CLEAR

  • CLEAR Website
  • Regulatory News Home
  • Archives
  • Subscribe
  • Calendar of Events
  • Contact

Search

| More

Categories

  • Administration
  • Agency reports
  • CLEAR Announcements
  • CLEAR Resources
  • Consolidation proposals
  • Continuing competence
  • Court Cases
  • Current Affairs
  • Deregulation proposals
  • Education and training
  • Entry to practice
  • ERAC Q&A Series
  • Examination issues
  • Facilities regulation
  • Fees/Budget
  • Foreign-trained applicants
  • investigations/inspections
  • Legislative Audits
  • Media and public communication
  • Mobility
  • Performance and legislative audits
  • President's Message
  • Professional discipline
  • quality assurance
  • Re-entry to practice
  • Regulation by Country
  • Regulation of new professions
  • Regulatory appointments
  • regulatory reform
  • Reports on Professions
  • Research
  • Scope of practice
  • Standards of practice
  • Strategic planning
  • Sunrise reviews
  • Sunset reviews
  • Technology
  • Telemedicine
  • Transparency
  • unlicensed practice
  • Upcoming Events
  • use of title
See More

Previous Issues

  • CLEAR News

Archives

  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017

National Occupational Licensing Database launched

The National Conference of State Legislatures, National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, and Council of State Governments have launched the National Occupational Licensing Database, allowing users to compare licensing data between states for 34 licensed occupations. The partners selected the specific occupations based on interest to policymakers, with projected growth and occupations not needing post-secondary education as part of the criteria. The database includes information on each occupation, such as training requirements, continuing education requirements, cost of licensure and renewal, examination requirements, restrictions for criminal records, interstate licensure recognition, etc.

Press release
Background and database access

January 30, 2018 in Administration, Continuing competence, Current Affairs, Education and training, Entry to practice, Examination issues, Fees/Budget, Research | Permalink

Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board responds to FTC complaint

The Federal Trade Commission has filed an administrative complaint that the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board has fixed the minimum price of residential real estate appraisals, constituting an antitrust violation. The LREAB has responded that Federal regulations and the Dodd-Frank Act require that state appraisal agencies ensure Appraisal Management Companies pay "customary and reasonable" fees for home appraisals to compensate appraisers for necessary skills and geographic experience. The Board claims they are complying with Federal law and plans to contest the charge.

Read more

June 21, 2017 in Current Affairs, Fees/Budget | Permalink

Two Oregon state boards could merge

The Oregon Board of Psychology and the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists would merge staffs if the governor's proposed budget is approved. The proposed budget is a 21% increase from the 2015-2017 budgets for both boards and also includes an upgrade to the online database system and an additional two staff members. Under the merger, both boards would keep separate funding streams and expenditures. The merger would allow additional staff to be assigned to licensing issues and complaint handling for the growing number of licensees. Another part of the proposal is a $40 increase in licensure renewal fees for counselors and therapists, fees which have not been increased since 2002.

Read more

March 29, 2017 in Consolidation proposals, Fees/Budget | Permalink

Illinois modifies educator license requirements

A new law in Illinois will eliminate some testing requirements, reduce some licensing fees and allow full reciprocity for out-of-state licenses for teachers. The changes are an effort to deal with teacher and substitute shortages. The licensing fee is reduced for substitute teachers, and subs will be able to renew after five years and passing of a basic skills requirement. Teachers' scores on content area tests will now be valid indefinitely rather than having a 10-year expiration date.

Read more

January 24, 2017 in Examination issues, Fees/Budget, Mobility | Permalink

Kentucky: respiratory therapy renewal moves online

The Kentucky Board of Respiratory Care has created an online license renewal system. Licensed respiratory therapists now have the option to renew online and print their renewal ID card. In August, the Kentucky Health and Welfare Committee approved a 20% increase in licensing fees for respiratory therapists.

Read more

November 15, 2016 in Fees/Budget, Technology | Permalink

UK Nursing and Midwifery Council introduces payment by installment

Nurse and midwives registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council can now opt to pay their annual registration fee by quarterly direct debit payments rather than an annual payment. The new option is in response to requests from nurses and midwives for a more flexible payment system. Thousands of nurses and midwives have signed up in the first month of the program.

Read more

August 17, 2016 in Administration, Fees/Budget | Permalink

Illinois DFPR to offer bonuses for money-saving ideas

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation plans to implement a pilot program where employees will qualify for bonuses if they come up with ideas that can save the state money while maintaining or improving service. Performance targets will be set for each division, and savings will be measured on an agency-wide basis. The bonuses would amount to 25% of the money saved as long as all performance targets are met, and the bonuses will be distributed evenly to all eligible employees. Eligibility for some employees, however, is still pending agreement from their unions, and a contract dispute is still unsettled. Some groups fear that it will be too challenging to measure cost-savings and quantify performance fairly.

Read more

August 03, 2016 in Administration, Fees/Budget | Permalink

CA DCA: hearing addresses antitrust liability

The California Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development and the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions is holding an oversight hearing to address issues with the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Issues to be addressed include potential antitrust liability for boards under the DCA, with the potential recommendation of an independent state review of regulatory board actions and a state supervisor with the ability to veto or modify decisions, and the recommendation to remove the active license requirement for the Executive Officer position on the Board of Registered Nursing. Another issue to be discussed is the status and timeline for fully implementing BreEZe, a customized fully integrated IT system, and plans to ensure that enacted legislation can be implemented despite delays with the new system. The Committees will also discuss issues related to the DCA's calculations of fees for administrative services provided to the boards, potential licensing fee increases requested by four boards, and performance measures related to the Consumer Protection Enforcement Initiative and its goal to reduce the length of time for formal disciplinary action by healthcare boards.

Background paper and more information on the committee hearings

March 09, 2016 in Administration, Fees/Budget, Technology | Permalink

Illinois moves to paperless renewals

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has implemented paperless renewals and license verification. Renewals will now be processed online, and license verification will be electronic through the License Lookup application. The online renewal system will streamline the process and create savings in postage and printing costs. Instead of paper postcard reminders, licensees will receive electronic license reminder notifications.

Related, emailed paper reminders for license plate renewals have been stopped as a cost-saving measure, and many people have missed the deadline and had to pay late fees. A proposal is before the Legislature to suspend the fines until a budget plan is passed. For professional licenses, the IL DFPR has indicated that they are "moving through [the new initiative] with leniency."

Read more

March 02, 2016 in Administration, Fees/Budget, Technology | Permalink

Alaska increases licensing fees for hunting guides

The Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing is increasing fees for hunting guide licenses in an attempt to eliminate a $1 million deficit faced by the Big Game Commercial Services Board. Currently, licensing fees cover administrative costs but do not cover investigative and legal costs. The deficit began in the mid-90s when a lack of administrative oversight from the Division resulted in a lack of accurate accounting documentation provided to the Board. The new fee structure should cover ongoing costs and pay down the deficit, and the fess will be reviewed again once the deficit is eliminated.

Read more

January 06, 2016 in Fees/Budget | Permalink

Next »

Recent Posts

  • Update: Nebraska passes Occupational Board Reform Act
  • Michigan considers licensing for assistance-animal trainers, others
  • California introduces bills to reduce barriers related to prior convictions
  • Delaware: opioid restrictions result in fewer prescriptions
  • Nebraska removes licensing requirements for animal massage
  • Update: decision expected in Charleston tour guide case
  • Australia: ACT to require test for builder license renewal
  • American Nurses Association launches next-gen learning experience
  • UK expects increase in non-EU doctors
  • Law Society of Ontario's new CEO supports openness and transparency
Blog powered by Typepad