The Royal College of Physicians in the UK is calling for changes to allow international medical and social care professionals who have worked in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue working in the UK. They also call for a waiver of the NHS International Health Surcharge.
May 13, 2020
UK: call for changes for international health workers
May 06, 2020
European Qualifications Passport for Refugees during COVID-19
This article provides information on the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees launched by the Council of Europe to assess professional qualifications of refugees and describe the qualifications in a comparable format among different countries. The article provides examples of how the EQPR could be used to allow refugees with relevant qualifications to practice as licensed health professionals in response to COVID-19.
January 09, 2020
Nevada Office for New Americans
Nevada state legislature has created the Office for New Americans with a goal of helping immigrants adjust to living and working in the United States. One area of focus for the Office will be helping immigrants navigate the occupational licensing process. Recent Nevada legislation allows people to apply for occupational licenses regardless of their legal status.
July 02, 2019
Pennsylvania governor signs license reciprocity bill
Legislation in Pennsylvania to remove licensing barriers for those entering the state has been signed into law. The legislation requires all licensing boards under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs to issue licenses by endorsement, including the authority to issue a provisional license to practice while the applicants Pennsylvania license is being processed. Applicants will need to hold a current license in the profession in another state or country with substantially equivalent requirements, demonstrate competency by continuing education or recent professional experience, be in good standing in their home jurisdiction, and pay the appropriate license fees.
June 05, 2019
Israel to allow temporary unlicensed practice for optometrists
Israel's Deputy Health Minister has announced an agreement to allow optometrists who have received their education abroad but not yet taken or passed the Israeli licensing exam to be allowed to practice for one-and-a-half years before being required to take the exam. Currently, dentists and pharmacists who are educated abroad can obtain an exemption from the licensing exams for their profession based on professional experience.
May 15, 2019
Vermont law for updated foreign credential verification
A bill signed into law in Vermont requires the Director of the Office of Professional Regulation to adopt rules prescribing a uniform process for assessing professional credentials of internationally-educated licensure applicants. The Director's determinations of equivalence will be binding on the relevant state board. Rules must be adopted on or before July 1, 2020.
April 10, 2019
EU healthcare qualifications will be recognized after Brexit
The Health and Social Care Secretary in the UK has announced that European Union healthcare workers will have their qualifications and registrations recognized after Brexit even if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Health and social care workers with professional qualifications from EU institutions will continue to have their training accepted by all UK regulatory bodies.
December 12, 2018
Maine: report on foreign trained professionals
The New Mainers Resource Center has issued a report, "Foreign Trained Professionals: Maine's Hidden Talent Pool," that recommends changes to licensing requirements and policies to address barriers faced by foreign trained professionals trying to enter the U.S. workforce. Recommendations include clarification about license application procedures and a determination at the beginning of the licensure process of whether a candidate's education meets the licensing requirements. Specific recommendations are aimed at the Board of Nursing, Department of Education, Board of Accountancy, Board for Professional Engineers, Bar Examiners, and Board of Medicine.
April 12, 2018
UK expects increase in non-EU doctors
The General Medical Council has indicated that the number of international doctors applying to work in the UK is expected to reach 5,000 this year, an increase of almost 2,000 over last year. The GMC is adding more test dates for the required exams and offering workshops and training to assist foreign doctors. However, the greater number of international doctors still will not fill the expected shortage of new doctors.
October 17, 2017
How blockchain technology could be used in professional regulation
An article published in The Public Eye by Fieldfisher provides a brief overview of what blockchain technology is and offers some potential ways it could be used in the professional regulation arena. One area that could be addressed by blockchain is ensuring the authenticity of professional qualifications held by international applicants; a decentralized management system could allow regulators to "verify 'ownership' of a qualification, preventing fraud and allowing regulators to easily confirm qualifications without the costly and potentially hazardous posting of original documents." The article also suggests the possibility of creating a secure professional identity that would allow the public to "ascertain the professional's registration, qualifications and current ability to practice," furthering public confidence in the profession.
