CARS-2 ST Workshop for Abbreviated Autism Diagnostic Evaluation

January 8, 2026

Provide better, safer patient care: CARS-2 is a feasible instrument for validating a diagnostic impression of autism in some cases. This workshop will provide an overview of the CARS-2 System, including parent reporting and clinician rating tools (CARS-2 QPC, CARS-2 ST, CARS-2 HF), with a focus on the CARS-2 ST. Decision-making around when to use the CARS-2 ST will be discussed, as well as frameworks for scoring. A suggested protocol for autism assessment that is aligned with the CARS-2 ST will be reviewed with video clip demonstrations of tasks (BearACCESS Protocol for CARS-2 ST). Participants will be provided an opportunity to practice learning by scoring a video-based novel administration of the BearACCESS protocol with guided discussion of scoring. Finally, clinical decision-making will be reviewed, which specifies the need to integrate all diagnostic information in clinical conceptualization and treatment planning.

 

 

Target Audience

Nurse Practitioners 

Physicians 

Psychologists 

Learning Objectives

Learning Objective 1: 

Participants will describe the evaluation triage framework, which guides the provider in determining when evaluation is required and use of the CARS-2 is appropriate to quantify autism traits.

Learning Objective 2: 

Participants will demonstrate understanding of the major domains of autism traits using a suggested schedule of tasks that align with CARS-2 items.

Learning Objective 3: 

Participants will demonstrate understanding of clinical decision making involved in scoring the CARS-2 and utilizing all diagnostic information in clinical conceptualization and treatment planning.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 4.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    Children’s National Hospital designates this Live activity for a maximum of 4.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • 4.00 ANCC
    Children’s National Hospital will provide 4.00 Nursing Contact Hours for this Live activity.
  • 4.00 APA
    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. All confirmed participants will earn 4.00 CE credits upon successful completion of the learning event and evaluation.
  • 4.00 Participation
    Successful completion of this continuing education activity.
Course opens: 
01/08/2026
Course expires: 
03/08/2026
Event starts: 
01/08/2026 - 8:30am EST
Event ends: 
01/08/2026 - 12:30pm EST
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January 8th
Overview of evaluation triage framework, CARS-2 System, and BearACCESS assessment protocol aligned with CARS-2 ST
Anne Inge, Ph.D, Kelly Register-Brown, M.D.
08:30am - 12:30pm
Video review of abbreviated autism assessment with a child with high likelihood of autism using BearACCESS assessment protocol aligned with CARS-2 ST
Anne Inge, Ph.D, Kelly Register-Brown, M.D.
09:30am - 10:30am
Independent scoring of video administration with guided discussion of item scoring, clinical decision-making considerations, and clinical conceptualization
Anne Inge, Ph.D, Kelly Register-Brown, M.D.
10:30am - 11:30am
Discussion of the logistics of implementation including room requirements, appointment slots, and billing codes
Anne Inge, Ph.D, Kelly Register-Brown, M.D.
11:30am - 12:30pm

Acknowledgement of Financial and In-Kind Commercial Support

No financial nor in-kind commercial support was received for this educational activity. 

Committee member(s)

Hannah Behar

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Amelia Roberts, N/A

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

Anne Inge, PhD

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

Kelly Register-Brown, MD, MSc

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Children’s National Hospital. Children’s National Hospital 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. Children’s National Hospital Accreditation Provider# 4008362.

Credit Designation:

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 4 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.

Children’s National Hospital designates this live activity for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM for physicians. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Children’s National Hospital designates this activity for a maximum of 4 LIVE ANCC contact hours.

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. All confirmed participants will earn 4 CE credits (Instructional Level, Intermediate Learning) upon successful completion of the learning event and evaluation.

 

Available Credit

  • 4.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    Children’s National Hospital designates this Live activity for a maximum of 4.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • 4.00 ANCC
    Children’s National Hospital will provide 4.00 Nursing Contact Hours for this Live activity.
  • 4.00 APA
    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. All confirmed participants will earn 4.00 CE credits upon successful completion of the learning event and evaluation.
  • 4.00 Participation
    Successful completion of this continuing education activity.
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