Database of Health Workforce Innovations
699
Hypothetical alternative to government licensing of health professionals: Flexible Education and Credentialing
he COVID-19 pandemic has made clear that government licensing of health professionals blocks access to care. Licensing gives state politicians the final word on allowable categories of clinicians, the education and training requirements for each category, and the range of services each category of clinician may perform.
An Alternative: Flexible Education and Credentialing
A system of third??party certification could deliver lasting reform by insulating such decisions from political influence by incumbent clinicians. Such a system could allow innovative alternative career paths and paths to clinician certification, reduce unnecessary training requirements, and reduce the cost of most health care services.87
In such a system, states would not directly license individual clinicians, determine which clinician categories could exist, or delineate scopes of practice. Instead, states would rely upon third??party private and public organizations to accredit education, training, and certification programs that would perform these functions.
A system of third??party certification could deliver lasting reform by insulating such decisions from political influence by incumbent clinicians. Such a system could allow innovative alternative career paths and paths to clinician certification, reduce unnecessary training requirements, and reduce the cost of most health care services.87
In such a system, states would not directly license individual clinicians, determine which clinician categories could exist, or delineate scopes of practice. Instead, states would rely upon third??party private and public organizations to accredit education, training, and certification programs that would perform these functions.
- Licensure flexibility
- Community Health Workers
- Dental Providers
- Medical Imaging Workers
- Medical Laboratory Technologists
- Mental Health Workers
- Midwives
- Nurse Practitioners*
- Nurse Specialists*
- Nurses - Licensed Practical
- Nurses - Registered
- Occupational Therapists
- Paramedics
- Personal Support Workers
- Pharmacy Workers
- Physical Therapists
- Physicians - Emergency
- Physicians - Intensive Care
- Physicians - Primary/Family
- Physicians - Specialists
- Public Health Workers
- Respiratory Therapists
- Social Workers
- Speech/Language Pathologists
- Students
Hypothetical alternative to government licensing of health professionals, United States
- Community Health Services
- Critical Care
- Diagnostic Services
- Emergency Medical Services
- Home Care Services
- Hospitals
- Indigenous Health Services
- Long-Term Care
- Mental Health Services
- Primary Health Care
- Public Health
- Other
Anecdotal or Hyporthetical Solution
Cato Institute
United States
USA