CLEAR

Virginia considers reduced cosmetology education hours

The Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology has voted to reduce the number of education hours required for licensure from 1,500 to 1,000. As indicated by West Virginia University economist Edward Timmons, 15 other states have made similar reductions to cosmetology license hours in the past decade, with no evidence of negative outcomes of the policy change.

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NMC considers English language requirements

After a consultation with record-breaking response levels, the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK will vote on proposed changes to its English language requirements. The first proposal will allow candidates to meet the requirements by combining test scores over a 12-month period. The second proposal will allow candidates to meet the requirements through employer-provided supporting evidence of English language proficiency if the candidate narrowly misses passing the test.

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ASWB analyzes exam pass rates

The Association of Social Work Boards has released their 2022 Exam Pass Rate Analysis. The data indicates that exam volume has more than doubled in the last decade and the proportion of test-takers from historically underrepresented groups has increased by 14%. The data indicates lower pass rates among men, older test-takers, those whose first language is not English, and Black test-takers. ASWB recognized "the need to identify potential steps that ASWB can take to address these differences while adhering to the public protection mandate that guides its mission."

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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.

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The Nurse Licensure Compact: Past, present, and future

        

CLEAR thanks our premier technology partner, Thentia, for contributing to CLEAR Regulatory News. 
The guest post below is provided by Thentia.

In the 1990s, the National Counsel of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) introduced the first official Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) to address inefficiencies with the traditional state-by-state licensure system. These days, as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, the NLC continues to make headlines as more states join in order to grant health care professionals more mobility and freedom in their work. But is this multi-state licensure compact effective? And what lies ahead for a program ultimately created to make skilled health care more available across geopolitical boundaries? We explore in our brief history of the NLC.

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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.

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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.

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Florida: new laws to facilitate military licensure

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.

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Kentucky: law for military professional license

A new law in Kentucky is aimed at easing licensure burdens for military families. HB 91 waives licensing fees and renewal fees for military spouses applying for regular or temporary licenses in Kentucky.

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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.

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