Frank
Muñoz
Associate Commissioner
Associate Commissioner
Since 1891, the Board of Regents and the New
York State Education Department have overseen the preparation,
licensure, and practice of the professions. Currently, the Office of the Professions regulates
forty-eight professions defined in
Title VIII of the Education Law.
Find Answers
The Office of the Professions is pleased to announce that online registration renewal is available. The online process will provide a timely and secure alternative to paper registration applications. When registering online, the registration fees can be paid using a credit card, and no additional charge will be added for this convenience.
More information will be sent to each licensee at the time of their registration renewal. Licensees will not be eligible to participate in online renewal until they are notified and given a PIN.
- Restrictions on Consecutive Hours of Work for Nurses Law
- Section 167 of the Labor Law, went into effect on July 1, 2009. Section 167 prohibits health care employers from mandating overtime for nurses, and stipulates the conditions under which exceptions to this rule may be made. The New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL) is responsible for enforcement of this law and has posted information on their website. (July 1, 2009)
- Public Accountancy - Regulation Changes
- Section 29.10 of the Rules of the Board of Regents and section 52.13 and Part 70 of the Commissioner's Regulations have been amended to implement Chapter 651 of the Laws of 2008. The amendment establishes education, examination and experience requirements for licensure of certified public accountants (CPAs) and public accountants (PAs) and adds provisions relating to endorsement of out-of-state licenses or foreign licenses; the issuance of foreign limited permits or temporary practice permits, firm registration, continuing professional education, and amends the definition of unprofessional conduct for CPAs and PAs licensed in New York State. The law takes effect July 26, 2009. Please also see a summary of the regulation changes. (June 26, 2009)
- Physical Therapy Continuing Education
- Questions and answers for licensees, as well as information and forms for potential providers of continuing education have been posted. Chapter 207 of the Laws of 2008, which requires physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to complete thirty-six hours of continuing education during each three-year re-registration period takes effect September 1, 2009. (June 25, 2009)
- New Phone System
- The Office of the Professions phone system changed on June 1, 2009. Our general phone number, 518-474-3817, and all of our 3-digit office extensions remain the same. The system will, however, no longer provide automated license verifications. Our official source of licensee verification information is available on this site. The hours of operation for the phone system are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. excluding State holidays. (June 1, 2009)
- Influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV)
- OP has posted a joint letter from the NYS Commissioners of Education and Health sent to pharmacies and wholesalers concerning availabiltiy of antiviral medications (Oseltamivir and Zanamivir) for prevention and treatment of S-OIV infection. Also posted is the New York State Clinical Guidance for Treatment of Swine-Origin Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Flu) Virus Infection. (May 6, 2009)
- FDA, FTC Warn Public of Fraudulent 2009 H1N1 Influenza Products
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission are alerting the public to be wary of Internet sites and other promotions for products that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. (May 5, 2009)
- Swine Flu
- The Office of the Professions, whose role is to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the public through its many functions in licensure, professional discipline and the oversight of practice, has posted information for the public and for licensees concerning the recent swine flu outbreak. (April 30, 2009)
- ServNY
- ServNY is a Department of Health registry of health care and mental health professionals who wish to volunteer during an emergency or major disaster. (March 5, 2009)
- Important Information for Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSWs)
- It has come to the attention of the State Board for Social Work that certain LMSWs have completed, or are in the process of completing, experience for licensure as an LCSW in a setting or under a supervision arrangement that may not be consistent with general requirements related to the practice of the professions. After reviewing the matter, the Committee on the Professions (COP) has determined that the State Board for Social Work may accept certain experience for licensure, if the experience was started prior to February 2, 2009 and meets all other requirements in law and regulation.
(January 30, 2009)
- Social Workers, Psychologists and Mental Health Practitioners
- At their December 2008 meeting, the Board of Regents Professional Practice Committee discussed the unintended consequences of a 2002 law which, among other provisions, restricted the practice of psychotherapy to individuals licensed by the State Education Department, established two new professions in place of a single social worker license, and created four new mental health professions.
(January 16, 2009)
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist Restricted License
- Application requirements, forms, and FAQs have been posted.
(January 1, 2009)
- Pharmacy - Administration of Immunizations
- A new law and regulations that will permit licensed pharmacists who obtain an additional certification to administer influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations to adults 18 years of age and older will take effect on December 5, 2008. Detailed information is available here. (November 24, 2008)
- Announcing OPNEWS Listserv
- The Office of the Professions Strategic Communications Team announces an
initiative to provide interested parties with news and updates about the Office
of the Professions via email. Individuals can subscribe to OPNEWS to receive
regular updates about:
- office activities and performance
- the license, practice and discipline of the professions
- professional practice alerts, and
- meetings of the State Boards
- Employment Opportunities in Shortage Areas
- Immediate employment opportunities are available with the New
York City Department of Education in the areas of monolingual and
bilingual speech services,
bilingual school psychology,
occupational therapy and physical therapy. License holders in
psychology and speech-language pathology who do not hold school
certification should review new
regulatory provisions approved by the Board of Regents in
July, 2005. Experience gained in non-school settings may be given
to bilingual psychologists and bilingual speech-language
pathologists. Additional information on opportunities or
scholarship assistance can be obtained by contacting the New York
City Department of Education: http://schools.nyc.gov/teachnyc/
(April 30, 2007)
- Verifying Your New York License
- New York licensees are reminded that up-to-the-minute license
and registration status is available on
this site. Information on the this site is current and official. Licensees who require
written proof of licensure should file the Request for Written Confirmation of NYS
Licensure (PDF). This request requires the submission of a
fee and will be mailed to a third party.
- Regents Scholarship Opportunities
- Regents Professional Opportunity Scholarships are available annually to New York State residents who are economically disadvantaged and/or members of an underrepresented minority group and who are beginning or engaged in an approved program leading to a degree in an eligible profession licensed by the Regents. Award winners receive up to $5,000 per year, for a maximum of four academic years. Information and applications can be found on the Office of Higher Education's (OHE) Website. Information and applications for the Regents Health Care Scholarship in Medicine and Dentistry and the Regents Physician Loan Forgiveness Program are also available on the OHE Web site.
For Future Reference: In the event of an emergency that impacts the licensed professions, OP will provide important information, specific to the situation, through this Web site and other means. This information will include emergency provisions for professional practice as well as updates on scheduled events and services (licensing examinations, professional discipline proceedings, examination reviews, etc.)
Applicants and licensees can now print and mail an address/name change form. Please remember that OP is to be notified within 30 days of any change in name or address.
New York State Education Department
Office of the Professions
State Education Building - 2nd floor
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234
Questions: op4info@mail.nysed.gov or 518-474-3817
Office of the Professions
State Education Building - 2nd floor
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234
Questions: op4info@mail.nysed.gov or 518-474-3817
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