Missouri sets license waiver rules and joins three professional compacts

Missouri licensing boards would accept applications from people with current out-of-state or military licenses and waive some testing, education, or experience requirements when the listed requirements are met. The rules cover licenses for occupations regulated by Missouri state boards, but not local licenses, certain occupations listed in section 290.257, or electrical contractors. Applicants generally must hold a current license from another state, military branch, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia for at least one year. Boards may still require a Missouri law exam, fees, bonds, insurance, fingerprints, and other occupation-specific requirements. Boards may not waive requirements for people with revoked, restricted, investigated, or otherwise disqualifying licenses, or for people with disqualifying criminal records. Licenses issued under these rules would be valid only in Missouri and would not qualify the holder for an interstate compact.

Missouri would participate in a Dietitian Licensure Compact that lets qualifying dietitians seek authorization to practice in other member states. The compact covers licensed dietitians with an unrestricted home-state license who meet its education, registration, testing, reporting, and other requirements. Applicants must meet the compact's education or registered-dietitian pathway, hold an unrestricted home-state license, pay applicable fees, and meet each remote state's law-knowledge requirements. Dietitians must follow the laws where the patient is located and report certain discipline from nonmember states within 30 days. A remote state may discipline or remove the compact authorization, and home-state discipline can revoke privileges in other member states. The compact commission may collect fees and member-state assessments, and member states must share specified licensing and discipline information. The compact would take effect only when its compact statute has been enacted in the seventh member state.

Missouri would participate in an Athletic Trainer Compact that allows qualifying athletic trainers to seek practice privileges in other member states. The compact covers athletic trainers with a qualifying, unrestricted license who pass the required background check and meet the compact's education or certification standards. Applicants must complete a criminal background check, meet certification or education and examination requirements, pay applicable fees, and satisfy remote-state law requirements. Trainers must follow the scope of practice where the patient is located and meet continuing-competence requirements only in the state issuing the qualifying license. A state may remove a compact privilege, impose fines, or take other safety actions, and discipline can deactivate privileges in all member states. Military members and their spouses would not pay the compact commission fee, although a state may still charge or reduce its own fee. The compact would take effect only when its compact statute has been enacted in the seventh member state.

Missouri would participate in a PA Licensure Compact that lets qualifying physician assistants seek authorization to practice in other participating states. The compact covers physician assistants with an unrestricted qualifying license who meet its education, certification, criminal-history, and discipline requirements. Applicants must complete an approved physician-assistant program, hold current national certification, meet criminal and controlled-substance license requirements, and satisfy remote-state law requirements. Physician assistants must follow the laws where the patient is located and report discipline from nonparticipating states within 30 days. A remote state may discipline or remove a compact privilege, while discipline against the qualifying license deactivates privileges in other states for the stated period. The compact commission may collect fees and state assessments, and participating states must share specified license, denial, investigation, and discipline information. The compact would take effect only when its compact statute has been enacted in the seventh participating state.