Legislation recently approved by the state Senate would streamline and improve tracking continuing education requirements for licensed Pennsylvania professionals.
Senate Bill 1242 would give the Pennsylvania Department of State the authority to modernize and streamline the process for verifying professional continuing education compliance. It would create a continuing education tracking system that licensees, boards and continuing education providers can use.
Certain professions require continuing education. Compliance with the requirements is tracked by state boards and commissions that sometimes fail to process requirements in a timely fashion. This potentially could jeopardize professionals’ licenses or ability to serve clients because failing to complete the requirements can lead to the suspension or loss of a professional license.
“It’s important for professionals in our state to fulfill continuing education requirements, but it’s equally important for their compliance to be properly recognized and tracked by the state,” Sen. Judy Ward (R-Blair County), who introduced the bill, said. “These systems need to be optimized and improved to better meet the needs of professionals across the commonwealth so they can continue to serve our residents.
“The professionals who rely on these certification systems are providing important services to our families and neighbors in our communities.”
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.