The Professional Regulatory Board of Food Technology was created in July 2021 and has now developed a code of conduct; guidelines for registration without exam; and a Professional Competitiveness Roadmap to focus on a licensure exam, continuing professional development, internationalization, inspection and monitoring, and research and development. Food technologists would be trained to conduct food analysis, comply with food laws and regulations in food manufacturing and distribution, develop new food products, and implement quality management systems.
February 09, 2022
UK proposes changes to international registration legislation
The Department of Health and Social Care in the UK is holding an open consultation on proposed changes to international registration legislation for the General Dental Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Since the end of 2020, European law for the recognition of European Economic Area qualified healthcare professionals no longer applies in the UK. Moving forward, EEA applicants will likely be considered through the individual regulator's international registration process. A new Professional Qualifications Bill is currently under consideration to implement a new framework for the recognition of overseas professional qualifications. The changes aim to ensure that registration processes are streamlined and that regulators have flexibility to amend processes without requiring legislative intervention.
February 02, 2022
Illinois: faster license processing time could be mandated
Legislation under consideration in Illinois would require the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to process license applications within four weeks if there are no errors or missing components of the application. The bill has not yet proceeded to a committee.
January 26, 2022
Update: Oregon Supreme Court supports alternative pathways for attorney licensure
The Oregon Supreme Court has unanimously supported recommendations from the state Board of Bar Examiners for two alternative pathways to licensure in lieu of the Uniform Bar Exam. An experiential learning pathway for students could require 15 experiential credits and a capstone project. A postgraduate supervised legal practice pathway could require 1,500 hours of supervised legal practice to become licensed. The Board of Bar Examiners will appoint a committee to establish specific criteria and get input from the public.
CSG releases report on Universal License Recognition Laws
The Council of State Governments National Center for Interstate Compacts has released a report of survey results about Universal License Recognition (ULR) policies in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, and Pennsylvania (states that have implemented ULR prior to 2020). The report gives an overview of the state's universal licensure laws and shares respondents' comments about benefits, challenges, and unintended consequences of the policy. The report concludes that ULR policies do allow states to reduce barriers to licensure, but clearer language is needed regarding determination of substantial equivalence, and digitized licensing systems would help ease the burden of implementation.
Vermont adopts Foreign Credentialing Rules
The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation has adopted Foreign Credentialing Rules as a means to determine if license applicants trained outside the US meet requirements for a Vermont license. The Office of Professional Regulation will utilize third-party evaluators to determine equivalency of an applicant's foreign work experience, education, training, and exams. If deemed equivalent, the applicant will be able to apply for licensure by endorsement, waiving US formal education, training, and exams.
January 19, 2022
Illinois: IDFPR releases report on military licensure supports
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has released the "Annual Report on Expedited Licensure Review for Military Service Members and Spouses for 2021." In 2021, the military liaison assisted 862 military members and their spouses, more than triple of 2020 figures. The professions with the highest number of applications were registered nurses, unarmed security guards, physicians and surgeons, dentists, and cosmetologists.
January 06, 2022
Vermont considers extension of pandemic health license policies
Act 6 was passed in Vermont in 2020 to allow retired and out-of-state healthcare workers to practice in Vermont without obtaining a Vermont license. The law is set to expire in March. A coalition of hospitals and provider associations is asking for an extension of the law to meet current and continuing healthcare staffing shortages amid COVID-19 surges.
December 15, 2021
Alberta delays counselling therapist regulation
The Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta was established after the Mental Health Services Protection bill was passed in December 2018. ACTA has developed standards of practice, codes of ethics, and competencies and requirements for counsellors, but the Alberta government has indicated that creation of College of Counselling Therapy is no longer a priority for the government but that review of the issue will continue.
December 01, 2021
New Hampshire: Executive Order grants additional resources to regulatory agencies
In the wake of record levels of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, New Hampshire's governor has issued an executive order directing more resources to the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification to streamline the licensing process for healthcare workers. The OPLC and the Board of Nursing are directed to provide reports to the Governor identifying any tools and resources needed to expedite processing of applications and background checks.
