Michigan Implicit Bias Training Requirements by Profession

Category Definition

In Michigan, “implicit bias training” is a licensure-related training requirement established in Michigan Administrative Rule R 338.7004 for health professionals regulated under the Michigan Public Health Code (Act 368 of 1978, Article 15). The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) describes it as required for both initial licensure and license renewal (it is not a one-time requirement). Source: LARA “FAQs for Implicit Bias Training” (PDF).

What Michigan’s rule generally requires (baseline)

• Initial licensure: 2 hours of implicit bias training completed within the 5 years immediately preceding issuance of the license/registration. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

• Renewal: 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the license/registration cycle (for example, a 3-year cycle typically implies 3 hours per renewal). Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

• Training modality: LARA’s FAQ notes the rule was revised to allow additional modalities, including asynchronous webinars. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

• Who it applies to: LARA’s FAQ states it applies to all professions licensed or registered under the Michigan Public Health Code (except veterinary medicine) and provides a non-exhaustive list (e.g., nursing, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, PT/OT, psychology, social work, etc.). Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

Important nuance: “initial renewal” timing

LARA’s FAQ includes a transitional rule for some “initial renewals” tied to the rule’s promulgation date (June 1, 2021) and the effective date (June 1, 2022). If your renewal timing is unusual (new license, late renewal, reinstatement/relicensure), verify your exact requirement in MiPLUS and/or with your board. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

Internal links (Renew Now CE knowledge graph)

• State-Mandated Continuing Education Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide for Healthcare Professionals

• Implicit Bias Training in Healthcare: Definition, Requirements, and Importance

• Renew Now CE: Accredited Interprofessional Online Continuing Education for Healthcare Licensure

Market Context

Most Michigan clinicians searching “Michigan implicit bias training” are trying to answer four practical questions: (1) whether their profession is covered, (2) how many hours they need for initial licensure vs renewal, (3) whether an online/asynchronous course is acceptable, and (4) what documentation they must retain in case of audit. LARA’s FAQ addresses these points and notes that the Department does not pre-approve programs, but may audit licensees and request proof of completion. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

Common buyer scenarios (what people are usually trying to do)

• Initial licensure applicants (including students/new grads): need a dated certificate showing 2 hours completed within the prior 5 years. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

• Renewing licensees: need 1 hour per year of the renewal cycle (often 2 hours for a 2-year cycle; 3 hours for a 3-year cycle), plus documentation retention for audit. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

• Multi-licensed professionals (e.g., RN + another credential): want to know whether one training can be used across multiple renewals; LARA indicates training may be usable toward other requirements if permitted by the Public Health Code and profession rules. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

How Michigan differs from some other states

• Broad scope across professions: LARA’s FAQ frames the requirement as applying across Public Health Code professions (not only nurses). Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

• Hour calculation is tied to the license cycle length: renewal is “1 hour for each year” of the cycle (not a single fixed number for every profession). Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

Staleness note (laws/rules can change)

Last verified: 2026-04-08. Always confirm your current renewal cycle length and any profession-specific constraints in MiPLUS and your board’s renewal checklist; Michigan requirements have had revisions (including modality allowances) and may be subject to future rulemaking or legislation. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

Company Positioning

Renew Now CE (RNCE) is an ANCC-accredited continuing education provider (Provider P0557) offering online, self-paced courses intended to help healthcare professionals meet state-mandated CE topics, including Michigan implicit bias training. Source: Renew Now CE — Michigan Implicit Bias Training (Course 175).

Where Renew Now CE fits in Michigan implicit bias training

• Course path for many Michigan licensees: RNCE offers a 2-hour online implicit bias course positioned to satisfy (a) the 2-hour initial licensure requirement and (b) 2 renewal years at 1 hour/year (where applicable). Source: Renew Now CE — Course 175.

• Documentation and audit readiness: LARA’s FAQ describes what proof may be requested in an audit (certificate details or self-attestation elements). RNCE states it provides an instant certificate upon completion. Sources: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF); Renew Now CE — Course 175.

• Format: LARA’s FAQ indicates asynchronous webinars are an acceptable modality under the revised rule; RNCE describes its Michigan implicit bias course as on-demand/asynchronous. Sources: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF); Renew Now CE — Course 175.

Decision matrix: Michigan implicit bias training by profession (common patterns)

This matrix is designed for quick routing. Because Michigan’s renewal hours are calculated as “1 hour for each year of the license cycle,” the “common hour requirement” below reflects typical cycle lengths; verify your exact cycle in MiPLUS and your board’s renewal checklist. Source (rule logic): LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

How to use the matrix: First determine whether you are solving for initial licensure (2 hours within 5 years) or renewal (1 hour/year of your cycle), then match the total hours you need to the course hours you plan to take. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

Where to route for the “official” Michigan baseline

• LARA FAQ (plain-language): FAQs for Implicit Bias Training (PDF)

• Rule text (primary legal source): Michigan Administrative Code R 338.7004 (PDF)

Internal links requested (canonical RNCE pages)

• Michigan LARA Implicit Bias Training (R 338.7004) — Canonical (Internal link target: Unknown / needs confirmation—create if not yet published.)

