Effective January 1, 2023, the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta will no longer offer an associate membership for non-practicing LPNs. Individuals who were formerly registered in Alberta wishing to return to practice can apply for reinstatement if they have practiced within the past four years or have completed a refresher program.
July 06, 2022
June 22, 2022
Illinois: license reactivation for mental health practitioners
A new law in Illinois will allow mental health professionals who have been out of practice for less than five years to temporarily reactivate their license. The bill also expands behavioral health training and creates incentives for hiring individuals in recovery from substance use disorder or mental illness.
April 07, 2022
Report released for AHPRA's administration of health practitioner registration and notification
The Community Affairs References Committee has completed an inquiry into the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency's administration of health practitioner registration and notifications. The report includes 14 recommendations. One proposal is to refer low-risk notifications to health practices and services, with AHPRA only handling clinical issues relating to patient safety. Concern was raised about the stress and detrimental impacts of the current system. Another proposal would remove the mandatory requirements to report to AHPRA about a health professional's conduct if it poses a risk to the public. Concern was raised that the reporting requirements discourage health professionals from seeking help and treatment. Other recommendations include regulation of the use of the title "surgeon;" a more flexible re-entry to practice model; regulation of social workers, aged care workers, and personal care workers; simplification and enhanced education and support about notifications and other complaint pathways; and analysis and improvements in notification timeframes.
January 12, 2022
California Medical Board seeks discipline reform
The Medical Board of California has asked the legislature to consider changes to disciplinary policies to lower the standard of proof required to prove cases of professional misconduct, applying the preponderance of evidence standard. They also requested an increase in the amount of time before a doctor can petition to reinstate a revoked license. An increase in licensing fees is also sought.
April 08, 2020
Health policy researcher calls for making changes permanent
A health policy researcher with the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice calls for some state actions and changes to the healthcare system in response to COVID-19 to be "boundless and permanent." In this article, he focuses on deregulatory trends in healthcare policy: reciprocity of occupational licenses, relaxing requirements for inactive licensees to return to practice, expanding scope of practice, lifting telemedicine regulations, and temporarily suspending continuing education requirements.
April 01, 2020
Vermont expedites healthcare professional licensure
A new temporary law in Vermont allows healthcare and mental health professionals with licenses in other states to practice in Vermont without the usual requirements to obtain a Vermont license. Those with an inactive Vermont license within the last three years may also reactivate their licenses. New graduates who have been unable to take their licensing exam can be issued temporary licenses without paying licensure fees. The new law also expands access to telehealth and allows pharmacists to extend previously prescribed maintenance prescriptions or provide substitution of medications if originally prescribed drugs are unavailable.
Pennsylvania eases requirements for some professionals
In addition to changes to allow retired and inactive healthcare professionals to return to practice, Pennsylvania is also extending the due date for licensure renewal fees for healthcare professionals, as well as industries such as barbering and cosmetology that are being faced with unemployment during COVID-19 business shutdowns.
The governor announced that over 120 medical professionals have applied to reactivate lapsed licenses.
July 12, 2017
New York expands online re-licensing for insurance agents
Insurance agents and brokers in New York whose licenses have been expired more than two years will now be able to apply for re-licensure online. The online process had already been available for agents with license lapse of less than two years. Applicants with no disqualifying conditions can expect next business day turnaround with the automated process. Applicants must have completed a re-licensure exam in the past two years or be in good standing in another jurisdiction.
