750,000 Licensed New York State Professionals Can Now Renew Registration Online;

The Board of Regents announced today that 750,000 individuals in 47 professions licensed by the State can now renew their registration online. Professionals are required by law to renew their licenses every three years, except physicians and medical physicists, who must renew every two years.  The online registration renewal process provides a timely and secure alternative to 250,000 paper registration applications currently handled each year by the Office of Professions (OP) in the New York State Education Department.

Education Commissioner Richard Mills said, “The Office of Professions collaborates with licensed professionals to develop stronger and safer practices in 47 professions.  OP offers the public instant confirmation of professional licensing and discipline through the web as well as effective complaint resolutions against professionals. Online Registration Renewal is another innovation that will save time and money.”

Through the Office of Professions (OP) the State Education Department protects New Yorkers by overseeing the preparation, licensure and discipline of the professions, and working with licensed professionals to continue contemporary competent practice.

Cost savings will come in reduced staff time required to process paper renewals (including overtime) and a significant reduction in paper, printing and postage costs.  The process will prevent incomplete applications, further improving efficiency.  Online Registration Renewal is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and takes less than 15 minutes to complete.  The process allows licensees the convenience and security of paying for their renewals with a credit card with a receipt available immediately.  All personal data is secured by state of the art encryption technology.

New York State licensed professionals who are currently registered and in the final 5 months of their registration period will receive a secure PIN number at their address of record. The online Registration Renewal also allows licensees to request an optional Professional Photo ID Card.  Many professional organizations have called for this ID Card as an important resource for daily utility as well as in the event of public emergency.

The Office of Professions currently licenses 750,000 people in 47 professions including physicians, dentists, nurses, accountants, architects, engineers, pharmacists and veterinarians.   Since 2000 the number of professionals licensed has increased from 646,000 to 750,000 due in part to the eight new professions created by law.  Newly licensed fields include four Mental Health professions and three new Laboratory Technology professions.  The Office of Professions has responded to the increased workload by applying innovative technology to save time and money.

Registration certificates for the new registration period will be mailed within two business days to professionals at their address of record. Online Registration Renewal is designed to work with most internet browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Netscape and Opera.

A video statement from Frank Muñoz, Associate Commissioner for the Professions, further explaining the online registration process for professional licenses is online at the Office of Professions website: http://www.op.nysed.gov/.