The Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology has voted to reduce the number of education hours required for licensure from 1,500 to 1,000. As indicated by West Virginia University economist Edward Timmons, 15 other states have made similar reductions to cosmetology license hours in the past decade, with no evidence of negative outcomes of the policy change.
October 19, 2022
October 13, 2022
Alberta: new learning modules for LPNs
The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta has released three new learning modules in response to nurses' and student nurses' demonstrated learning needs related to working with older people. The modules ficus on communication with older people, especially those with dementia; care of clients with continence and mobility issues; and understanding cognitive impairment and managing associated responsive behaviors.
October 05, 2022
Calls for better integrated care between mental health and substance use treatment
Concerns are being raised in New Hampshire about the need to better integrate care for mental health issues and substance use disorders. Research at the National Institute of Mental Health indicates that 50% of people who experience substance use disorder also experience mental health disorders, and vice versa. Calls are being made for more education on mental health for drug and alcohol counselors and more education on addiction for mental health providers. Concern has also been raised about the silo-ing effect of different licensing boards overseeing the two fields.
September 28, 2022
Tutoring site no longer assisting with cheating detection
The online college homework and tutoring site, Chegg, has updated its honor-code policy such that it will only provide date and time stamp data to universities and testing organizations for their investigations into potential cheating or exam question breaches. The company's past disclosure practices included sharing IP addresses, usernames, and emails with institutions on a case-by-case basis when exam questions or answers shared on the site were suspected of being used for cheating.
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September 22, 2022
NMC considers English language requirements
After a consultation with record-breaking response levels, the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK will vote on proposed changes to its English language requirements. The first proposal will allow candidates to meet the requirements by combining test scores over a 12-month period. The second proposal will allow candidates to meet the requirements through employer-provided supporting evidence of English language proficiency if the candidate narrowly misses passing the test.
September 12, 2022
Calls for dog trainer licensure
The Alliance for Professionalism in Dog Training, a joint organization of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, has proposed model legislation that would require state licensure and continuing education for dog trainers. The CCPDT is currently working with legislators in New Jersey, California, and Illinois. The organization's model legislation takes into account literature and research promoting science-based training standards and prioritizes positive reinforcement rather than punishment as a training approach.
August 04, 2022
NMC consultation on English language requirements
The Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK has launched, and received unprecedented response to, a consultation regarding their English language requirements. Strong English language skills are a required competency for nursing and midwifery licensure. The consultation aims to determine if the current English language requirements are fair and reliable for all applicants, focusing on the approach to testing and whether other evidence of English language competence should be considered.
June 29, 2022
Report on medical board transparency about sexual misconduct
The Informed Patient Institute and the Patient Safety Action Network have released a report on "Communicating about Physician Sexual Misconduct: How are state medical boards doing?" The report is focused on transparency and education of the public and physicians about sexual misconduct. From the report: "In the initial review by volunteer researchers, only eight out of the 64 websites reviewed had information about physician sexual misconduct directed at consumers/patients and 15 had information directed at physicians. Upon further examination of these and other sites, we found only a few with policies and materials that demonstrated to the public and doctors the seriousness with which these regulators handled such violations. These included state medical boards that had clear policy statements about sexual misconduct, informative and easy to find materials for the public and physicians and provided training on the topic. On the other hand, we also found state boards frequently used euphemistic language to obscure sexual misconduct. Many states didn’t have any material that we could find." The report gives a series of recommendations "focused on state medical board website information available for the public and for physicians as well as training and other activities."
June 15, 2022
NCARB releases third Baseline on Belonging report
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the National Organization of Minority Architects have previously released reports in the Baseline to Belonging study related to the architecture licensing exam. A third report "explores survey data regarding experiences completing a post-secondary degree in architecture, including factors related to cost, program culture, and curriculum—and how these factors create unintended impediments on the path to licensure." Some key findings: "The report reveals that Black or African American women are more likely to face impediments at every stage of their collegiate experience, ultimately driving more than half to consider a different career path. It also underscores disparities in affordability and culture between graduates of National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)-accredited programs and graduates of non-accredited architecture programs. . . When it comes to other barriers like architecture school culture and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), African American women were significantly more likely to report negative impacts and, consequently, more likely than their white male counterparts to say they considered leaving the field."
Florida: new laws to facilitate military licensure
Several new laws in Florida are aimed at helping military members more easily achieve licensure and certification. State agencies will be able to recognize military work experience in place of postsecondary education as a requirement for licensure. Military service will also qualify to fulfill the requirement for a temporary educator certificate under the mentorship of a certified teacher for teacher certification. Another law requires expedited treatment of licensure applications from active-duty military spouses.
