| 3 | | - | 1. §1. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Secretary of Labor (the Secretaries) shall convene a work group, in coordination with the Department of Health Professions, to review universal licensure recognition for all regulated health care professions in the Commonwealth and any changes needed in statute or regulation to accomplish such recognition. In forming the work group, the Secretaries shall include representatives from each of the health care profession regulatory boards and representative staff from such boards, representatives of the Medical Society of Virginia, the Virginia Nurses Association, the Virginia Pharmacy Association, the Virginia Dental Association, and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, and other Virginia stakeholder groups deemed necessary for discussion, and a representative from the Council of State Governments. The Secretaries shall report any recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by October 1, 2024. |
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| 3 | + | 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 54.1-2408.5 as follows: |
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| 4 | + | |
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| 5 | + | §54.1-2408.5. Universal license recognition. |
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| 6 | + | |
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| 7 | + | A. For the purposes of this section, "United States jurisdiction" means any state, territory, possession, or jurisdiction of the United States. |
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| 8 | + | |
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| 9 | + | B. The health regulatory boards within the Department of Health Professions shall, upon application by an individual licensed or certified in a United States jurisdiction, recognize licenses or certifications issued by such state as fulfillment for licensure or certification in the Commonwealth if the following conditions are met: |
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| 10 | + | |
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| 11 | + | 1. The applicant holds a license or certification that is in good standing, current, and active in another United States Jurisdiction to practice the same profession or occupation; |
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| 12 | + | |
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| 13 | + | 2. Such licensure or certification required the individual to pass an examination; |
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| 14 | + | |
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| 15 | + | 3. Licensure or certification in the other state required the applicant to meet substantially equivalent educational standards to those required in the Commonwealth for the same license or certification type; |
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| 16 | + | |
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| 17 | + | 4. No restriction has been placed on any license or certification ever held by the applicant in another United States jurisdiction or by the federal government; |
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| 18 | + | |
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| 19 | + | 5. No state, territory, or country has convicted the applicant of any crime involving moral turpitude or that constitutes a felony in the Commonwealth; |
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| 20 | + | |
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| 21 | + | 6. The applicant provides a report from a national clearinghouse, if such a clearinghouse exists for that profession, or if that information is tracked for that profession, that provides full and complete information on any disciplinary actions taken in other jurisdictions; |
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| 22 | + | |
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| 23 | + | 7. The applicant has not been the subject of any disciplinary action by their licensing jurisdiction and is not currently the subject of a pending disciplinary action or investigation by their licensing jurisdiction; and |
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| 24 | + | |
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| 25 | + | 8. The applicant pays all fees required by the applicable board. |
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| 26 | + | |
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| 27 | + | B. The health regulatory boards within the Department of Health Professions may require evidence of active practice in the licensed or certified profession of up to three years prior to application. |
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| 28 | + | |
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| 29 | + | C. The health regulatory boards within the Department of Health Professions shall, upon application by an individual, recognize work experience in another state as fulfillment of qualifications for licensure or certification in the Commonwealth if the following conditions are met: |
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| 30 | + | |
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| 31 | + | 1. The individual worked in another state that does not use a professional or occupational license or government certification to regulate a profession or occupation, but the Commonwealth uses a professional or occupational license or certification to regulate a profession or occupation with a similar scope of practice, as determined by the board; |
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| 32 | + | |
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| 33 | + | 2. The individual has worked in the profession or occupation for at least three years; |
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| 34 | + | |
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| 35 | + | 3. The individual passes any examination required by the applicable board for licensure or certification; and |
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| 36 | + | |
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| 37 | + | 4. The individual satisfies the conditions outlined in subdivisions A 4, 5, 6, and 7. |
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| 38 | + | |
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| 39 | + | D. The health regulatory boards within the Department of Health Professions may require an individual seeking a professional or occupational licensure or certification pursuant to this section to pass a jurisprudential examination specific to relevant state laws and administrative rules that regulate such profession or occupation if such an examination is required of other applicants for the same license or certification. |
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| 40 | + | |
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| 41 | + | E. This section shall not apply to licenses for any doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy licensed pursuant to Chapter 29 (§54.1-2900 et seq.) of Title 54.1 or any dentist licensed pursuant to Chapter 27 (§ 54.1-2700 et seq.) of Title 54.1. |
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| 42 | + | |
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| 43 | + | F. Licenses and licensing under this section shall supersede and take precedence over any jurisdictional compact the Commonwealth has entered into that becomes effective July 1, 2024, or later. |
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