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Oregon Health Licensing Agency's Licensing Line
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Article Content
October 6, 2008
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| OHLA Reduces Fees to Practice for Most Agency-Regulated Professions |
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The Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) implemented a new fee structure on October 1, 2008 that reduces fees to practice for most OHLA-regulated professions while streamlining the renewal process by extending the licensing period to two years.
The most sizable savings: each of the state’s 50 licensed midwives will pay $1,900 for two-year licensure instead of $1,500 annually, saving each licensee $550 yearly.
Oregon’s 100 licensed denturists will pay $700 for two-year licensure instead of $695 annually, saving each licensee $345 per year. Fee reductions vary from profession to profession and can be accessed on OHLA’s Web site at www.oregon.gov/OHLA.
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| Keeping Fees Low, Addressing Cost of Services |
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"We are doing everything to keep the cost of being licensed in Oregon as low as possible," says Richard McNew, Manager of OHLA's Administrative Services Division. "At the same time, the agency needs to fully address the costs involved in conducting examinations, processing applications and providing a full spectrum of licensing and regulatory services."
OHLA has implemented national examinations, online renewals, a novel training workshop licensees can attend in lieu of paying a civil fine, and other efficiency measures in an effort to keep costs down while keeping agency performance high.
"We want to continue offering services such as same-day licensing, which allows a majority of our applicants to go to work the same day they pass their examination, while promoting public health and consumer rights," says OHLA Director Susan K. Wilson.
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| New Fees Example of OHLA's Regulatory Streamlining Efforts |
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The reduced fees to practice and two-year licensing period are notable examples of regulatory streamlining (faster, easier and cheaper regulation for licensees / businesses).
OHLA is a state consumer protection agency overseeing regulation of multiple health and related professions. Visit www.oregon.gov/OHLA for more information.
The Office of Regulatory Streamlining in the Department of Consumer and Business Services works with all state agencies to make regulations simpler, speedier and less expensive for business without decreasing the protections Oregonians expect for the public and environment.
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| Continuing Education to Align with New Two-Year Licensing Period |
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OHLA is currently aligning continuing education reporting periods for all agency-regulated professions to align with the new two-year licensing period.
Continuing education reporting periods are now two years for all OHLA-regulated professions with continuing education requirements.
All OHLA-regulated professions except for barbers, estheticians, hair designers and nail technicians (Board of Cosmetology) and body piercing technicians have continuing education requirements.
Licensees will be notified of any changes to their specific reporting period and hour requirements. Profession-specific information will also be posted to the continuing education page of each profession with continuing education requirements.
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| Visit www.oregon.gov/OHLA to Learn about OHLA, Regulated Professions |
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OHLA's Web site at www.oregon.gov/OHLA offers numerous features and extensive content to assist licensees, consumers and other agency stakeholders with understanding and complying with state regulations to promote health and safety and consumer rights.
Our mission is to put qualified Oregonians to work while protecting Oregon consumers. We encourage you to use our Web site as a resource. We also can assist you via phone at (503) 378-8667, via e-mail at ohla.info@state.or.us and in person at our offices at 700 Summer Street NE in Salem.
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| Licensing Line Reader Feedback |
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Comments, suggestions and questions about Licensing Line and the issues we cover are appreciated. Contact OHLA Communications Coordinator Kraig Bohot at kraig.bohot@state.or.us or call 503-373-1939.
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