NEWARK – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Division of Consumer Affairs (“DCA”) March 20 announced that New Jersey will waive a host of regulatory requirements for healthcare professionals licensed in other jurisdictions to become licensed in New Jersey and offer services to New Jersey residents, including telemedicine and telehealth services.
According to a release, the waivers will apply during the public health emergency related to COVID-19.
These actions by DCA Acting Director Paul R. Rodríguez and the heads of nearly 20 professional licensure bodies within DCA will complement legislation signed by Gov. Phil Murphy March 19 to expedite licensure by reciprocity and to make it easier for healthcare professionals to offer telemedicine and telehealth services during the current state of emergency.
Other New Jersey state agencies are simultaneously taking action to further expand access to telemedicine and telehealth services.
The waivers also will facilitate the work of healthcare staff of the National Guard who have been deployed in New Jersey to assist wit the response to COVID-19.
Under the regulatory waivers announced today, individuals who hold current healthcare licenses and certifications in good standing in other jurisdictions, and have been practicing within the last five years, will be able to secure New Jersey licenses by completing a simple form.
DCA intends to grant applications within hours of receiving the form.
“New Jersey’s healthcare professionals are among the best in the country, and they are doing an incredible job to combat the novel coronavirus while continuing to provide essential healthcare services to New Jersey residents during this public health emergency,” stated Grewal. “The actions that the Murphy Administration is announcing will bring in necessary reinforcements so that New Jerseyans will continue to have access to world-class treatment to address COVID-19 and other essential healthcare needs.”
“Today’s actions are part of a coordinated statewide effort to bolster our emergency preparedness and make sure that we maximize the amount of medical resources available to our residents during this unprecedented healthcare emergency,” stated Rodríguez. “We are already seeing a need for such services with the sudden closure of college campuses across the country causing an influx of thousands of students coming home for an indefinite period, many of whom are under treatment by providers in other states With this temporary process, we are facilitating a continued relationship between those students and their out-of-state providers and reducing the risk of an interruption in their health care during this crisis.”
Under the accelerated temporary-licensure-by-reciprocity process, criminal history background checks, licensing fees, and submission of proof of a sufficient amount of medical malpractice insurance (where applicable) are waived. Certain licensure bodies are waiving additional requirements as well.
Eligible practitioners will be deemed licensed upon submission of a completed form. Licenses granted pursuant to this process will be valid for 180 days, with an additional 180-day extension available upon written request.
Healthcare practitioners who complete the accelerated licensure process will be able to provide telemedicine and telehealth services on the same terms as other New Jersey licensees.
Accelerated temporary licensure by reciprocity is available for the following boards:
Acupuncture Examining Board
Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee (licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselors)
Athletic Training Advisory Committee
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee
New Jersey State Board of Dentistry (licensed dentists)
Genetic Counseling Advisory Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners (licensed marriage and family therapists)
State Board of Medical Examiners
New Jersey Board of Nursing (APNS, RNs, LPNs, and HHAs)
Occupational Therapy Advisory Council (licensed occupational therapists)
State Board of Examiners of Ophthalmic Dispensers and Ophthalmic Technicians
New Jersey State Board of Optometrists
Perfusionists Advisory Committee
Board of Pharmacy
State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (licensed physical therapists)
Physician Assistant Advisory Committee
State Board of Polysomnography (licensed polysomnographic technologists)
Professional Counselor Examiners Committee (licensed professional counselors)
Certified Psychoanalysts Advisory Committee
State Board of Psychological Examiners
State Board of Respiratory Care
State Board of Social Work Examiners
All applicants for accelerated temporary licensure by reciprocity should send their completed forms to NJtemplicense@dca.njoag.gov.
Forms are available online at https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/Pages/Accelerated-Temporary-Licensure.aspx.
