NHS England is piloting a program for community nurses to use high-tech smart goggles during home visits with patient's consent. The goggles will be able to transcribe the appointment to electronic records and share live footage with other hospital colleagues for second opinions. Nurses can also use the devices to track appointments and travel time. The goal of the pilot is to reduce time spent manually filling out forms and entering patient data.
August 24, 2022
May 04, 2022
European Health Data Space proposal
The European Commission has released an FAQ document regarding the European Health Data Space (EHDS) proposal. The EHDS is "a health-specific data sharing framework establishing clear rules, common standards and practices, infrastructures and a governance framework for the use of electronic health data by patients and for research, innovation, policy making, patient safety, statistics or regulatory purposes." Health professionals would benefit from improved interoperability and easier access to patients' medical history across borders for improved continuity of care. Regulators would be able to access health data for evidence-based policymaking and more efficient functioning of healthcare systems.
March 28, 2022
Changes to the CPA Exam: focus on evolving competencies and technologies
In conjunction with the CPA Evolution initiative, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants have announced a transition policy for changes to the CPA exam. Candidates completing their requirements by December 31, 2023 will not be impacted by the changes. Candidates still working on requirements in January 2024 and beyond will transition to the new exam. Changes tot he exam are in response to employer needs for new CPAs to possess greater skill sets and competencies and a greater knowledge of emerging technologies. In July, the Exposure Draft of the 2024 CPA Exam will be released, outlining the content and skills proposed for each new section of the exam.
Interested to hear more about how regulators can better align their licensure model to address the competencies and tech-knowledge required of the future licensee? Join us for a webinar where NASBA discusses why a new model was needed, the process to develop the new model, and getting buy-in for the new model.
February 02, 2022
Texas: massage therapy part of digital platform pilot
The Texas Department of Information Resources has announced the launch of a new digital platform for citizens to manage their government-issued licenses and registrations. Texas by Texas will allow Texans to create an account within which to complete transactions with state agencies online or in the app. Massage therapy and massage instructor are the pilot professions as part of the platform, with the anticipation of adding more professions in the future.
October 20, 2021
New podcast focuses on cheating on exams
The Score is a new podcast focused on "academic integrity and the growing problem of cheating by college students and in professional certification and licensure." Academic researchers and experts will discuss both high-tech and low-tech methods of cheating, the impact on the education and testing industry, and issues of academic integrity in education and professional testing.
Wisconsin to use AI to streamline licensing process
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services is implementing an AI platform to automate data extraction from emails and attachments, automate data entry, and link attached degrees or certifications to applications. They also plan to use AI and virtual assistants to help direct callers at the call center to the resources they need. This is phase two of a modernization and streamlining effort. Phase three will focus on analyzing the source and nature of complaints to inform changes to the process.
October 07, 2021
Michigan completes move to new licensing and regulation database
The Bureau of Professional Licensing under the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is moving its online licensing and regulatory database for health and occupational professionals to a new system called Michigan Professional Licensing User System (MiPLUS). The new system replaces three separate databases that had been in use for 20 years. The transition began with some professions in 2017, and this phase brings the remaining professions and occupations into the new system.
September 22, 2021
Pennsylvania considers remote learning for real estate professionals
A bill under consideration in Pennsylvania would allow applicants for real estate licensure to meet the required 75 hours of education via remote learning. Those renewing a license would also be able to get their 14 class hours via remote livestreaming classes.
September 08, 2021
Research: occupational therapy practice educators' move to digital platforms
A new research study in Australia was conducted to "explore the experiences of practice educators who supervised occupational therapy students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia." Findings of the report are as follows: "the experiences of the occupational therapy practice educators were interpreted into three themes: (1) Opportunities lost and then created (as two subthemes); (2) The relationship between the student and practice educator (comprising subthemes of practicing self-care and connection and support); and (3) Signing-off of students' competencies. While digital platforms were initially viewed as limiting, they also were used to create new opportunities for student learning. Participants spoke of being mindful of their and students' wellbeing and finding ways to provide connection and support. Participants were challenged by the need to adapt how they evaluated students in the context of a pandemic."
September 02, 2021
CSG releases report assessing COVID-19 occupational licensing policy actions
The Council of State Governments has released a report, "Assessing COVID-19 Occupational Licensing Policy Actions." The report details emergency policies enacted by states during the pandemic, including temporary and expedited licensure, expanded scopes of practice, telelhealth, and suspension or waiver of licensing requirements. The report recommends strategies to improve state resiliency against disaster events, including recommendations for telehealth policies, features needed for modernized online licensing systems, and interstate compacts. The report also encourages use of an independent committee to assess the performance, benefits, and concerns of any emergency policies to determine which are suited to become permanent.
