2026-2028 Introduction to C.L.A.S. Standards

Overview

Healthcare professionals and community health workers serve individuals and families with diverse cultural backgrounds, languages, communication needs, health beliefs, and life experiences. Effective communication and respectful interactions are important components of quality, safe, and patient-centered services. The National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (National CLAS Standards), developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provide a framework of 15 standards addressing communication, language assistance, organizational practices, workforce development, and engagement with individuals and communities. This course introduces the National CLAS Standards and provides practical strategies that healthcare workers and community health workers can use to communicate effectively, provide appropriate language assistance, recognize and respect individual preferences and perspectives, and help individuals navigate health and community services. The course emphasizes professional communication, respect, accessibility, and delivery of services that are responsive to the needs of the individuals and communities being served.

Target Audience

This activity is intended for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, certified public health professionals, social workers, and Texas physical therapists.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity leaners should be able to:

  1. Describe the historical context of CLAS.
  2. Recognize cultural differences experienced. 
  3. Differentiate between equality and equity.
  4. Explain the value of implementing CLAS Standards.
  5. Integrate CLAS Standards into your professional practice.

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 ANCC
  • 1.00 AOA Category 2-B
  • 1.00 ASWB Credit
  • 1.00 HSC Participation
  • 1.00 Physical Therapist (PT)

    This activity is provided by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners Accredited Provider APS #: and meets continuing competence requirements for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licensure renewal in Texas.

Course opens: 
10/14/2026
Course expires: 
09/14/2028
Cost:
$0.00
Rating: 
0
Online On-Demand
Fort Worth, TX 76107
United States

Disclosures
In accordance with the appropriate accrediting bodies, all planners, teachers, and authors with control over activity content are required to disclose to the provider any relevant financial relationships (those held by the person, currently or within the last 24 months) with ineligible interests. Accredited providers are required to provide this information to learners before the start of an activity. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth Division of Academic Innovation's office planning team nor the subject matter experts have anything to disclose.

Primary Author

Teresa Wagner, DrPH, MS, CPH, RD/LD, CPPS, FNAP, CHWI, DipACLM, CHWC, CPCHE, FTPHA
Assistant Professor, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Director, UNT Health Texas State Certified CHW/CHWI Training Program 

Instructional Design

Donnell McKenzie, MEd
Instructional Designer
CE & Assessment Department, Division of Academic Innovation, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth

 

Other Contributors(s)

Donnell McKenzie, N/A

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.
Course Director(s)

Teresa Wagner, DrPH, MS, CPH, RD/LD, CPPS, FNAP, CHWI, DipACLM, CHWC, CPCHE, FTPHA

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.
Speaker(s)

Teresa Wagner, DrPH, MS, CPH, RD/LD, CPPS, FNAP, CHWI, DipACLM, CHWC, CPCHE, FTPHA

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

In support of improving patient care, The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing Education for the healthcare team. 

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth 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 under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. 

American Osteopathic Association
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to award continuing medical education to physicians. 

National Board of Public Health Examiners
This activity is approved for 1 credit(s) accepted by the National Board of Public Health Examiners' Certified Public Health (CPH) recertification program.

Texas Physical Therapy Association
This activity is offered by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, Accredited Provider #2711035TX and meets continuing competence requirements for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licensure renewal in Texas. The assignment of Texas PT CCUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by TPTA or TBPTE. 

Designation Statements

Physicians
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth designates this program for a maximum of 1.0 contact hour of AOA Category 2B CME credits and will report CME and specialty credits commensurate with the extent of the physician's participation in the activity. 

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth designates this activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Pharmacist
This knowledge-based activity has been assigned UAN JA0004637-0000-26-036-H99-P and will award 1.00 contact hour(s) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognized ACPE Providers. Statements of participation will indicate hours and CEUs based on participation and will be issued online at the conclusion of the activity. Successful completion includes completing the activity, its accompanying evaluation and/or posttest (score 70% or higher) and requesting credit online at the conclusion of the activity. Credit will be uploaded to CPE Monitor, and participants may print a statement of credit or transcript from their NABP e-profile. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth complies with the Accreditation Standards for Continuing Pharmacy Education. 

Nurses
This activity is designated for up to 1.00 ANCC contact hour(s).

Certified Public Health Professionals
This activity is designated for up to 1.0 contact hour(s).

Social Workers
Social workers completing this course receive 1 general continuing education credits.

Physical Therapists
This course provides 1.0 contact hour(s) for PTs and PTAs licensed in Texas. For successful completion, a participant must attend the program, complete the evaluation, and request credit online at the conclusion of the activity. 

Certificate of Attendance
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth designates this activity for 1.0 hour(s) of participation.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 ANCC
  • 1.00 AOA Category 2-B
  • 1.00 ASWB Credit
  • 1.00 HSC Participation
  • 1.00 Physical Therapist (PT)

    This activity is provided by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners Accredited Provider APS #: and meets continuing competence requirements for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licensure renewal in Texas.

Price

Cost:
$0.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Required Hardware/software

This activity is best experienced using the most current browser (or one back) of Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, or Microsoft Edge. For all activities featuring audio, you must have a sound card and speakers. To view graphic images and references that appear in separate "pop-up" windows, you must have session cookies enabled on your computer. Adobe Acrobat Reader may be required for certain activities.

 

Accessibility Statement

If you require special assistance to participate in this activity, please call (817) 735-2539 or email: [email protected]. An Equal Opportunity University.