This article from the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing sets out areas of concern related to universal licensing laws, specifically that not enough attention is given to substantial equivalence - "the trust and confidence that the qualifications underlying one state’s license are on par with those of other states." The article cites the mobility of medical professionals across state lines during the pandemic as an argument in favor of rigorous standards and substantial equivalence - the country was able to respond to the pandemic because of the "strong, consistent licensing standards [that] are a critical foundation for professions entrusted to protect the public."
May 12, 2021
April 22, 2021
Australia: life insurers launch Professional Standards Framework
The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance and several life insurer companies have developed a Professional Standards Framework for life insurance claim and underwriting professionals. The framework includes competencies related to ethics, sustainability, products and services, and law and regulation. Claims professionals are expected to complete the competencies by December 2023, and underwriting professionals should complete the competencies by December 2024.
March 31, 2021
Arkansas approves certified nurse practitioner independent practice and other bills
HB 1258 has passed in Arkansas to allow certified nurse practitioners full and independent practice authority after completing three years of practice under a collaborative agreement with a physician. Nurses with full practice authority would be able to receive and prescribe drugs, medications and therapeutic devices.
HB 1198 will allow certified registered nurse anesthetists to practice "in consultation with" a physician rather than "under the supervision" of a physician.
Bills will allow pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to give vaccinations and immunizations, as well as dispense birth control pills without a prescription within some parameters.
Another bill would allow physicians and medical providers to refuse to perform procedures that go against their conscience, except for emergency care.
February 10, 2021
Alberta: additional changes to Health Professions Act
Bills 30 and 46 in Alberta made significant changes to Alberta's Health Professions Act, including the separation of regulatory colleges and professional associations. Additional changes include the regulation of physician assistants under the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, establishment of a College of Acupuncturists, regulation of health aides, and new or amended standards of practice related to restricted activities. Additional proposed changes that may yet be approved relate to changes in standards of practice during an emergency and regulation of counselling therapists.
December 30, 2020
Florida: local governments request reconsideration of conversion therapy decision
Local governments in Florida have filed requests for a re-hearing after a US Circuit Court of Appeals ruling calling local ordinances banning conversion therapy unconstitutional. The Court of Appeals ruled that such ordinances violated the First Amendment rights of therapists who want to provide conversion therapy treatment or counseling. Local governments had enacted ordinances banning health care providers from performing conversion therapy, as it is "widely recognized as harmful to the health of minor patients."
December 02, 2020
UK: High Court overturns ruling on solicitor's private life activity
The High Court in the UK has overturned a misconduct finding against a solicitor. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal had fined the solicitor for "inappropriate sexual activity" that breached professional integrity rules. The High Court's ruling warned regulators against being "dogmatic" and responding to "popular outcry" and emphasized that "a failure of integrity and harm to public trust in the profession must be measured only by reference to the rest of the SRA's rules."
October 14, 2020
UK: NMC launches code of practice campaign
The Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK has launched "Caring with Confidence: The Code in Action," a series of short animated videos focused on several themes in the code of practice. The NMC intends for the videos to show how the code is a "friend and guide to support professional judgement during situations where there may not be any obvious right or wrong answer," especially in situations related to care during the pandemic.
October 07, 2020
Virginia estheticians raise concerns about mask requirement
Language in Virginia's Phase Three business reopening guidelines under consideration in the General Assembly would require clients undergoing personal care services to wear a mask. Prior language of the guidelines would have allowed estheticians to perform facials, but many practitioners are now raising concern that the current language limiting services to "only those that can be completed without clients removing their face coverings" would "essentially shut down the entire industry."
September 30, 2020
New South Wales Design and Building Practitioners Act
The Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 was passed in June in New South Wales, with most provisions to become effective in July 2021. Among the changes are the establishment of a statutory duty of care; a requirement for registered building practitioners to provide building compliance declarations; and establishment of registration for designers, engineers, and builders.
August 06, 2020
NCARB discusses future of architect licensure
In a recent interview, leadership of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards shared plans for the coming year. NCARB plans to develop task forces to explore practice and ethics issues and guidance, better raise awareness of the importance of architecture licensure, and focus on equity, diversity and inclusion in the architecture profession. They highlight NCARB's commitment to addressing challenges to licensure, such as cost and time, as well as addressing racial disparity in architecture licensing. (Updated Policy on Diversity and Inclusion)