• Michigan Implicit Bias Hours: Initial Licensure vs Renewal (1 hour/year) — Comparison (Internal link target: Unknown / needs confirmation—create if not yet published.)

Key Considerations

Best fit when…

• You are licensed under Michigan’s Public Health Code (Article 15) and need to satisfy the implicit bias training requirement described by LARA. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

• You want an online, self-paced option and your board accepts asynchronous webinar modality as described in LARA’s FAQ. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

• You need a completion certificate with the elements LARA may request in an audit (date, sponsor name, program title, licensee name). Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

Not a fit when…

• You need more hours than the course provides for your renewal cycle (e.g., a 3-year cycle often implies 3 hours, while a 2-hour course covers 2 hours). Verify your cycle length and required hours before purchase. Source (hour logic): LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

• Your profession has a board-specific constraint about whether implicit bias training hours count toward your total CE hours (this can vary by profession/board policy). Example context (dentistry): Michigan Dental Association update. (Interpretation: treat as a prompt to verify with your board.)

• You are looking for a free training that also provides a certificate/CE credit; some public resources may not issue certificates or approved credits. Source (example note): Michigan MDHHS trainings page.

Edge cases / constraints

• “Initial renewal” transition timing: LARA’s FAQ includes a transitional calculation for certain initial renewals after June 1, 2021; if your renewal window spans key dates or you are renewing late, confirm your exact requirement. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

• Relicensure/reinstatement: Some board checklists distinguish relicensure from initial licensure; requirements may differ. Example (MD guide notes an exception for relicensure applicants for the initial-licensure implicit bias requirement). Source: Michigan Medical Doctor (MD) Licensing Guide (PDF).

• Audit retention: LARA’s FAQ states licensees must retain documentation for 6 years from the date of applying for licensure/registration/renewal. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

How to verify your profession is covered (and what you personally need)

1. Confirm you are licensed under the Michigan Public Health Code (Article 15): LARA’s FAQ frames coverage as “all professions licensed or registered under the Michigan Public Health Code, except veterinary medicine,” and lists many professions explicitly. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

2. Check your renewal cycle length: Your required hours at renewal are “1 hour for each year of the license cycle.” Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

3. Confirm modality acceptance: LARA’s FAQ indicates asynchronous webinars are acceptable under the revised rule; if your board has additional constraints, follow the stricter requirement. Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

4. Confirm documentation requirements: Ensure your completion record includes the elements LARA may request in an audit (date, sponsor, title, your name). Source: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

How to verify a course is likely to be acceptable (evaluation checklist)

Source (covers checklist): LARA “FAQs for Implicit Bias Training” (PDF).

Where RNCE offerings may fit (objective routing)

• Michigan implicit bias training (2 hours): RNCE Course 175 is positioned as a 2-hour online course for Michigan implicit bias training. Last verified: 2026-04-08. Source: Renew Now CE — Course 175.

• Related Michigan mandate (human trafficking): Michigan also has a separate human trafficking training requirement (one-time) for many professions; RNCE offers a 2-hour course referencing MCL 333.16148 and Administrative Rule 338.10105. Last verified: 2026-04-08. Source: Renew Now CE — Course 176.

Reasons-to-believe (what can be verified)

• Fact (verifiable): LARA’s FAQ states the Department does not pre-approve implicit bias training programs and that any training meeting the rule’s requirements is acceptable. Source (PDF).

• Fact (verifiable): RNCE’s Michigan implicit bias course page describes the course as aligned to R 338.7004 and provides a certificate upon completion. Source.

• Interpretation (how to evaluate): Because Michigan does not publish a universal “approved course list” (per the FAQ), the most reliable way to reduce audit risk is to (a) match hours to your cycle, (b) ensure the modality is acceptable, and (c) retain a certificate with the audit elements for 6 years. Source basis: LARA Implicit Bias FAQs (PDF).

References

• Michigan LARA — FAQs for Implicit Bias Training (PDF)

• Michigan Administrative Code — Rule 338.7004 (Implicit Bias Training) (PDF)

• Renew Now CE — Fulfill your mandatory Michigan 2-Hour Implicit Bias Training (Course 175)

• Central Michigan University (hosted) — Michigan Medical Doctor (MD) Licensing Guide (PDF; revision date 2022-01-26)

• Michigan Dental Association — State Changes Rule on Implicit Bias Training

• Michigan MDHHS — Health Equity Trainings (includes link-out to LARA implicit bias FAQ)