Office of the Professions

News & Reports

Professional Association Convening

On November 29, 2007, the Office of the Professions conducted a Leadership Forum with professional associations, legislative staff, and state board chairpersons. The forum informed the professions of several initiatives, including: design teams to improve licensing and discipline processes, the new illegal practice regulations, progress toward full automation of all routine processes, and efforts to identify and revise outdated practice interpretations and regulations. The attendees also heard about the Board of Regents "Planting the Seed" initiative. As part of that presentation, Lou Grumet, Executive Director of the New York State Society of CPAs described the Society's summer institute that annually mentors 370 minority youngsters and teaches them about the accountancy profession. The Society's program is one of many models used in the professions to provide middle school and high school students with information about careers in the licensed professions. The meeting was hailed by participants as a valuable method to identify issues that confront the 47 licensed professions in a changing practice environment.

Presentation: Text-Only | HTML Graphic | MS PowerPoint (December 10, 2007)

OP Testimony Before the New York State Assembly

Associate Commissioner Frank Munoz testified before the Assembly Health Committee on Monday, October 29, 2007, on "Developing a Primary Care Agenda". The hearing was convened to examine the adequacy of New York's primary care system and identify what action is needed to strengthen the system. (November 5, 2007)

Announcing OPNEWS Listserv

The Office of the Professions Strategic Communications Team has begun a new 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 47 professions
• professional practice alerts, and
• meetings of the 29 State Boards

Join OPNEWS at: http://listserv.nysed.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=opnews&A=1. You will be prompted to enter your email address and tailor how you wish to receive email alerts. You can access more information about the OPNEWS listserv at: listserv.nysed.gov. (October 22, 2007)

Announcing Online Registration Renewals

The Office of the Professions is pleased to announce that online registration renewal is now available. Phased in over the next three years, the online process will provide a timely and secure alternative to the paper registration applications used for many years. When registering online, the registration fees can be paid using a credit card, and no additional charge will be added for this convenience.

In order to register online, individuals must:

• Be licensed and in the last 5 months of their current registration period;
• Receive the renewal notification and PIN in the mail; and
• Use a valid Visa or MasterCard to pay the registration fees.

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.

Please see www.op.nysed.gov/renewalinfo.htm for more information about online renewals and, if eligible, to log in to the application. (September 25, 2007)

ALERT: Touro College Transcripts - 9/4/07 Update

The State Education Department (SED) and Touro College have developed a process whereby Touro can properly verify degrees and coursework for Touro student/graduates to SED for a specific credential as a New York State teacher or licensed professional. SED is now expediting reviews of applications that were held up while the process was devised. SED has been notified by Touro College that any students, employers, or higher education program officials with concerns or questions regarding externship placement, potential employment or Touro records, may call Touro's hotline at (212) 292-5540 or write via e-mail at registrarinfo@touro.edu. Touro advises that the latest updates on Student Records are available on its Web site: http://www.touro.edu/general/statements/records-aug3007.asp. (September 4, 2007)

Proposed Amendment to Regulations for Licensed Clinical Social Work

The Commissioner of Education is proposing to amend Part 74 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education (8 NYCRR Part 74) relating to the licensure and practice of licensed clinical social work (LCSW). The amendments would require an applicant to meet the experience requirements for entry to the licensing examination and clarify when group supervision is acceptable. The full text of the proposed amendments to Part 74 may be found here (HTML) or here (Word). (July 27, 2007)

Dentistry Continuing Education

On July 3, 2007, the Governor signed into law Chapter 183 of the Laws of 2007, which will affect the continuing education requirements for dentists registered to practice in New York State. The law will become effective December 30, 2007 and the changes will occur as stated in the text of the law. For further information, please check here. (July 27, 2007)

Proceedings Relating to the Unauthorized Practice of the Professions or the Unauthorized Use of a Professional Title

Part 31 of the Rules of the Board of Regents (8 NYCRR Part 31) relating to civil enforcement proceedings for the unauthorized practice of the professions and the unauthorized use of a professional title has been adopted by the Board of Regents, to be effective November 15, 2007. (November 1, 2007)

Architecture

Candidates for licensure as an Architect are advised that a new version of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE 4.0) will be launched in July, 2008. To ease candidates through the transition, there will be a one year period when both ARE 3.1 and ARE 4.0 will be administered. Please see the licensing requirements for more detail. (May 10, 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 or by calling 1-518-474-3817 (press prompt #4, then #1). Information on the Web and our telephone system 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.

Photo ID Cards

The Office of the Professions is now offering all NYS licensed and registered professionals the opportunity to be issued a professional photo ID card. (December 1, 2006)

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)

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.

Reports to the Board of Regents

A series of informational reports to the New York State Board of Regents by Deputy Commissioner Johanna Duncan-Poitier on emerging issues affecting the professions.

• The Mandate for Accountancy Reform: A Call to Action, February 2003
• Status of Activities Related to Horizon Issues, April 2002 - HTML | PDF
• Follow-Up Activities on Recommendations of the Regents Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Nursing, March 2002 - HTML | PDF
• Addressing Nursing and Other Professional Workforce Shortages, December 2001 - HTML | PDF
• The Expansion of the Licensed Professions, June 2001 - HTML | PDF
• The Nursing Shortage, April 2001 - HTML | PDF
• Rising Consumer Expectations, March 2001 - HTML | PDF
• Unauthorized Practice of the Professions, February 2001 - HTML | PDF
• Regents Professional Disciplinary System, July 2000 - HTML | PDF
• Continuing Competence, June 2000 - HTML | PDF
• Cross Jurisdictional Professional Practice, February 2000 - HTML | PDF
• Telepractice, December 1999 - HTML | PDF
• Corporate Practice of the Professions, September 1998 - HTML | PDF