HB 26-1431

HB 26-1431, also known as the Competency for Occupational Licensure Portability bill, allows professionals licensed or certified in another country to apply for similar licenses in Colorado if they meet certain criteria. This means that individuals who are already practicing a profession abroad can demonstrate their competency through alternative methods instead of needing specific work experience requirements set by Colorado. The bill has been signed into law, so now foreign-licensed professionals can more easily obtain the necessary credentials to practice in Colorado without having to fulfill lengthy residency or work requirement standards.

Official Summary

Under current law, an individual licensed, certified, registered, or enrolled in good standing to practice a particular profession or occupation in another state or United States territory or through the federal government is eligible to apply for and receive a license, certification, registration, or enrollment in that profession or occupation in Colorado (accreditation) if the individual meets specific criteria. The bill adds an individual licensed, certified, registered, or enrolled in good standing to practice a particular profession or occupation in another country to those individuals eligible for accreditation if the individual meets specific criteria.      Under current law, a regulator of a profession or occupation in the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies (regulator) shall allow an applicant for certification, registration, or licensure by endorsement (applicant) to demonstrate competency in a specific profession or occupation as determined by the regulator in lieu of requiring the applicant to have worked or practiced in that profession or occupation for a specific period of time prior to application, unless otherwise prohibited by statute. The bill amends the provision to allow a regulator to specify by rule what constitutes substantially equivalent experience or credentials and to require that a regulator allow an applicant to demonstrate competency in a specific profession or occupation regardless of whether a demonstration of competency through substantially equivalent experience or credentials is prohibited elsewhere in statute.(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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