The Business and Professions Code (Section 2190.1) in California has been amended to set new standards for Continuing Medical Education (CME) for physicians and surgeons. In 2006, the code mandated the inclusion of cultural and linguistic competency in all CME courses. Starting January 2022, CME courses must also cover implicit bias and its impact on healthcare disparities.

Senate Bill No. 10 requires the establishment of a mental health services peer support specialist certification program that includes cultural competence as a core competency of the curriculum by July 1, 2020.

Assembly Bill No. 241 mandates that the Medical Practice, Nursing Practice, and Physician Assistant Practice Acts require physicians, surgeons, nurses, and physician assistants to demonstrate satisfaction of continuing education requirements, including cultural and linguistic competency in the practice of medicine. By January 1, 2022, all continuing education courses for physicians, surgeons, physician assistants, and nurses would have been required to contain curriculum that includes specified instruction in the understanding of implicit bias in medical treatment.

Assembly Bill No. 1195 requires that all continuing medical education courses contain curriculum that includes cultural and linguistic competency in the practice of medicine. In particular, physicians and surgeons, are required to complete cultural and linguistic competency training as part of their continuing medical education requirements.