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.
June 15, 2022
Florida: new laws to facilitate military licensure
June 01, 2022
American Society of Landscape Architects launches racial and gender equity program
The American Association of Landscape Architects has launched the Women of Color Licensure Advancement Program to "support women of color in their pursuit of landscape architecture licensure and provide mentorship opportunities that position women for success." The program is part of ASLA's Racial Equity Plan of Action. The women in the program receive financial assistance with examination fees, examination preparation resources, and mentorship from a licensed landscape architect.
May 25, 2022
Louisiana: bill for out-of-state license recognition
The Louisiana Senate has approved a bill to allow licensing boards to recognize professional licenses from other states if the license is comparable to the same profession in Louisiana and to determine if any additional training or testing is required before a Louisiana license can be issued. Out-of-state applicants must have been licensed in good standing in another state for at least one year and not have any criminal or professional discipline issues - or have three years work experience if the profession does not require a license in their home state - or have two years experience and a private certification from another state. The bill does not apply to professions licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana, the State Board of Architectural Examiners, the Louisiana Real Estate Commission, the State Board of Veterinary Medicine Examiners, the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board, the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry, the State Board of Nursing, or the Louisiana Supreme Court. The bill now moves on to the House.
May 17, 2022
Oklahoma signs law regarding criminal history
Oklahoma's governor has signed a law requiring certain licensing boards, when reviewing applications of those with criminal history, to consider whether the crime relates to the occupation and is a threat to public safety. The law applies to five occupational licenses: scrap metal dealers, Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, motor vehicle dealers, used motor vehicle dealers, and the Micropigmentation Regulation Act.
Michigan considers reinstating dietitian and nutritionist licensure
In 2014, the Michigan legislature repealed the licensure requirement for dietitians and nutritionists. A bill introduced in teh Senate and referred to the Committee on Health Policy and Human Services would reinstate requirements for those wishing to use the titles dietitian or nutritionist to complete a course of study accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, pay a yearly licensure fee, pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam, and complete continuing education requirements.
May 10, 2022
Connecticut: bill passed regarding applicants with prior convictions
A bill that passed both the House and Senate in Connecticut now awaits the governor's signature. The bill would require licensing agencies to consider certain factors when reviewing a licensure application of an individual with prior felony convictions: that nature of the conviction and how it relates to duties of the job, the person's rehabilitation, and the length of time since the conviction.
Update: minimum wage for articling students in Ontario
The Law Society of Ontario has voted to implement a mandatory minimum wage for articling students (with a narrow margin of 25 in favor, 24 opposed and 1 abstention). The minimum wage requirement will come into effect during the next licensing cycle in May 2023. A report last year found that 10-15% of articling placements are below minimum wage or unpaid, with increasing education costs raising equity concerns for entering the profession. Those opposed ot the minimum wage raised concerns that smaller firms would be unable to offer articling positions if required to pay minimum wage.
April 27, 2022
Louisiana considers licensure bills regarding applicants with prior convictions
A bill under consideration in the Louisiana House would allow interested licensure candidates who have a prior criminal conviction to request a pre-determination from the licensing board as to whether their conviction disqualifies them from obtaining a license before they invest in school or training. The licensing board would have 45 days to make the determination, which would then be binding unless the applicant at time of application has new, pending, or previously undisclosed convictions.
April 13, 2022
Iowa considers certified professional midwives
Iowa is considering a bill to license certified professional midwives, joining 35 other states that regulate the profession. Opponents to the bill argue that it doesn't adequately address transfer agreements and coordination between midwives and hospitals. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is in favor of restricting midwives' scope of practice to carefully defined low-risk pregnancies. Some such restrictions about medical liability insurance and written collaboration with a physician have made it more difficult for midwives to practice. In 2019-20, the number of home births in the US rose 22%.
March 28, 2022
Changes to the CPA Exam: focus on evolving competencies and technologies
In conjunction with the CPA Evolution initiative, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants have announced a transition policy for changes to the CPA exam. Candidates completing their requirements by December 31, 2023 will not be impacted by the changes. Candidates still working on requirements in January 2024 and beyond will transition to the new exam. Changes tot he exam are in response to employer needs for new CPAs to possess greater skill sets and competencies and a greater knowledge of emerging technologies. In July, the Exposure Draft of the 2024 CPA Exam will be released, outlining the content and skills proposed for each new section of the exam.
Interested to hear more about how regulators can better align their licensure model to address the competencies and tech-knowledge required of the future licensee? Join us for a webinar where NASBA discusses why a new model was needed, the process to develop the new model, and getting buy-in for the new model.
