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Dog Handler licensing goes into effect in Illinois

The rules and regulations requiring Dog Handlers in the state of Illinois to be licensed have recently gone into effect and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation gas begun to accept applications for licensure. Only those who hold private detective licenses or work for licensed detective or security agency qualify for the new Dog Handler license.  The department has also started the process of approving Dog Handler training schools and programs; those licenses will be available once the program is approved by the state.

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Australia explores national licensing scheme for electrical workers

In Australia a reform consultation group is currently exploring the prospect of developing a streamlined, nationally recognized licensing scheme for electrical workers.  The national licensing program is expected to boost productivity and provide at least Aus$22 million additional annual benefit to the economy. Like many other areas around the globe, Australia is seeing increased mobility of professionals and is hoping that establishing a national licensing standard for electrical workers will address the modern professional dynamic. The consultation report is being shared with the public in an effort to create transparency throughout the process of establishing the new standard. 

Press release.

Consultation Regulation Impact Statement for Electrical Occupations.

California legislature considers regulation of pet groomers

The California state legislature is currently considering a bill that would establish regulation for the field of pet groomers. If adopted, the legislation will provide rules and regulations related to the practice of pet grooming, bathing and brushing. Anyone who advertises or conducts business as a pet groomer would be required to secure a license from the state in order to practice. The proposed legislation includes an appropriate fee structure for pet grooming and would establish a Grooming Council that would be responsible for administrating the regulatory requirements. The legislation is set to come into effect in 2017.

SB 969 text.

Survey predicts nursing shortage for Australia; 50 percent to leave within ten years, 20 per cent within five

A recent survey of Australian nurses suggests the country could be facing a nursing shortage in the years ahead, after 50 per cent of those questioned indicated they would be leaving the profession within 10 years, while one fifth will leave within five. The survey results follow the April release of a Federal Government Report Health Workforce 2025, which predicted a potential shortage of 109,000 nurses, or 27 per cent of the workforce. Reports suggest that international nurses are filling some of the shortages, with the number of sponsorship visa applications increasing by 21 per cent in the past financial year to 6700.

Manitoba massage therapists seeking licensure; would become 24th health profession regulated

The Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba (MTAM) has launched a campaign for licensure in the province, which would see massage therapists becoming the 24th health profession regulated. The campaign follows the recent application for recognition as a 'Regulated Health Profession' in Manitoba and will see advertising on public transport in the province's major cities. MTAM Executive Director George Fraser said the application would increase public protection. ""Massage therapy has always been on the outside looking in," he said. "Anyone can hang up a shingle and call themselves a massage therapist."

Illinois approves Military Family Licensing Act; 23rd state to adopt similar legislation

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has signed Senate Bill 275, the "Military Family Licensing Act", into law, bringing to 23 the number of states with licensure portability legislation for military spouses. The Illinois legislation directs directors of departments issuing professional and occupational licenses to provide an expedited temporary license to spouses of service members. The Act further empowers the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to consider relevant experience and training received during military service towards meeting certain licensing requirements. Seven additional states have pending legislation related to this issue.

Senate Bill 275.

US First Lady's editorial calls for states to improve licensing process for military spouses

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama has authored an editorial in the Baltimore Sun calling for states to streamline the licensing process for military spouses, whose frequent moves can pose problems when it comes to becoming licensed in their new home state. Mrs. Obama says that "military spouses bring this issue up to me more than any other" and that "more than 100,000 military spouses throughout America serve in a profession that requires a license or certification to work; that's more than one-third of military spouses in the labor force." She also notes progress on the issue, citing 23 states that have passed legislation to improve these challenges, with the goal that every state does so by 2014.

Mrs. Obama's editorial.

Report finds 'failures at every level' of UK nursing and midwifery regulator

The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) has published its Strategic Review of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which was ordered by the government earlier this year. The report is critical of a substantial backlog of fitness to practice cases, the organization's leadership across several years, and the apparent confusion about the NMC's regulatory purpose. The report sets out 15 recommendations related to finance, culture, leadership and operational management. CHRE Chief Executive Harry Cayton said "The NMC must finally leave its troubled past behind and apply itself to protecting the public and rebuilding confidence in regulation."

Strategic Review of the Nursing and Midwifery Council

President's Message by Bruce Matthews

Measuring Regulatory Performance – It’s All About Outcomes

If you are an advocate for the concept of “right touch regulation”, as I am, then you understand that the business of professional and occupational regulation is all about risk – the assessment of risk and the establishment of standards and processes to mitigate or minimize that risk.  Viewed this way, I believe the task of measuring regulatory performance – which is always at issue – becomes somewhat easier, regardless of the specific regulatory model in use.

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