The National Funeral Directors Association has indicated that 79% of this year's mortuary students are female, up from 35% in 1995, reflecting a nationwide trend of changes to the makeup of the funeral industry. The funeral industry is responding to chronic staff shortages and an aging workforce by recruiting a younger and more diverse workforce. An example in Vermont is the introduction of new and more affordable certificate programs leading to licensure.
October 26, 2022
US: trends in makeup of funeral industry
September 22, 2022
Research on professional licensing and insterstate migration
A new research study, "Occupational Licensing and Interstate Migration in the United States," published in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Monthly Labor Review finds no evidence of licensing affecting interstate migration. The research question was: "Is high licensing preventing people from moving into certain states?" The research indicates that evidence supporting that statement is weak and that other complex factors, such as where a state is located, the ability to work remotely, and connection to the community, play a larger role.
US Congress passes Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act
The United States Congress passed the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act. The legislation "calls on the U.S. Department of Labor to study systemic barriers to employment that impact immigrants and refugees who hold credentials obtained in another country, and to issue recommendations for reform." Research by the Migration Policy Institute indicates that 2 million college-educated immigrants and refugees residing in the US are underemployed, with 60% of those holding a credential from a non-US jurisdiction. The US Department of Labor will undertake to determine how various factors, such as limited recognition of credentials and other barriers to occupational licensing, contribute to this situation.
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.
September 07, 2022
Nevada: emergency regulation change for teacher licensing
Nevada's governor has signed an emergency regulation that reduces the cost of substitute teacher licenses and allows 6-month extension of expiration dates for provisional educator licenses. The regulation is at the request of the Commission on Professional Standards in Education to help address educator workforce shortage.
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.
Social work licensing compact drafted
Draft language of a social work licensing compact is available for review. The council of State Governments and the Association of Social Work Boards invite public comment on the draft language, with a goal of finalizing language in fall 2022 and releasing model compact legislation to the states at the beginning of the 2023 legislative sessions. CSG is also holding weekly public review sessions to share information about provisions of the compact.
July 27, 2022
Colorado: out-of-state marijuana convictions
An executive order by Colorado's governor directs the Department of Regulatory Affairs to promulgate rules such that marijuana-related convictions in other states will not be considered to disqualify individuals from professional licensure if the activity is legal in Colorado. Likewise, licensed professionals in Colorado will not be disciplined for out-of-state marijuana convictions if the activity is legal in Colorado and consistent with professional conduct and standards of care in Colorado. The order also prohibits Colorado state agencies from providing information or spending resources to aid out-of-state investigations seeking to sanction an out-of-state professional for legal marijuana-related conduct that took place in Colorado.
July 20, 2022
Tennessee: petition to change full-time work requirement for lawyer licensure
The Network of enlightened Women (NeW) has filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Tennessee to change the requirement that out-of-state lawyers who wish to practice in Tennessee must have worked full-time as a lawyer in another state for five of the last seven years or sit for the Tennessee bar exam. The petition claims that the requirement makes it harder for lawyers working part-time, especially working mothers, to practice in Tennessee.
June 22, 2022
Ohio: license reciprocity bills pass House and Senate
Separate versions of universal occupational license recognition bills have passed in the Ohio House and Senate. The bills would allow licensing boards to grant reciprocity to license holders in good standing from another state.
