available for continuing education credit; however, they are recommended resources for improving cultural responsiveness.
Georgetown University: National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC) Distance Learning
- Free
- Various training topics
- Curricula and learning tools include relevant materials, articles, and publications, and provide users with instructional and self-discovery strategies.
- View free resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) health literacy training
- Various health literacy topics
- View free training
Cultural competence for treating immigrant and refugee populations
- A collection of resources to help inform treatment for immigrant, refugee, and ethnic populations.
- National Library of Medicine:
- National Association of Social Workers:
- American Psychological Association:
Health Resources and Services Administration health literacy resources
- Free online resources for health care professionals and students to help improve communication.
- View free resources
American Public Health Association: Racism: Science & Tools for the Public Health Professional
- Educational resources to help you understand and address health inequities.
- View free resources
The Joint Commission: Health care equity
- Patient-centered cultural competence communication resources that include tips for communicating health information.
University of Chicago
This course presents evidence-based best practices and practical strategies to help reduce disparities in health care quality. Designed for primary care providers, medical directors, and quality improvement directors.