Senate Passes Bills Increasing Employment Opportunities for Healthcare Professionals
February 3, 2021
Kristina D. Roegner News
COLUMBUS—State Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) announced today that the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 5, which will enable Ohio to join the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, and Senate Bill 7, which would enable Ohio to join the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact.
These bills create opportunities for more than 31,000 physical therapists, PT assistants, occupational therapists, and OT assistants in Ohio to use their license in other member states. Of those licensees, 5,305 are OT assistants which is more than any other state, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"Improving licensure mobility strengthens Ohio's economy by drawing in qualified workers from other states, as well as expanding Ohioans access to health care," Roegner said. "These bills are incredibly important and reduce licensure restrictions on many of our health care workers."
Under Senate Bill 5, residents of Physical Therapy Compact member states are able to purchase a compact privilege and begin to practice physical therapy in other compact states almost immediately. There are currently 20 active member states in the Physical Therapy Compact and an additional nine more have enacted legislation to join the compact but are still working to participate.
Senate Bill 7 would bring Ohio into an agreement between member states aiming to facilitate interstate practice of occupational therapy and improve public access to occupational therapy services. Ohio would be one of the first 10 member states needed to enact the compact, putting Ohio at the forefront of establishing the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact.
"State compacts are a great way to help people with occupational licenses practice and use their skills in other states without having to get relicensed for the same profession multiple times," said Roegner. Senate Bill 5 and Senate Bill 7 will now be sent to the Ohio House for consideration.
"Improving licensure mobility strengthens Ohio's economy by drawing in qualified workers from other states, as well as expanding Ohioans access to health care," Roegner said. "These bills are incredibly important and reduce licensure restrictions on many of our health care workers."
Under Senate Bill 5, residents of Physical Therapy Compact member states are able to purchase a compact privilege and begin to practice physical therapy in other compact states almost immediately. There are currently 20 active member states in the Physical Therapy Compact and an additional nine more have enacted legislation to join the compact but are still working to participate.
Senate Bill 7 would bring Ohio into an agreement between member states aiming to facilitate interstate practice of occupational therapy and improve public access to occupational therapy services. Ohio would be one of the first 10 member states needed to enact the compact, putting Ohio at the forefront of establishing the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact.
"State compacts are a great way to help people with occupational licenses practice and use their skills in other states without having to get relicensed for the same profession multiple times," said Roegner. Senate Bill 5 and Senate Bill 7 will now be sent to the Ohio House for consideration.