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Behavioral Health Services
Behavioral Health Services

5150 certification training and exam

5150 refers to an involuntary evaluation. Section 5150 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, or the Lanterman–Petris–Short (LPS) Act, allows a qualified officer or clinician to involuntarily confine a person deemed to have a mental disorder that makes them a risk to themselves or others. Learn more about Section 5150.

Certification requirements

  • If you are a clinician or qualified provider and expect to write 5150 holds, you are required to obtain 5150 certification. 
  • The certification involves taking a training class and a test. To pass the test, you must answer 80 percent of the questions correctly. If you pass the test, you will receive a 5150 authorization card which is valid for five years. If you don't pass the test, you have two more attempts. Failing that, you must retake the training and exam.
  • You are required to retake training and exam every five years to maintain your 5150 certification. 
  • Note: completing the training and passing the test do not automatically lead to a 5150 authorization card. The card issuance is at the full discretion of the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department (BHSD). We reserve the right to revoke a card at any time. 
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