Utah’s systematic approach to occupational licensing reform: Ascend Radio
On this episode of the Ascend Radio podcast, Margaret Busse and Jeff Shumway join host Paul Leavoy to discuss Utah’s systematic approach to occupational licensing reform, the work of the state’s newly created Office of Professional Licensure Review, and much more.
Thentia Cloud makes powerful regulatory software to help you manage your board. Learn more

RELATED TOPICS

Thentia Cloud makes powerful regulatory software to help you manage your board. Learn more

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

SHARE

Share on linkedin
Share on twitter
Share on email
Share on facebook

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

SHARE

Share on linkedin
Share on twitter
Share on email
Share on facebook

The extent of occupational licensing regulations can have a great impact on both the vitality of a state’s economy and its citizens’ quality of life, affecting everything from their access to certain services, the prices they pay for those services, and their ability to work in regulated occupations.

 

Although the exact number of licensed occupations varies by state, research has shown that close to a quarter of all U.S. professions require some kind of license today, a figure that has increased dramatically since the 1950s when it was estimated to be about 5%. 

 

With so many occupational regulations on the books, how can states ensure that they remain relevant to workforce and economic needs? And how can they make sure they strike the right balance in the licensing requirements for regulated occupations so they are strong enough to protect the public from harm but not so restrictive that citizens who wish to work in these fields face unnecessary barriers to entry? 

 

Utah professional licensing gets a surgical review

 

The State of Utah is taking an innovative approach to these tasks by being one of only a few states to establish an office dedicated to systematically reviewing all occupational licenses. In his first official action, Gov. Spencer Cox issued an executive order in January 2021 requiring the review of all regulated occupations and professions.

 

At the direction of the governor, Margaret Busse, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce – which issues licenses to professionals and enforces laws relating to licensure – worked with lawmakers to create SB 16, legislation that formed a new Office of Professional Licensure Review (OPLR) within the Department of Commerce to lead the review process.  

 

Officially launched in July 2022 under the leadership of Director Jeff Shumway, OPLR is tasked with reviewing the licensure requirements for all of Utah’s regulated occupations at least once every 10 years as well as reviewing applications to establish new regulated occupations. Using their backgrounds in public policy and analytics, Shumway and his team identify which occupations should be reviewed each year and provide the legislature with objective, data-driven recommendations on how licensure requirements can be improved, if necessary. As Utah – along with other states – is currently grappling with a shortage of mental health professionals that is impacting Utahns’ ability to access mental health treatment, OPLR prioritized licenses in regulated mental and behavioral health occupations as the first group to be reviewed. 

 

Busse and Shumway recently joined Ascend Radio host Paul Leavoy to discuss Utah’s systematic approach to occupational licensure review and the work of OPLR so far. Their conversation touches on:  

 

  • The unique features of occupational licensing in Utah. 
  • How OPLR uses analytics to prioritize high-impact professions for review.
  • The shortage of mental health professionals in Utah and how revising licensure requirements can bolster the workforce in these professions. 
  • The importance of stakeholder engagement throughout the review process and how broadening engagement can help overcome barriers to change. 
  • How technological changes can render regulations out of date. 
  • Measuring success, what’s next for OPLR, Busse and Shumway’s advice for other states looking to take a similar approach to occupational licensure review, and much more. 

 

To learn more about Utah’s innovative approach to occupational licensing reform, check out these resources: 

 

Listen on:

more Podcasts

The Week in Brief Podcast is your weekly guide to the latest news, issues, and events in professional licensing, regulation, and digital government. This week, Sarah and Jordan discuss efforts to establish a licensing regime for massage therapists in Kansas, moves to cut red tape in public health and education in Michigan, and more.
Week in Brief Podcast

Regulating massage therapy to fight sex trafficking in Kansas: Week in Brief

The Week in Brief Podcast is your weekly guide to the latest news, issues, and events in professional licensing, regulation, and digital government. This week, Sarah and Jordan discuss efforts to establish a licensing regime for massage therapists in Kansas, moves to cut red tape in public health and education in Michigan, and more.

Listen Now
Week in Brief Podcast

Banning Canadian work experience requirements in Ontario: Week in Brief

The Week in Brief Podcast is your weekly guide to the latest news, issues, and events in professional licensing, regulation, and digital government. This week, Sarah and Paul discuss recommendations in Georgia for a state-run employment portal modeled after Indeed, moves to ban employers in Ontario from requiring Canadian work experience in job listings, and more.

Listen Now
Week in Brief Podcast

Reducing regulatory red tape in Georgia: Week in Brief

The Week in Brief Podcast is your weekly guide to the latest news, issues, and events in professional licensing, regulation, and digital government. This week, Sarah and Paul discuss new “red tape rollback” measures proposed by Georgia’s lieutenant governor, research showing potential weaknesses in elementary school teacher licensing exams throughout the U.S., and more.

Listen Now
Week in Brief Podcast

Daniel Radcliffe holds an auction: Week in Brief

The Week in Brief Podcast is your weekly guide to the latest news, issues, and events in professional licensing, regulation, and digital government. This week, Jordan and Paul discuss new licensing rules in New York City that allowed actor Daniel Radcliffe to auction off a signed stage prop, a program in New Brunswick that could help improve pathways to licensure for internationally trained doctors, and more.

Listen Now

SHARE

Share on linkedin
Share on twitter
Share on email
Share on facebook

SPECIAL REPORT

Updated: A breakdown of all interstate licensing compacts

IN BRIEF

Week-in-Brief-Banner-Dec-1-2023
Alberta
Alberta physicians criticize plans to subsidize nurse practitioner clinics: Weekly regulatory news

The Week in Brief is your weekly snapshot of regulatory news and what's happening in the world of professional licensing, government technology, and public policy.
This week in regulatory news, professional communities clash over plans to publicly fund nurse practitioner clinics in Alberta, California considers an alternative pathway to licensure for lawyers, and much more.

FEATURED TOPIC

Regulatory Licensing